T-rex 450SE V2 or T-rex 600N Sport - Which is the best learning value

[Blue Note]

Hey everyone,

After flying fixed wing airplanes for several years I have decided that it is time to progress into helis. I am a intermediate to advanced airplane pilot and have been putting a lot of hours on the Reflex XTR flight simulator, mostly flying the Raptor 50s, Raptor 90s, and the T-Rex 450s. I have all of them set very fast and sensitive allowing me to progress into some 3D manuevers with good success. But I'm tired at looking into the computer monitor and feel it is time to take it outside. My question is : Trex 450SE V2 or the Trex 600N Sport? All things considered, I'm pretty sure the 600N is the superior bird, but remember, I will be learning a lot with this first bird. Flying, maintenance, setup, and bank account management. That being said, I expect to go down a few times along the way and have come to realize that replacement parts for the 600 are could add up quickly. I understand, as in airplanes, the bigger birds are more stable and usually better overall but you have much more invested. I have learned to buy the best you can afford ( or charge ) and not cut corners and you usually come out cheaper and happier in the end. Thus, either bird will be outfitted to allow room for growth. Sooooo, is the Trex 450SE V2 too fast and responsive ( 'twitchy" ) to be a good first heli? My plan was learn the basics and progress into 3d maneuvers while learning how to properly setup, adjust, and maintain a heli with something with a little less upkeep expenses in order to build stick time and then move into the nitro heli with the ultimate setup ( probably a couple of years later). Am I totally off my mark? The heli guys at my field are really pushing me to the 600N, but it may be just a little beyond my reach to purchase and fly. At this point in my life I have to control of my monthly spending a little. By the way, I posted this within the T-Rex 600Ns forum because I noticed most of you have also had experience with the T-Rex 450. Comparing all the options has about driven me crazy ( I know, short trip ) and I would greatly appreciate any insight you all might have concerning my first heli.

[george0079]

IMHO I would go with a 450S or a 450SA. It will fly just as good as the SE and cost alot less (Both in initial price, and repair). They are basically the same as the 450SE, just without all the BLING.

[Dré]

I can tell you, go for the 600N

I found out, that will I was starting out with the 450, if you like to practise a hole day, you will need a lot I of bateries, and they are not cheap.
And with the 600N thats not a problem, just fill here up agian, and of you go.

Also I find the 600N more stable, and I can controle it better that the 450, Its not as sensitive to wind, and I can see it better.
(I am still in hover phase)
About setting up your heli.... you say you know a lot of people how are pushing you to buy a 600N, they will also help you getting it in the air I think, and the movie's of BOB will get you very far, if not all the way :thumbup:

[scooby61]

i started with a blade cp (POS) and almost quit heli's all together because of it. then i got a 450 xl and now a 600N. I can tell you they both have pluses and minuses the 450 can be setup to be very docile and i learned mostly on that but the previous post is right you will need at least 3 batteries to have back to back flight time, and the bird can get very small and hard to judge orientation quickly. however when your learning you know you are going to crash some and the 450 is very economical to repair. after my first few crashes were behind me i started upgrading peice by peice and now its an SE. the 600 is very stable much easier to fly and see but more than twice the price to build and repair after a crash. Also keep in mind that the os 50 hyper runs best on 30% fuel like curtis youngblood $25.00-29.00 a gallon and your motor will be running at 70-90% throttle most of the time. they are not fuel thrifty. so fuel bills can add up to a lot of 3 cell lipos very quickly. I will recommend you staqrt with the 450S the SA is an arf and you will learn more by building the chopper. plus the 450s comes with motor speed control and a battery. even though the 450 is a little bit harder to fly due to its size when you learn to fly it well you will find the big nitros to be a breeze.
and making the jump to a bigger heli won't make your wallet cringe every time it lifts off. last but not least nitros are noisy and potentially dangerous you can fly a 450 in a empty park corner open parking lot wherever without anyone complaining resulting more stick time for you wich is the most important part to learning.

[I want it]

If your asking what you should get into well, I would say go with the 450se first great little heli. I have one myself and have bought a 600 pro kit thats almost done.........Well lets get back to the 450se its a great heli and will get you into flying the helis. On mine I have made a few upgrades to it but sure does fly really well and lets you learn the basics for sure. Also you get to learn the 3d flying with it as well. I'm keeping my 450se to pratice stuff on it instead of pile driving my 600 into the ground when i want to learn something new ill try it out on the 450 and see if i can master it instead of just wadding up my 600. I think both are the way to go. I cant wait to get my 600 in the air and get it broken in.

But let me say that you will be spending more money on the bigger heli just as you do with the bigger planes. Ive got a nice penny into my 600n.

