TRex 450SE V2 or Blade 400 for 1st Heli?

[vwoz]

I have been doing a butt load of research on which aircraft to buy as a first heli. I have a hobby shop minutes away that carries parts for the Blade 400 but not so much for the TRex 450. I really like the carbon fiber frame, alum rotor head and tail rotor assy, and other features on the TRex 450. I have also heard the B400 has some and is getting more upgrade parts all the time and makes for a better first heli. As a newbie to the hobby, I'm looking for some good opinions and for someone to give me a compelling arguement why to buy which one!! If I knew I could get parts for the TRex easily locally it would definately help. I just dont want to buy the B400 only to be disappointed and wishing I bought the TRex!!!! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Oz

[viper0173]

i myself have been fighting the same battle of which heli to buy. and have come to the conclusion that is definatley worth the initial investment to go v2 . as eventually u will spend just as much in upgrades for the 400 as u will tje complete v2 in my opinion and this is just my opinion if u can afford it go align.

[shaggybirdman]

well my 2 cents worth. it really depends on parts avalibility. if your local hobby shop stocks blade parts get the blade. remember the dx6e is what $250 or so? that can be moved to any heli, so now you have $300 in it. $65 in the gyro. $235 in the heli. granted it really needs better servos, but you can fly it with the stock servos. it uses a 3 in 1 for the rest of the electronics i belive. a trex v2 sells for what $350 to $450? the aluminum frame isn't great for a new be in my opinion. ounce it bends there's no strightening it. carbon is the way to go in my opinion.

so i guess it it the choice of the benz, or the caddy.

there is one other option to think about. evil bay has a 450x cde for $130. comes with motor, and esc. i got one last fall. still putting it together as i type. i got $331 in it so far. i already had a radio, and rx. *

the blade still looks real good to me, but i'd still want a trex. i'll get a se v2 ounce i can fly.

[CagedVR6]

well my 2 cents worth. it really depends on parts avalibility. if your local hobby shop stocks blade parts get the blade. remember the dx6e is what $250 or so? that can be moved to any heli, so now you have $300 in it. $65 in the gyro. $235 in the heli. granted it really needs better servos, but you can fly it with the stock servos. it uses a 3 in 1 for the rest of the electronics i belive. a trex v2 sells for what $350 to $450? the aluminum frame isn't great for a new be in my opinion. ounce it bends there's no strightening it. carbon is the way to go in my opinion.

so i guess it it the choice of the benz, or the caddy.

there is one other option to think about. evil bay has a 450x cde for $130. comes with motor, and esc. i got one last fall. still putting it together as i type. i got $331 in it so far. i already had a radio, and rx. *

the blade still looks real good to me, but i'd still want a trex. i'll get a se v2 ounce i can fly.
Its a Dx6i, and they go for $100 brand new, or $170 for tx/rx
The Alum frame trex is the SA, and its around $260 new with the motor and speed control.
The SE is the carbon frame, with ALL the upgrades already.

If your just going to upgrade the b400 with alum anyway, the trex SE is a much better choice.

[darkchiild]

IMHO, if you're just getting your feet wet, and you're not sure whether you'll stick with it or not, just get a B400. If you know you'll enjoy it, shell out the cash on the Trex right away. Yes there are going to be alum parts, yes you can upgrade the electronics to ones that don't suck, but that stuff isn't free. By the time you've upgraded the B400 you'll have spent MORE than you would have on a Trex with a better radio.

Check this thread out: http://helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=56303

I started with a blade cp pro, which is marketed as "3d capable out of the box". This has jaded me a little when it comes to e-flight. That thing couldn't fly 3d any more than *I* could. Best I could do is jump, but at least if I do I always come down in one piece.

The trex outfitted with good electronics, and adjusted properly is like a rock by comparison. It just does exactly what you tell it. From what I've read the servos in the B400 are uber cheap and won't center well, so you'll be fighting with cyclic all the time.

Long story short, flight characteristics of the Trex will be nicer, and it heavier so won't get pushed around so much in breezy weather. If you're going to make a commitment to the hobby, spend the money. You get what you pay for. If not, get the B400, and you can upgrade things here and there as you go, and the Trex set up will be cheaper when you decide to go to that instead.

[shaggybirdman]

i was at my new be best trying to compare the 400 to a trex cash wise. i'll be honest. do it right, and buy a trex, but i still say stay away from the aluminum ver.

there's nothing wrong with e flite. it's just the cp pro is DEFIANTLY NOT A BEGINNERS HELI. that's all. i had a vega way back when, but i don't consider chevys the devils spawn. actually i loved my vega. it was one of the good ones. 1 out of 1000 :)

another thing to consider is your budget. can you afford the $700 for a trex, or is the $500 doable? maybe save a bit longer, and get the trex.

[shaggybirdman]

Check this thread out: http://helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=56303


after reading only 3 pages of the above quote i gotta talk my buddy out of the 400, and into a trex. i tried to get him to buy a trex when he got his blade cpp. i gotta really work him over to just spend the cash, and get a trex. even if it's a cde like mine.

