View Full Version : New 500 Clone
Cherokee180c
05-18-2009, 05:37 PM
Is the version of the ESP with the Align DS-510 servos and the 60amp ESC any good? Are those servos digital of analog. I keep reading posts of the 60amp Align ESC burning up, is this due to user error or is it just not fit for the job.
f5air
05-18-2009, 05:56 PM
Is the version of the ESP with the Align DS-510 servos and the 60amp ESC any good? Are those servos digital of analog. I keep reading posts of the 60amp Align ESC burning up, is this due to user error or is it just not fit for the job.
we love the stock setup on the ESP Cherokee, and all the servos are digital and great on this heli.
Cherokee180c
05-18-2009, 07:36 PM
Thanks. Does anyone know what the shipping costs from flying hobby to get it in a reasonable amount of time (7-10) days? Also how often does it go on daily special?
oosnoopy
05-18-2009, 09:53 PM
Seems like a great deal for parts, especially for those us who don't fly competition 3D. I think I'll buy one.
Do patent laws not hold up well in China? Or does Align sell for the rights to make clones? Like Taraus does with firearms?
KaBAM
05-18-2009, 10:07 PM
I got the ESP from Flying-Hobby for 475 shipped on special. I got it in 3 days!
435 for the kit, 40 bucks for shipping. :thumbup:
jstcriusen
05-19-2009, 08:37 AM
Seems like a great deal for parts, especially for those us who don't fly competition 3D. I think I'll buy one.
Do patent laws not hold up well in China? Or does Align sell for the rights to make clones? Like Taraus does with firearms?
I dont think we'll ever know the answer to this question. :P:P
Cherokee180c
05-19-2009, 11:53 AM
Come-on, patent rights are almost non existent in China. You know the answer to that question.
Don't feel sorry for Align however. I guarantee you this is a net positive financial position for them. I have purchased an HK450 for $37 from HC. You know the real Align unit has no more than that cost (probably far less) in it. I have since purchased probably $40 in Align parts for it to upgrade some pieces and I have yet to wreck it. I plan to use almost all Align spares sourced from both local hobby shops and U.S. online stores like heli-direct and readyheli to repare any crashes. The problem is almost none of my LHS carry the parts. Almost everyone on the HK450 site would have never purchased an Align 450 if the initial entry price for the HK was not right. My other helicopter is a Dragonus II from HL that was only $160 w/motor last year. The profit for Align is rolling in right now. In fact you can almost not find an Align 450 tail assembly right now as the HK's is defective and all the tail assemblies at almost every online shop is sold out due to this fact. I had to wait almost 2 weeks for mine to show from an ebay seller. The net effect is very good for the industry. Align has to keep the price of the kit down to be competitive now and the clone companies need to get aggresive on price to get any volume business. That is why I am about to by a Trex500 ESP combo deal as it is a better deal financially right now than the 500 clones. The clones need to drop about another $100 to close that gap or they will have no volume.
eimbot
05-19-2009, 02:58 PM
By the way. HK500 is coming in like a month or so. Im gonna get me a few of those:D
Cherokee180c
05-19-2009, 09:54 PM
Any rumored price? The last HK500 was not Trex 500 compatible. I have said if they can come out with a clone for under $130 I am there. Still not sure it make sense though as the only reason I really love my HK is because for $50 I got a CopterX head and tail on it right away. I still think it is hard with the package that Align has right now to pass on the ESP.
ChiefGunner
05-19-2009, 10:18 PM
Seems like a great deal for parts, especially for those us who don't fly competition 3D. I think I'll buy one.
Do patent laws not hold up well in China? Or does Align sell for the rights to make clones? Like Taraus does with firearms?
I spent a few years in Asia, from what ive seen patent laws mean very little to most of the populace. its common practice to copy someone else's product. a vendor of a small shop wanted to see a zippo lighter i had once, i showed it to him it was brass with a cowboy riding a bronco (Marlboro Man) not sold in stores. He took it to the back room for a min and came back out with it and thanked me. a few weeks later i was passing thru there again. in a glass counter i spied about a dozen exact copies of my marlboro Man lighter only the bottoms of the lighter where it says zippo was a bit different :shock:
ChiefGunner
rilandtg
05-19-2009, 11:15 PM
OOOOOHHHHHH MMMYYYY!.......I started with a HBK2 that for me was a very good TRAINER! I then assembled a 450 size heli from the lowest cost stuff I could find. What a mistake. If I could go back in time I would have purchased the best Align had to offer. The reason I say this is because I have always wondered what I missed. Mmmmm, did I crash because I was penny wise and pound short, or just a bad pilot? Another thing to consider is resale value. Start at the top and work your way down. How many bad things are being said about the trex 500 with all the posts on this site and many others vs what you know about what you are buying? I wish you well, I hope you have no regrets like I have had.
eimbot
05-20-2009, 12:46 AM
The new HK500 will be a direct Trex 500 clone! And 100% align parts compatible. price was said to be around 50$ and thats pretty fair!
NotEnoughTime
05-20-2009, 01:41 AM
The new HK500 will be a direct Trex 500 clone! And 100% align parts compatible. price was said to be around 50$ and thats pretty fair!
Now that sounds like a correct price for a clone. :P
bwoollia
05-20-2009, 01:48 AM
The new HK500 will be a direct Trex 500 clone! And 100% align parts compatible. price was said to be around 50$ and thats pretty fair!
