500 owners

[warpspeed]

If you've got one, you likely paid $560. I'm sure once they're widely available they'll come down some, (one of my favorite suppliers is listing it @ $519-but perpetually out of stock) and frankly I don't think $40 is worth quibbling over, but I'm curious-Was the price of admission to be one of the first worth it? So far I haven't seen any complaints and it appears people that have them really like 'em. There doesn't seem to be any build or quality control issues, nobody has complained of missing parts or anything like that. Do we have the perfect heli here? Or, are some of you thinking "Yeah, this is pretty cool, but for a little more (or less) I could have had a ___!" In a few months when you can get one on sale for $429 (or whatever) are you going to be kicking yourself?

Not trying to stir the pot here, just curious.

(And yes, if I could get my hands on one, I'd drop the $560 in a heartbeat)

[jetpilot]

I think The Rex 500 is alone in is class! price wise is that really important? i think the price is ok...and the smile in your face when you open the box is priceless!


Beside that i have a fight with Finless about that! ( and he was right) we need to support the local hobby shop
place like readyheli who give you that fantastic service need to survive too! so hell they can have my 40$


cheers

Luc

[th3tick]

Mine was missing one of the screws for the main frame assembly, but the spares bag was very generous and resolved it. The balls-into-plastic bit was the biggest pain of assembly - I think I pulled a bit of plastic on each one.

The only thing I don't really like so far is how the canopy pins screw into the anti-rotation bracket. The screws only have hex holes in one end, and if I need to remove the ARB, I'm concerned they'll unscrew from the pins instead, and I'm stuck. One of mine has also started to bend as the canopy is pulling forward on it - I think they need to be beefier screws, and have hex holes in both ends to fix it.

To my mind, it's a great size, and I only wish this had been around instead of my 450. Its size isn't as intimidating as the 600, and should be more friendly to fly initially. I think the potential of one this size from Rotorworkz and Mikado are my only possible regrets, but those are unknowns, and this one's in my hot little hands ready to fly.

I'd say more, but the cold and snow have only allowed one flight so far.

John

[chuckk]

its a great size and i'm glad i bought it. the biggest i've flown before the 500 was my mini-titan. what a size difference. of course i'd rather have a t-rex 600e but i'm not going to spend $1000.00 on 3 batteries.

[n210rm]

My Canopy is less than what I would expect from Align, it has a chip, a Crack and dust or something under the clear coat. It is best viewed from about twenty feet......

[danjoy25]

$519 must be the Fibreglass version. The CF version which was release first was 35-40 bucks more and is worth the money.

[danjoy25]

The only thing I don't really like so far is how the canopy pins screw into the anti-rotation bracket. The screws only have hex holes in one end, and if I need to remove the ARB, I'm concerned they'll unscrew from the pins instead, and I'm stuck. One of mine has also started to bend as the canopy is pulling forward on it - I think they need to be beefier screws, and have hex holes in both ends to fix it.

John

You're right on this one. Its a pain taking the ARB and the elevator servo doesnt help as well. Im thinking of drilling 2 holes so I can mount the canopy holders by itseft and just use normal screws like the 450 so its easier to take both out.

[Finless]

The idea behind having them screw into the anti rotation bracket is because it has a brace straight across and thus helps the possibility of breaking your frames in a crash.
Some people have made this mod to the 600 just differently (it's own cross brace).

Bob

[ghostrider414]

Got mine today where I shop kinda local for 499 and yes it is the CF version.

[eldoubleu]

First off I like to applaud Bob for such an excellent job on his videos. They are just a great source of information. Thank you Sir Finless!!!

OK, I just finished assembling my T500. I still need to set up my radio, throttle and pitch curves, etc, etc.

I do agree with th3tick about the way the anti-rotation bracket mounts. I reversed the set screws, in other words I screwed them into the ARB then screwed the canopy mount onto the set screw. This way when you unscrew the canopy mounts the set screw will either come off with the mounts or you will be left with the socket end of the set screw, so you can easily remove them.

Also my canopy does not fit. If I insert the bottom front of the canopy into the groove in the bottom of the frame my grommet holes are approx ¼” short of the mounting post. And the top cutout rubs on the aileron and pitch linkage. I’ll have to do some modification here.