[Skarn]

Both are decent 1st heli's. I don't think you'd regret either. In my opinion, it boils down to your budget. I've flown both (only hovered the B400) and both fly very nice and stable.

If you can afford to get the very best, get the TREXSE v2....with metal parts and carbon, my most expensive crash so far has been under $20.

So, if you have the money, get the TREX SE v2. If you are on a limited budget, get the B400.

Good luck!
Skarn

[cheech91060]

no one here seems to like cheapy stuff for noobs!

take a look at the esky honey bee fixed pitch as a learning tool first heli. can put it in the air for about $90 and learn orientation and tail control. the fixed pitch plastic blades take a beating and the head is really simple compared to a cp head. parts are around $1 each or most can be fixed yourself with some CA and black thread. i had one rotor head that i broke both balls off of and it still flew pretty well after reattaching with CA and thread.

if you've gotten to learn on a friend's heli, then sure get what your budget allows, but i just can't see shelling out for kit/batteries/charger/tools/build time before you know if you enjoy it.

[darkchiild]

i was at my new be best trying to compare the 400 to a trex cash wise. i'll be honest. do it right, and buy a trex, but i still say stay away from the aluminum ver.

there's nothing wrong with e flite. it's just the cp pro is DEFIANTLY NOT A BEGINNERS HELI. that's all. i had a vega way back when, but i don't consider chevys the devils spawn. actually i loved my vega. it was one of the good ones. 1 out of 1000 :)

another thing to consider is your budget. can you afford the $700 for a trex, or is the $500 doable? maybe save a bit longer, and get the trex.
I'll admit my review of the bcpp was a touch overboard. It just irritated me that they advertised it as 3d out of the box. There aren't many 3d maneuvers that can be done w/o an HH gyro. I'll bet chevy never advertised the vega as a sports car. It's misleading that's all.

And honestly it didn't fly terribly either. The bcpp was the pot of helis. The trex450sev2 is the crack. I'm slowly working my way toward meth (600N) ;P

My biggest complaint with the bcpp was the tail. Even with an hh gyro the thing just wouldn't stay still no matter what.

[Pinecone]

If you can afford it, the Trex definitely.

The Blade 400 is OK, but many find you need to upgrade the servos ($150 - $180 for all 4), and the gyro ($125). By that time, you are well into Trex area.

If money is tight, or you don't want to put the money into the Trex until youar e sure you will like flying helis, the Blade 400 is nice low cost, reasonable heli to try.

[terrybeb]

Ok, here is an other angle to look at....T-REX Clone package deal not much price difference than the Blade 400 but parts are interchangeable with those of the T-Rex.


http://www.ehirobo.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=5583 (http://http://www.ehirobo.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=5583)

If I was to do it over I might have gone this way had I known about it.

[flapjack]

I purchased a Blade400. After checking out the setup i flew it with no adjustments right out of the box. Hovered fine, just needed a battery charge. My opinion is tainted.
My 1st heli was a Eflite CX2 coaxial. I flew it around the house. Then one nice day i took it outside. Because of its size the wind took hold of it and carried it away. As i tried to control it, i crashed. Breaking some rotor blades and other assorted parts. Buying replacement parts, i came across some upgraded aluminum parts. For a little more money i could get stronger parts. So i upgraded the CX2 with stronger parts. Now when i crashed i only replaced blades and plastic parts that couldnt be replaced with aluminum. After hovering in the house, the CX2 became to easy. Looking for a challenge I yearned for a single rotor heli with a tail rotor. I started looking at the local hobby shops and using google to find online retailers. I found a lot of off brand deals out there. I came to the conclusion that the LHS could supply eflight parts. Also i wanted a 2.4ghz radio. Also it seemed all the rtf heli's had the option to upgrade to lipo batteries. Power to weight ratio, lipos seemed like an obvious upgrade. All research pointed to the Blade400. RTF, 2.4ghz radio, lipo battery and LHS support.
I purchased a Blade400. It hovers and flys fine right out of the box for a noobie. I wanted to upgrade the parts however. Why? Because i knew from my past experience it made a more durable helicopter. My human nature is to upgrade things. So i started to realize i wanted aluminum parts and upgrades. Trex happened to make a kit just like i wanted. 450 SE v2. So i made the desicion to buy and build a kit versus spend money on upgrades for a plastic heli. As it stood the blade needed 4 servo's and a better gyro. i decided to put the 4 servos and gyro in a trex.
After building and flying the trex 450 i know even for a noob like me the trex is much more stable to hover and flys so much nicer. Since the trex is already upgraded im not looking for aluminum parts to replace. The downside is the trex450 is much more expensive. I was going to spend the money any ways. So in a way i saved by not upgrading the wrong heli. If you know you will not upgrade the model, then the blade400 is fine.
If you think you want a RTF heli as opposed to a kit. At some point you will crash and have to repair the heli. If you already built it, you will know how to repair it. The RTF really doesnt help you. The finless videos on helifreak really will help you build the trex. Get a trex 450. If you just want instant gratifcation and somethng to fly around the house and chase the pet, get a blade CX2. If you get trex and have the money to repair your crashes, you might as well get a Sim too. For the cost of a few crash repairs you can get a nice Simulator for your computer.

