is it just me?

[shaggybirdman]

is it just me, or are there a ton of people here trying to con themselves into thinking the blade 400 is the equal to a trex in any configuration? almost every person that has decided to get the b 400 has said they will get a trex after the b 400, and as i read it it sounds like they will be saving for it right after they get the b 400.

my dad always told me not to settle because you will regret it later. people if your going to get a trex anyhow why not do it now instead of later. like the fram commercial said "you can pay me now, or pay me later." why wait???

i just truly don't understand the logic of it.

sorry for the rant. :arggg:

[istandalone]

i think the big draw to the blade 400 is 1) it's a "high" quality rtf heli, for newbies who don't trust themselves to build or just don't want to. 2) it comes with a dx6i, which is a good tx and you can expand your fleet without having to buy another tx. 3) it's $500 ready to go. that's hard to say no to.

[shaggybirdman]

well i'm not trying to put it down by no means, but everyone says i'll get a trex next. just spend the cash now and be done with it.

i guess i'm in a good situation. i fly plains, sail boats, and race 1/8 buggies. waiting on parts isn't as big a deal for me. i just play with another rc something is all.

it's just that i don't understand settling for something when you really want something else. it just makes the trex just that much more expansive.

[JasonJ]

For a new person to the hobby, it is unlikely that they will be able to tell much difference between a properly set up Blade 400 and a properly set up T-rex. By the time they can tell the difference, they have been flying long enough to know for sure they are committed enough to the hobby to go to the next level. Odds are they would skip a 450 and for to a larger helicopter at that point.

The attractiveness of the Blade 400 is the price and what you get for that price. Lets face it, people can spend less than half on a Blade 400 and be flying something that really isn't that far off from a T-rex 450 SA. Just a guess, but if a Trex SA and a Blade 400 had the same motor, servo, and electronics, they would most likely fly close enough alike so only a pro could tell the difference. Soooo, a person can spend the $400-ish on the Blade 400, and even after they replace the servos and gyro (since those seem to have the most complaints), they are still in it for around $600. That is still less than a T-rex. It is a lot easier for a person to sh!t the money for a Blade 400, then whatever bits they replace down the road than to come up with the initial cost of a good Trex.

I would think people would be happy there is something rtf that is considerably less likely to drive people from the hobby than the cheap rtf junk, yet I get this feeling that some people want this hobby to stay small and exclusive (expensive). Thats too bad, because products like the Blade 400 is what causes companies to dust off the drawing board and make better products rather than sit on their hands and just crank out the same product over and over.

[shaggybirdman]

the blade is nice but when you decide to get a trex taking the radio to the trex witch you will see flys 10 times better you just bought a $500 dx6. why settle is my thought.

i bet there is a car out there that you realy wanted, but settled for what your driving now. i'll bet everytime you see the car you wanted you wish you would have saved a bit longer to get it. same thing goes when you finaly get the trex. you'll say why didn't i just get it to start with.

trex end cost $1300 (blade 400 $500. trex $800). or go this route

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

trex clone roughly $500, or there cheaper version. trex clone $300
+

you can pay for the trex now or over pay for it later. you decide. it's your cash.

[visuvius]

I got a Blade 400 because I wanted to get a "real" RC heli but I didn't want to plop down the $1100 + for a Trex. Main reason for this was I wanted to make sure it was something I'd pursue in the long run. Some people (and I know I'm not alone on this) get into a certain hobby or something and then don't see it all the way thru. It would suck to pay more than a thousand dollars on something and then realize it really isn't for you. The Blade 400 is the perfect option for people like this (me). I'm really enjoying it (though I had a pretty epic crash yesterday) and I feel like a Trex is in my future but I'm glad I'm learning on this cheaper alternative.

Also, other people are right, I really don't think I have the skill at this point to be able to tell the difference between the B400 and Trex 450, although I'm sure there definitely are performance differences. Hopefully by the time I get better at the Blade, I'll be ready for a Trex.

I'm totally happy with my purchase. For $400, I got a built, decent quality heli with an excellent radio that I'm now using for another model as well. You can't beat that. In these arguments/discussions, a lot of the Blade 400 guys argue from the point of justifying their purchases, but I really do think the Blade is a great alternative. On the other hand, the Trex guys can be a bit snobish which is a little off-putting. To each their own I suppose.

[shaggybirdman]

I got a Blade 400 because I wanted to get a "real" RC heli but I didn't want to plop down the $1100 + for a Trex. Main reason for this was I wanted to make sure it was something I'd pursue in the long run. Some people (and I know I'm not alone on this) get into a certain hobby or something and then don't see it all the way thru. It would suck to pay more than a thousand dollars on something and then realize it really isn't for you. The Blade 400 is the perfect option for people like this (me). I'm really enjoying it (though I had a pretty epic crash yesterday) and I feel like a Trex is in my future but I'm glad I'm learning on this cheaper alternative.