Otherwise it was an easy build. Can’t wait to get it in the air!

[warpspeed]

I suppose this post was a little premature-I know you guys haven't had them long and for those of us a little east of the left coast it ain't exactly great flying weather. (John, RcHobbies has a set of snow ski's for parkflyers-with a few mods they might work on the 450:)) I brought it up because I rec'd a V2 from Santa Wifey, who took advantage of Readi Heli's $399 sale. Remember, they were $549 not so very long ago. Of course it's always nice to be the first, just wondering if it's really worth it, especially for those of us with both the bigger and smaller Rexy's.

$519 must be the Fibreglass version. The CF version which was release first was 35-40 bucks more and is worth the money Danjoy25, that $519 IS the CF version. It's a hobby shop that doesn't specialize in heli's and apparently doesn't realize what a hot ticket the 500 is. I'd post a link, but not until I get my paws on one!

[Ctimrun]

I also paid $519 for the CF version at one of the local shops here. I had to pay tax though which brought the "OTD" price to $560, the same price I would have paid at a lot of online places. They are slowly trickling in to the local shops around here.

[HeliBurns]

I just purchased a KX017001TA for $489, including shipping....

When I get it, I will post the link.

[Pinecone]

The $519 priced CF kit is without blades.

Unless they priced it wrong. :)

[Socal500]

Not sure if it was priced wrong but that is what he paid. He called to tell me it was in stock and they had just one. When he told me the price I said make sure its the CF and ask again. He confirmed it again and I heard the guy tell him. Great deal.

[warpspeed]

The part # Heliburns posted is the full monty kit right? CF frame, CF blades? That's the same part number listed at the shop I mentioned. When I called to confirm, there's a kit without blades they'll be selling for $489, same part number but without the "T".
Sounds like Heliburns has made the best deal so far!

Btw, I rec'd email notification that it was back in stock at RH. Too late, of course. Sheesh, don't you people ever work?

[torkboy]

The part # Heliburns posted is the full monty kit right? CF frame, CF blades? That's the same part number listed at the shop I mentioned. When I called to confirm, there's a kit without blades they'll be selling for $489, same part number but without the "T".
Sounds like Heliburns has made the best deal so far!

Btw, I rec'd email notification that it was back in stock at RH. Too late, of course. Sheesh, don't you people ever work?

They were out of stock in 10 min...I watched them go bye bye :)

[HeliBurns]

Jason, I thought the same thing....it was the full monty...;)

KX017001TA....now I'll wait and see...I asked him..r u sure...the kit is 559....but his price was firm...what the hey

If all is well, and I will call him as he is a respectable hobby distributor, I'll post his number with his permission...:)

[HeliBurns]

Jason, I was shocked...

When i asked, do you have one in stock...he laughed and I did too....it was cool
And like I said, when I get it (KX017001TA), then it will be what it is....

I hope that this situation will not become some sort of problem....heck...I have been searching all over just to even get one

[Justin911]

I talked to WIllie at Assurance today... we get 4 cf kits with blades in NEXT WEEK! He said he has the graphite frame 500s in stock right now, but no one is really getting them. Assurance is doing very good I think with getting the 500s back in stock to send out to their retailers....

[torkboy]

I talked to WIllie at Assurance today... we get 4 cf kits with blades in NEXT WEEK! He said he has the graphite frame 500s in stock right now, but no one is really getting them. Assurance is doing very good I think with getting the 500s back in stock to send out to their retailers....

3 buddy....one is mine :)At least I hope!!:OK

[hopntod]

I swear this is the last helicopter i will buy this year.:woohoo:banana

[warpspeed]

Ok guys, Grand has 'em in stock right now as of 6:28 mountain time. Good luck!

[warpspeed]

Never mind. Browser refresh 8 minutes after I posted and whammo, all gone!

[rotary65]

I managed to get one from GrandRC at 7:45 EST last night (Dec. 29), so they had them in stock then. Modefo's had them in on Friday, but they didn't last long. Keep looking at the various dealers - seems like they're getting them in in spurts.