[shaggybirdman]

Ok, here is an other angle to look at....T-REX Clone package deal not much price difference than the Blade 400 but parts are interchangeable with those of the T-Rex.


http://www.ehirobo.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=5583 (http://http://www.ehirobo.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=5583)

If I was to do it over I might have gone this way had I known about it.

that link does not work for me. well at least me anyhow

[ptc]

Try this,

http://www.ehirobo.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=5583

The original link had an extra http// inserted.

-- Phil

[ptc]

Here's another angle (especially for a beginner, like me).

I could buy four honeybee fp's or two belt cp's rtf for less than one Blade 400 or trex.

As I crash, I can keep flying while waiting on spare parts for the other one(s).

And, when it comes time to repair the crashed one, I have one good one to look at so I know how it goes back togather.

-- Phil

[Skarn]

Here's another angle (especially for a beginner, like me).

I could buy four honeybee fp's or two belt cp's rtf for less than one Blade 400 or trex.

As I crash, I can keep flying while waiting on spare parts for the other one(s).

And, when it comes time to repair the crashed one, I have one good one to look at so I know how it goes back togather.

-- Phil

Sure and here's another:

With your 2 Belt CPs (I purposely left out the FP), you'll crash them more often leading to more parts leading to more money leading to more down time. With 1 Trex, you will learn to actually fly much quicker since it's way more stable and easier to learn on and since you built it, when you do crash, you already know how to put it back together. You'll stay excited since you are learning and won't quit the hobby. At least this was my experience...I had a BladeCP prior to my TREX.

Skarn

[darkchiild]

Sure and here's another:

With your 2 Belt CPs (I purposely left out the FP), you'll crash them more often leading to more parts leading to more money leading to more down time. With 1 Trex, you will learn to actually fly much quicker since it's way more stable and easier to learn on and since you built it, when you do crash, you already know how to put it back together. You'll stay excited since you are learning and won't quit the hobby. At least this was my experience...I had a BladeCP prior to my TREX.

Skarn
+1. I had the cp pro before the trex, and I only ever took it above my waist after I knew I was getting rid of it and didn't care anymore if I crashed or not. When I got the trex, it felt rock solid, by comparison, and began progressing MUCH faster.

[shaggybirdman]

what it really comes down to is this:

you can buy a trex now, or buy one later. why wait? just buy it now, and be done with it. if you decide heli's aren't for you i'd be willing to bet you will get more for the trex than the blade 400.

my dad always said "get what you want first off, and you'll never kick yourself later for settling for something else" words to live by in my opinion.

[ptc]

I would like to get a Trex someday, however, I also want to learn to fly asap without having to spend the time acquiring the parts and then building a high performance 3d capable heli just to learn to hover.

btw, here's another interesting looking trex compatible clone for $99.00

http://www.xheli.com/exi-450-arf-rc-helicopter.html

I'm ordering the belt cp next week, it's got my curiosity up. The honeybee fp is just not stable enough in any kind of light breeze to learn all of the hovering orientations (I've been flying it for three months now), it more like just trying to chase it than learning to control it.

[shaggybirdman]

that could possibly be setup also. do you have a shop that has a heli guy that could go threw it for you? would be money well spent in my opinion. granted it's not a trex, but improperly setup it could be a handfull. just a thought. another point is if you have crashed, and replaced parts it could be out of wack just enough to be wondering.

just my 2 cents worth.

[ptc]

It flies fine when its calm. Lots of fun. But a little wind and it's all over the place.

Belt CP here I come! :shock:

-- Phil

[shaggybirdman]

i hope it doesn't do the same thing. save the aggravation, and buy a trex, and be done with it.

[maximum]

I'm a recently started noob as well and have spents weeks on this exact topic. In the end I decided it was better economy to go for the trex as I would only want one anyway if I stayed in the hobby. Trex 450 SE v2 with Gy401, etc on order should arrive any day now.

One thing I would stress more than anything is to get a decent sim like Phoenix. I've just got Phoenix and the CX2 is fairly straight forward but the 3D birds like Trex 450 are very different. So I'll be spending a large amount of time using the sim and watching Finless's videos, before the trex gets in the air.

:thumbup:

[aceman365]

If I may add my Newbie experience. I've flown my sim for about 40 hours, while hording my funds to afford my helicopter. This past weekend I got my Trex 450se into the air for about 1 minute before I over reacted to a breeze and nosed in and tipped the bird. I bent the main shaft, flybar, feathering shaft, and the blades are firewood. I've repaired the bird back to 100%, but I also made myself some training gear made out of wire coat hangers, electrical tape and some sodder, secured to the heli via zip ties. I really believe that had I had them on the heli on Sunday, I could have spare myself the 2 hours of work repairing the helicopter (which I kind of enjoy..shhhh).. but she's all better and should be flying in a few days.. waiting on weather at the moment. So.. I'll be logging more time on the simulator while I wait for the break in the weather.

So to my fellow newbies.. practice on the sim FIRST.. before you fly.. practice again..it's like warming up before race. Oh.. and stand up while you practice on the computer. I found it's alittle more realistic, after all there's no desk and chair at your LZ