trex450 or trex 500?

[viper0173]

i currently fly a blade cx2 and have just about mastered it. I am looking to upgrade and i dont know which model to choose. I like the idea of the 500 size heli but the 600 is too big .my goal is a 600 nitro airwolf replica. all i hear is bigger is easier.

450 or 500? can anyone help? thank u

[Skiddz]

I don't have a 500, but I do have 3 450's and 2 600's. ( I am planning on a 500 in the next few months tho) The bigger helis are more stable, but nearly twice the cost to get in the air and cost more to repair after a crash. Just because they're more stable doesn't mean they're not nimble. My newest 600 is pretty quick on the cyclic.

The 450s can be a bit twitchy (anything will feel twitchy compared to a CX2) but can be tamed down a bit with a shorter flybar, flybar weights and some expo.

What I'd reccommend is a 450, possibly an SE (V1, not the V2 'cuz it's got all the metal goodies, is very durable and is inexpensive to repair) and a sim. The sim will get your thumb/finger muscle memory developed a bit while you're building the heli which will save you money in the long run with reduced crashes.

You need to consider the support equipment costs as well. Packs for a 450 are about 1/4 the cost of those for a 500 if you run 6S packs on the 500. Chargers for 3S packs are cheaper than those for 6S packs etc...

Whichever way you go, don't go cheap on the transmitter. Get as much radio as you can afford. The DX7 is a good choice and is reasonably priced as well. Hitec HS65MG servos are kind of the defacto standard for the cyclic and the 401/S9650 gyro/servo is a good fit for this heli. Figure a ready to fly cost of about $800 for the heli, another $200 for a DX7 and $150 for a couple battery packs. Those are ballpark figures based on what my 450's cost to get in the air - you can probably save a few bucks by shopping around or hitting up vendors for "combo" pricing.

[CagedVR6]

While your at it go watch all finless's videos on the trex450se so you know what your in for assembling, setting up the radio :)

[TheBum]

You can use 2500 mAh 6S packs (or two 3S packs) on the 500, so the battery costs are more like 2x rather than 4x. Another thing to consider is parts availability. The last time I checked, 500 parts were in short supply whereas 450 parts are plentiful.

[viper0173]

thanx guys i appreciate the info looks like 450 se here i come o boy!

[gustafh]

Hey, i've got a 500 and a 450 and im a newbie. I'd say the 500 is a lot easier to fly.
much more stable in a hover and easier build too. the 500 may be more expensive especially batteries and main blades, but if you have the money go 500!
i aggree with skiddz, get a good radio! you'll never regret that.
but last, get the heli that works with the space you intend to fly in. if you want to be able to just get the heli out in a small space and practice hover the 450 is nice, i've you've got lots of space go bigger.