Looking at the HobbyKing twitter feed, the HK500 will NOT be 100% compatible - check out the photo here:http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/twit.asp?id=19&err=1
For $50, looks like you're getting your money's worth. That being said, lots of guys seem to be happy with the 450 sized, semi Align compatible clone put out by HC.
eimbot
05-20-2009, 02:02 AM
Looking at the HobbyKing twitter feed, the HK500 will NOT be 100% compatible - check out the photo here:http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/twit.asp?id=19&err=1.
Well you are WRONG. you are looking at the JR voyager version. If you look in the twitter feed, they also have pics of 500:)
just to clear that up, and it IS said to be 100% trex 500 clone, and parts match!
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/twit.asp?id=17&err=1
here you got it! Hope this clears it up for you guys:)
bwoollia
05-20-2009, 03:20 AM
Well you are WRONG. you are looking at the JR voyager version. If you look in the twitter feed, they also have pics of 500:)
just to clear that up, and it IS said to be 100% trex 500 clone, and parts match!
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/twit.asp?id=17&err=1
here you got it! Hope this clears it up for you guys:)
Whoops! My mistake. It doesn't say 100% compatible though - "plenty of dirt-cheap parts which are also interchangeable with the t-rex". The HK450 isn't 100% compatible, who knows what their plan is with this one. Should be interesting to see what people's experiences are.
Cherokee180c
05-20-2009, 12:04 PM
The HK450 is 100% compatible to my knowledge and I own one and have used a number of Align and CopterX parts on it. Fully upgraded it cost me under $120 for an SEV2 equivelent copter with good quality. Just be aware that some parts are crap and absolutely have to be replaced with the Align parts. The feathering shafts / bolts are downright dangerous (I never had to worry about this with the CopterX head) and must be changed on the 450. The tail gear assembly also needs re-working. The 500 clone will probably be the exact same and will probably cost around $150 to get the equivelent quality copter when all is said and done. For $50, you are not going to get a metal head, probably a CF clone and not an ESP clone.
This may be a dumb question, but is the Hobbyking twitter a real twitter feed or Is it just on their website? I can't seem to locate either Hobbyking or jason5001 in a twitter search to follow. What am I doing wrong?
bwoollia
05-20-2009, 01:50 PM
The HK450 is 100% compatible to my knowledge and I own one and have used a number of Align and CopterX parts on it.
The 500 clone will probably be the exact same and will probably cost around $150 to get the equivelent quality copter when all is said and done. For $50, you are not going to get a metal head, probably a CF clone and not an ESP clone.
This may be a dumb question, but is the Hobbyking twitter a real twitter feed or Is it just on their website? I can't seem to locate either Hobbyking or jason5001 in a twitter search to follow. What am I doing wrong?
I thought the feathering shafts were different. I agree with your assessment of the HK500. I don't know whether the twitter feed is real or not, I just got it from their website. It's probably a twitter "clone" :YeaBaby:
eimbot
05-20-2009, 03:38 PM
I don't know whether the twitter feed is real or not, I just got it from their website. It's probably a twitter "clone" :YeaBaby:
LOL, couldnt have said it any better myself:D
Cherokee180c
05-20-2009, 09:15 PM
By the way, it was a clone, lol. If the HK500 is all plastic it is not really worth it unless you want to stay plastic. I have already looked into the CopterX upgraded head and tail and it would add $120 to the price. If you can pick up the ESP combo for $430 you are getting the copter with CF blades for just around $200. Hard to beat.
bwoollia
06-18-2009, 02:58 AM
If anyone's still watching this thread, the Flasher 500 with TT just went on sale for $209 shipped to the US and Canada.
http://www.snhobbies.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_38&products_id=507
ChiefGunner
06-18-2009, 05:10 AM
if it comes with the torque drive thats a very nice deal for $209 shipped
lex7919
06-18-2009, 06:46 PM
You know ive had both Align stuff and clone stuff the quality of align stoff is always going to be better but then the clone stuff has benifits like be able to buy it and crash it twice by the time yyou save for a Align heli!
There are pro's and con's to each side these threads while not worthless are certainly amusing lol, Each will stick up for there own and understandably so, way i see it you pays your money and takes your choice as long as we are all flying heli's and enjoying it and doing so responsibly who cares what the label says, just go fly and enjoy my friends.!! :thumbup:
just my 2 pence lol
9sec240
06-18-2009, 07:48 PM
The Flasher 500 is not that great of a deal. I was really considering it at 209 but you do not get a motor or ESC at that price. For 260 you get the motor with the combo and for 309 you get the motor and ESC. You still do not get servos. So lets say you spend another 100 on servos.... your total is now 410 bux. You get main blades but they are not CF like the ESP combo. You get tail blades but they are also not CF like the ESP combo. You are also not getting a CF frame like the ESP combo.. So for 100 more than the Flasher, you get genuine Align components and lots of CF and not fiberglass. You also probably DOUBLE your resale value if not more.
xheli. com has a EXI 500 that is a clone to the trex. $179. I bought one a while back for $200. Really nice lots of metal and carbon upgrades. Belt drive though. 425 blades are extra for $39. I have the align trex 500 now also and I have yet to put the clone together yet but this clone appears to have many superior parts in this kit.It's come in handy for parts for the Align after some mishaps.