Also, other people are right, I really don't think I have the skill at this point to be able to tell the difference between the B400 and Trex 450, although I'm sure there definitely are performance differences. Hopefully by the time I get better at the Blade, I'll be ready for a Trex.

I'm totally happy with my purchase. For $400, I got a built, decent quality heli with an excellent radio that I'm now using for another model as well. You can't beat that. In these arguments/discussions, a lot of the Blade 400 guys argue from the point of justifying their purchases, but I really do think the Blade is a great alternative. On the other hand, the Trex guys can be a bit snobish which is a little off-putting. To each their own I suppose.

your missing the point. 99% of the people here say they are getting a trex now after having a blade 400. that's a $1300 trex. not a trex from the get go.
a v2 is what $300, 401 $130, 3 collective servos $100, tail servo $50, battery $60 = $640 a futaba 6 2.4 gig radio is what $200. $840 total in the air. i don't add in ground equipment. if your into rc anything you'll soon be using li pos in them, so you can't add the cost of a charger, and if you do it's another $100. total $940. so how do you come up with $1100 for a trex?

alternative yes, but 99% of blade owners buy a trex after the blade. now that's how you end up with a $1300 trex. you just bought a dx6 for $500. that's all that will move to the trex unless you bought a 401 to replace the eflite gyro. i'm not sure if the replacement servos will move to the trex. i have been reading the blade vs trex stuff. almost all 400 owners get a trex shortly after the 400. save some cash. just get the trex. oh and by the way i DO get a kick back for promoting them NOT. i'm just tired of seeing people waste time and money doing the sneak up on buying a trex thing. my first heli was a 30 size nitro bird. along came winter, and she's parked. got a blade cx2 to keep me motivated. just finished my trex. going threw Radd's flight school now. hope to be hovering soon if i can get a big enough place to practice. my rex cost about $540 or so. trex X CDE $130 new off evil bay. i'd get a trex clone for $180 with motor, and esc delivered to my door. just a bit more than a blade 400, and 3 times the heli.

take it as you may. yes a blade 400 is probably a nice starter heli, but i bet you will end up with a trex very very soon, and move that nice dx6 to a trex at a cost of $500.

[Hawk18052]

It's a great learing toy. for example, I became very good at flying it while my friend (who got his first) still has problems. the 260 I put down let me know it would be worth it to spend a disgusting amount of money on a better heli.

End of Line,
Hawk

[Skarn]

Shaggy, I keep seeing you tell people not to get a Blade 400. Have you ever flown one?

For what they are, they are a very nice heli! No they are not a TREX, but again, for the money...for under $500 for everything, it is a nice heli to learn on! I was very skeptical like you since I have a Blade CP as well....but after flying my friends I have to say, the B400 is one nice helil!

For a beginner on a tight budget, I'd have NO problem recommending a B400 as a first heli!

Also, where can you get a TREX450 SE v2 for $300? That's an awesome price!

Skarn

[JasonJ]

$1300 for a trex is flawed logic. If someone buys a Blade for whatever amount, that Blade didn't just sit there until the trex gets bought. That blade gets flown. The person flying that Blade learns. That learned skill and knowledge has value. If a person buys a $500 Blade 400 and flies it for 6 months, and develops some proficiency at flying, then he/she got their money's worth out of that $500. They go and buy a Trex, and progress from there. Could a person save hard cash by going the trex route right off? Of course. But to say they wasted $500 or bought a $1300 Trex is illogical. besides, when they go buy that Trex after the Blade, the Blade still exists, and still has value as a back-up helicopter when the T-rex is down. Even the DX6i verses DX7 argument doesn't hold up. We all know a person can sell that DX6i and step into a DX7 without much more money. So, in the end, if a person buys a Blade 400, then a Trex, sells the DX6i for whatever reason and gets a DX7, they have spent around $1500-ish. Now, that isn't too bad for a radio, two good helicopters and flying experience...

[shaggybirdman]

i never said the b 400 is a bad heli. i also never said not to get one. what i'm saying is if your going to get a trex anyhow get it first off. hell get one of the clones even. my cde was cheap. $140 to my door with motor, and esc. a sa i think it's a sa (aluminum frame) comes with a motor, and esc for what $180. so for just about $650 you could have a trex sa with a dx6.

one weekend to build, and the rest of the week to get it setup after work. if all you can afford is $500 for your heli you mite want to think about flying planks. your going to be putting cash into it in to fix crashes. it will add up fast i'm sure. i'm just learning to hover myself, but before i even spun her up for the first time i had to replace a blade grip, skids, and one of the mixing arms. $30 and she never saw air below her skids.

hey i'm a no0b, and can't hover, but i'm frugal. if you want a b 400 get it, but you know you want a trex, so why wait. just get it. why settle?

all the prices i quote are just from memory from what i remember seeing them sell for. i thought a v2 less motor, and esc was $300. i guess i'm low, but one thing i do know. you can build a trex 450 for well under $1000. does the v2 really fly that much better than my cde, and could a no0b like myself know the diferance? sorry if i offended anyone, or pissed anyone off, but in this rather pricey hobby why settle. besides $500 is alot of money to spend if you just thing a heli is for you. to me that's a commitment to the hobby.