In other words id get the 450se start off with that if you find that you do like it well then upgrade later to a 600 pro kit or sport kit either one. but i would keep that 450 for flying out front of your house at the park etc....... and also trying out new stuff that you dont want to do with you bigger heli right of the bat.

Hope that helps............Oh yeah always check out ebay for good deals on helis i got both of mine off of ebay smoking deals that i couldnt pass up for sure

[rdlohr]

Bank account managable answers it. Hold off on the 600 till you can fly. The TREX 450 SE V1 or V2 is a great starter heli and it is really cheap to repair. You will repair it over and over again. I don't recommend the S or SA because the plastic parts break and you will upgrade them anyhow. You might as well start with metal. It will be cheaper in the long run.

Rick

[I want it]

Bank account managable answers it. Hold off on the 600 till you can fly. The TREX 450 SE V1 or V2 is a great starter heli and it is really cheap to repair. You will repair it over and over again. I don't recommend the S or SA because the plastic parts break and you will upgrade them anyhow. You might as well start with metal. It will be cheaper in the long run.

Rick
I agree with Rick here as i stated before. I would for sure though check out ebay you can get a 450 se on there from hobby stores like 450.00 to 500.00 plus shipping that will include well just look at the set up i have liseted in mine i bought my own batties though but youll get it with almost everything you need to fly just thought that i should add this as well.

Good luck

[dsmit258]

Blue Note-

If I didn't know any better, I'd guess you live in Knoxville, TN? Your post sure does sound like a person I was talking to yesterday at the Volunteer Aeromodellers field.....

One thing that I would also factor in to the 450 is that it can be a pain to work on due to the small parts, screws, and nuts....But it sure is fun to fly.....

David

[WayneBrown]

I'll go against the grain here, and stress the virtues of the 600N, and beat hell out of the 450 series machines.
450's only get about 6 minutes of flight time.
450s are harder to learn on from a perspective standpoint, they are already established doing something before you percieve it, resulting in overcorrection.
450s are small, and to fly at what would be considered a 'safe' buddy-box height, you are going to strain to see it.
450s spin the crap outta the blades to fly well, higher headspeed generally means more stuff to replace when it hits the dirt.

600's: 9 to 12 minute flight time
600's present as a much larger machine, you can see what the heck they are doing.
600's are visable at buddy box heights, you can see wth you are doing.
600's can fly respectably at lower headspeeds, increasing duration and slowing down the whole flight envelope.

Cost to operate between the 450 and 600 is greater with the 600, but to keep in perspective, $12- $30 a day for fuel, or $2-3 per flight.
budget your wants against the needs and you can buy blades around $60, and keep most crash costs to under a Benjamin.
Many of the twofers you get with the 450's, you also get with the 600's. two booms, two spindles, two mainshafts, and so on.
I've yet to crash a 600N Pro and have my total costs exceed $150, most are under $30.
Here's the real kicker, if you have someone to help you that reccomends the 600N Sport, and if they are willing to buddy box you, you fall somewhere far ahead of many other folk. The 450 is a great machine to learn on if you are remote from any help, and/or at your own pace.

The bottom line is you will learn absolutely NOTHING if you aren't on the sticks flying it. Nitro keeps you in the air longer per flight.

[Blue Note]

Points well taken, and well presented. Time to really consider when and where I'll be doing the most flying so I can maximize my stick time. It's like most hobbies - planes, guns, guitars, etc. - there's always another one out there that you need to find a way to justify getting. Thanks.

[warrengrob]

Well got a good friend who is also learning like me. He bought three 600's in one month. So he obviously isn't scared to crash them. He says so all the time too.

He bought a 450 for his son. And he can't stop flying it. He's progressed much faster after changing too. He even goes so far as to say that the 450 is a more stable heli... We all no that's not true. And his 600's are setup perfectly and are a dream to fly.

I think that even though you aren't scared of the financial aspect of learning on a 600, the shear size and power of it is enough to keep you from going outside your comfort zone and learning new things.

[Blue Note]

Kind of my train of thought as well. I was looking for something that I can really learn on and practice on without financial fear holding me back too much. If I just wanted to fly around there are tons of helis available that would scratch that itch. I figure if you aren't crashing some, you aren't flying out of your comfort zone and thus are not pushing your limits and progressing.

[WayneBrown]

Kind of my train of thought as well. I was looking for something that I can really learn on and practice on without financial fear holding me back too much. If I just wanted to fly around there are tons of helis available that would scratch that itch. I figure if you aren't crashing some, you aren't flying out of your comfort zone and thus are not pushing your limits and progressing.

Price parts for the other brands/helis then. Align 600 is a bargain compared to many others.
offering the parts in twofer packs is a huge bonus, having spares on hand reduces the intimidation factor.

[Blue Note]

Thanks everyone.