View Full Version : Lepton EX vs TRex 500
docjoe
02-14-2008, 01:54 PM
I posted this thread on the TRex 500 forum and kind of wanted a balanced opinion. I have both and, for me, the 500 flies more aggressively than the Lepton. The Lepton flies great but I feel is edged out by the 500.
Please let me know what you think.
Thanks!
http://helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=61490
prototype3a
02-14-2008, 04:02 PM
I think the 500 will be a better bird in time with the TT tail and some aftermarket parts such as the frames from MJP carbon. I'll be able to fly my friends 500 once all the parts he's waiting on are released. (TT tail and a few other things)
docjoe
02-14-2008, 04:54 PM
I don't think my 500 needs any more CF parts. Metal parts on the head would be nice but are not essential really. My 500 is mostly stock except for an external BEC and Scorpion motor. That being said, the stock motor at 6s with a 14-15T pinion was better than a Lepton running 6s at 3000K head speed.
I'm not sure... parts cost aside, the Lepton i have flies better, IMO, than the T500 my two other buddies have... you gotta get over that $15 main shaft though.... hehe Setup is the real thing here... if you build it right, it will fly very well.
The T500 is heavy. But it really needs 5S, 6S on it for it to move well... The lepton moves well on 4S.
Parts availability is a ***** though.... and they aint that cheap. But the T500 parts aren't that cheap either.. but very well supported.
I think the 500 will be a better bird in time with the TT tail and some aftermarket parts such as the frames from MJP carbon. I'll be able to fly my friends 500 once all the parts he's waiting on are released. (TT tail and a few other things)
None of that is going to fundamentally change the TRex500 from an in the air collective and cyclic performance point of view
I agree with Rush, the Lepton (even on 4S) can run a higher headspeed, out climb the TRex500 and the cyclics are both faster and have more a authoritive sound to them.
To date I have not seen a 6S TRex that has the get up and go of my Lepton on 4S - the guys with TRex500's at my field agree - but there is not that much in it (we helifreaks are just naturely power hungry)
The TRex500 on 6S is heavier - that's a disadvantage when both heli's are running the same blades, higher wing loading.
But don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the TRex500, it flys great and is a lovely heli.
prototype3a
02-15-2008, 05:36 AM
The TT tail will be more efficient and free up power for the head. I know my Lepton can out climb anything I've ever seen if I set it up right. I had it so fast the gy401 couldn't keep up.
hehe... just proved that today, the T5 is a pig compared to my Lepton. The Lepton is 450 size heli in a 500 package. I think its even faster on cyclics than my Align 450's.
All the 500's were running approx. 2700-2800 headspeeds. The Lepton just outflies the T5 IMO. Its like its on rails compared to the T5. Good choice for me. Best demonstration of the Leptons capabilities, do a ground climbout. The Lepton just explodes from the ground.... awesome! Even the T500 guys admit its amazing....
The interesting question is why does the Lepton out climb the TRex500?
They are both using the same main blades
Is it cos the Lepton is up to 200 grams lighter? (It's only 10%)
Is it due to the TRex motor struggling under load?
The TRex has a lower gearing however (and higher KV)
Are the TRex guys only running 10 degrees collective? (I run 11 on the Lepton)
I know my Lepton can out climb anything I've ever seen if I set it up right.
Yeah - I reckon my Lepton may keep up with a 90 - for some time
But I can tell you what that the two fastest helis are - in vertical climb
1) Bobby Watts and that insane Ion-X running 17 degrees of pitch (massive headspeed also)
2) The Logo 600 on 10~12 S and a healthy amount of collective pitch (2200~2400 headspeed)
They are both so fast that it's hard to believe - nothing comes anywhere close to them
I'm running the recommended link lengths and for that, you get 10 deg. collective and swash is about 7-8 deg. Standard setup on the head. Stock paddles as well... and it moves fast. I bought a pair of Gorilla paddles, but it didnt need them so it ended up on my align 450.
Its a better heli i think.... just more expensive to crash. I dont even want to try to do an auto on it... skids are to soft if i mess it up. it wont absorb the impact.
I used to auto the Lepton nose first into a clump of grass - when I was using the Hirobo skids
But ever since I put the Gaui 550 skids on the Lepton I've had nothing to worry about
I must say that when you flare you only get one brief chance at it
(I'm the only one in my flying that does auto my Lepton)
I've laid it over twice - did not even bend the flybar - no energy left in the rotor head
The link lengths don't limit your collective - it's the CCPM collective function in the TX
(the radius pins will impose a limit as they will come out of the guides with enough negative)
docjoe
02-19-2008, 05:20 PM
Jafa,
I took those MAH blades off my Lepton and replaced them with a spare set of Align 425mm CF blades and this really made a difference. I have been able to be more aggressive in the 2 flights that I flew and it flew more like my 500. I need to adjust the pitches to get it just where I want it but now it's a new Heli! IMHO, those MAH blades really bogged the Lepton. It's weird. I never thought that blades would make that much of a difference.
Well done Joe
Maybe that explains the large number of people here complaining about the Lepton bogging
(I don't know of anybody in Australia that bought a set of MAH for the Lepton)
There are also some cheap FRP blades available for the TRex500
My friends grabbed them for hacking around with
But we found in flips they flexed a lot and made a horrible noise
but they also killed the headspeed badly
They've all switched over to Carbon blades and the heli flies so much better
The align/rotortech 430mm CF blades are really good as well... Very stiff and thin blades. Makes the lepton very aggressive to fly and comparable to my 450's in performance.
I use 68mm CF tails and the piro rate is very good.
What Gain values do you guys have? on what radio? I run a G500T gyro on a DS3400G servo, with 62-65 gain on a DX7, and it seems kinda low to me... Just wanted to compare what others are getting. Thanks.
Yeah - I use the those RotorTech blades on my Lepton (they are actually Funkey blades)
They're great blades for sure
Gain values can't be compared - it's pointless
It's so dependant on the mechancial gain which is different for every heli
and every installation (how far the ball is from the center of the tail servo)
Every gyro manufacturer has different onboard software
Just go with the minimum gain what works (does everything ok)
docjoe
02-20-2008, 07:11 PM
Yeah - I use the those RotorTech blades on my Lepton (they are actually Funkey blades)
They're great blades for sure
Funkey Actually makes rotortech and radix blades.
BTW, I flew my Lepton today with the Align CF blades and had a ton of fun! It's a new heli again!
docjoe
03-18-2008, 05:35 PM
Yet another revelation, I took the mini weights out of my gorilla paddles. This made my Lepton crazy aggressive and it was the most fun I've had on my Lepton in a long, long time!
mulleng
03-19-2008, 01:01 PM
welcome back from the T-REX 500 channel:YeaBaby:
docjoe
03-24-2008, 10:29 PM
I was having so much fun with the Lepton that I had to upgrade to better parts. I upgraded the servos. I had slow 3150s on and upgraded to the 3155s. Much better improvement. I was having some problems finding the Airtronics servos and just went with the 3155s. I flew them today and It's so much better. I also upgraded from a 401/9254 combo to 7703d/3400 and this worked out very well. Also a lot less tail heavy so much better for my CG.
buster1
03-25-2008, 01:35 AM
I am going to try some new blades as well for the Lepton - as you guys mentioned, I am also using the MAH blades and been having some bogging problems during certain 3D moves as well -couldn't figure it out, but now that I am hearing the same thing from you guys - I see I need to put on another set of blades,
Thanks,
Jeff