[JasonJ]

"if cat's always land on there feet, and toast always lands butter side down. what happens if you strap toast to the back of a cat?"

The cat spins continuously, like a perpetual motion machine. Ram a driveshaft in it's arse and you have unlimited power for a large scale helicopter...until it gets hungry or has to take a crap.

[JasonJ]

sorry if i offended anyone, or pissed anyone off

No one is offended or pissed. Nothing wrong with a healthy debate. Everyone has their own circumstances which guides their buying decisions. In the end, as long as people are flyin' that's all that really matters....

[Hawk18052]

So far I've spent well over 2 grand and don't even have heli yet. Found out the batts and charger that come with it suk so I gotta fix that But I gotta pay the morgage first.

End of Line,
Hawk

[shaggybirdman]

So far I've spent well over 2 grand and don't even have heli yet. Found out the batts and charger that come with it suk so I gotta fix that But I gotta pay the morgage first.

End of Line,
Hawk

but the batteries and charger will get her in the air.

[Hawk18052]

For maybe 2 min if I'm lucky, plus haveing to ajust everything when I get the new Batts. just put me outta my misery i'll even provide the gun.

Hawk

[shaggybirdman]

so with good batteries your looking at what 4+ min? how long will a trex fly for?

[Leaf Blower]

Shaggy,

With that logic, I should have skipped straight to a Raptor 90!

I own several mini's ( correct term ? ) - from a Lama V4 ($80), a Walkera DF60 (RIP), Honeybee King 2(~$200), a Blade 400 ($460) and a 450SEV2 (more $$$). As a beginner, I agree with the others that a Blade 400 is a good training heli, good performance right out of the box. The thing that I really wanted to try is the transmitter ( and larger rotor)- as I was not sure whether or not a better TX would help- it did. Waste of money for the various birds? Maybe- but maybe not. When I am done with the HBK, and the Blade, I will either sell them or give them to new homes. The TRex will be kept- hopefully in a pristine condition. Probably move up to something larger to deal with the winds. I still try to fly the HBK2, B400 and occasionally the TRex.. As the B400 and the TRex flies about the same, and the B400 is cheaper to repair- it gets the most airtime. In a year, I'd consider myself lucky if the B400 is still flying- and if it is, it may already have a new home doing what it does best.

I started with the Lama, which disappointed me. I then tried the Walkera- a glitching and twitching b!+ch. The HBK2 was my real initial training heli teaching me control - twitchy though. The B400 showed me what a better bird and controller could do. The TRex flies a little better but is quite similar - so until I outgrow the B400, it will do for training purposes. After all, it is cheaper to crash it and rebuild than to destroy and rebuild the TRex.

Do you really feel that you wasted your money on your CX2? Or was it a stepping block?

I guess what I am saying is that my Blade 400 is a training device- to prepare me for the TRex and beyond. The fact that it can do 3D never really came into the equation. The fact that it can do 3D might extend its useful life to me- who knows. Comparable? Well, it's like arguing which is better- a Ford or a Chevy...

[Hawk18052]

"Do you really feel that you wasted your money on your CX2? Or was it a stepping block?" No it wasn't a waste at all, let me know I could fly better than my friend. It's a gateway drug.

Hawk

[Skarn]

Leaf Blower,

I don't think the B400 is any cheaper to reapair than the TREX 450 SE v2. The SE v2 parts are metal and carbon fire for the most part and don't break nearly as often. And the ones that normally do are dirt cheap. My average cost so far has been about $25 per crash....those are the 5 major ones I've had now.

Skarn

[shaggybirdman]

Shaggy,

With that logic, I should have skipped straight to a Raptor 90!

first off we are talking first single rotor heli. hell i should ship my next heli (possibly a hurricane 550) and get the gasser (witch i really want), or turbine. if that's truly what you think this debate, and what i'm saying is all about.

I own several mini's ( correct term ? ) - from a Lama V4 ($80), a Walkera DF60 (RIP), Honeybee King 2(~$200), a Blade 400 ($460) and a 450SEV2 (more $$$). As a beginner, I agree with the others that a Blade 400 is a good training heli, good performance right out of the box. The thing that I really wanted to try is the transmitter ( and larger rotor)- as I was not sure whether or not a better TX would help- it did. Waste of money for the various birds? Maybe- but maybe not. When I am done with the HBK, and the Blade, I will either sell them or give them to new homes. The TRex will be kept- hopefully in a pristine condition. Probably move up to something larger to deal with the winds. I still try to fly the HBK2, B400 and occasionally the TRex.. As the B400 and the TRex flies about the same, and the B400 is cheaper to repair- it gets the most airtime. In a year, I'd consider myself lucky if the B400 is still flying- and if it is, it may already have a new home doing what it does best.

I started with the Lama, which disappointed me. I then tried the Walkera- a glitching and twitching b!+ch. The HBK2 was my real initial training heli teaching me control - twitchy though. The B400 showed me what a better bird and controller could do. The TRex flies a little better but is quite similar - so until I outgrow the B400, it will do for training purposes. After all, it is cheaper to crash it and rebuild than to destroy and rebuild the TRex.

Do you really feel that you wasted your money on your CX2? Or was it a stepping block?

hell no. if i were to have started with a single rotor heli first i would have never gotten any further than that heli, or even found this forum.

I guess what I am saying is that my Blade 400 is a training device- to prepare me for the TRex and beyond. The fact that it can do 3D never really came into the equation. The fact that it can do 3D might extend its useful life to me- who knows. Comparable? Well, it's like arguing which is better- a Ford or a Chevy...

no contest. chevy hands down. :nanabobo

it seems to me that most here think i'm bashing the b 400. i'm not. most everyone here that says they are getting a b 400 say they are going to get a trex. trex = status quo best 450 size heli. PERIOD am i wrong? if your going to get a trex why in the name heli not just get one, and be done with it.

fact: your going to crash no matter what heli you fly.
fact: your going to fix it. especialy since you have invested the money
already.
fact: (at least here localy) parts are close enough in price that pirceing is not
a big factor.
fact: there are models of the trex to choose from. not all are the cost of a v2.

i guess i'm gust a realist. if you want something just get it. don't waste time, and money to build up to it. just get it, and you will be happier for it. i can't make you, or anyone buy a trex. it's your money. do as you may. you yourself spent the cost of your trex just to get to the trex. why? why didn't you get the trex after the lama. would have saved you a ton of headaches. probably learned to fly faster as well is my bet.

my point is you wanted a trex from the get go is my guess. you could have had it alot sooner, but decided to get one heli after the next. more and more cash spent. it worked for you, but where did you end up at? a trex. i assume it's the last heli you got? if so why did you get it? now that you can fly get that 90 size nitro bird saying you can afford it, or are you going to get a 30, 50, and then the 90. i'm a firm believer that he who dies with the most toys wins, but man going by your train of thought theres going to be a bunch of helis before you get that 90.



[QUOTE=Leaf Blower;603693]

[Hawk18052]

Maybe, it's up to you of course but the whole nitro thing seems like a pain. Not that eletric isn't a pain but if I had to choose, well actually already went electric. wait till you see the size of the Hurricane canopy - I still can't get over it.

End of Line,
Hawk

[shaggybirdman]

i take it it showed up?

[Leaf Blower]

Shaggy,
I don't dispute your facts. Well- 'cept the investment part of it.

"fact: your going to crash no matter what heli you fly.
fact: your going to fix it. especialy since you have invested the money
already.
fact: (at least here localy) parts are close enough in price that pirceing is not
a big factor.
fact: there are models of the trex to choose from. not all are the cost of a v2."

Second thought: I'm pretty sure that prices for my V2 parts might be more expensive than what the corresponding B400 parts are - as the Blade uses mostly plastic like parts.

I have both. One is definitely cheaper and is for the most part complete enough for someone to start out with - and about 1/2 what a 450SEV2 would cost starting out from scratch. And If they are starting out- they might not know yet if they really want to spend a grand and watch it become a lawn dart!! Yes, and not everyone wants to buy a 450x and then go the upgrade route!
Endpoint: a B400 is a fine machine, especially for the price and for what it comes with. Starting out a B400 costs less than what a 450SEV2 does from scratch!
Have you ever considered the guy saying "I will get a T-Rex ..later" is possibly a beginner not yet sure about heli's and using the B400 as an entry point- deciding IF he really wants to get into this hobby? There's nothing wrong with getting one later. It's their choice.

Really comes down to choices: $500 for a lawn dart or $1000 for a lawn dart
Heck, you should understand that- it looks like you bought an "X"!

On a gentler note, when I asked a member of the local heli club which of his birds was his favorite, his reply was "Favorite one? Nope, I like to fly 'em all.. "

[markleyland]

The first thing to buy is a sim! (really helps to keep the cost down):thumbup: