Gaui 550 or Align 500!!!?????

[spencer737]

Ok Guys I am in a serious bind here, I have an event coming up in a month and need to buy a bigger heli, I keep switching back and forth but just can't decide. I'll be going towards the Trex but then lean over to the Gaui. Is there anyone that has tried both and can give honest opinions!

P.S.
I am doing moderate 3D

[Graeme67]

I am doing moderate 3D
Hi Spencer737, I am a heli newbie & I deliberated over this exact question for some time before deciding the that the Hurri was to be my first heli. I am totally happy with my decision because the Hurri suits me perfectly for where I am at. However, you are in a different situation. If you are already into moderate 3D and presumably want to head further in that direction IMO the Trex 500 would be a far better choice. It's a 3D monster straight out of the box. From what I have seen the hurri can be "worked" to go there, but in it's standard form it is perfect for learning & sport flying & I can see it taking me a long way. If I need full on 3D performance in the future I'll be looking for a Trex500.

Horses for courses. Just my 2cents worth!

Happy decision making;)

Graeme

[worldofmaya]

Hi!
If you want a a good working heli without too much blink take an Hurricane. Good size, flys really well. But if you more one of this higher head speed and lot's of power guys than you maybe be better with a rex... why? Because CNC parts are really expensive against the plastic parts. Rex comes with a Cnc head and seams to be really meant for more power. You could take a Hurricane with CF frame and metal head (...) but this costs quit a lot and it will be heavier than a Rex 500.
I'm really like with my Hurricane, but if you're using 2000 rpms or more the plastic version is not your best friend. There's no price - performance relation if you upgrade it. If I had the money, I would buy one of the 500 size Logos... Trex 500 would be a cheaper alternative.
-klaus

[bjosko]

Graeme posted almost the same answer I wrote, but didn't post in the 500-forum.

I have them both, and are also, still, in the beginner group.
Yes, there are much more pop and 3D capability directly in the TRex 500, but I will not said that the 550 are bad, just different, and flies more like a large bird. (And it is larger! )

I am sure my Hurri will go into a scale-body as soon as I am starting to fly 3D with my TRex. ;)

[clayboy]

i like my 550 better but i have z30 motor and it gives very short flight timer even on 3300mha batteries , looking back on what i had to pay to get the 550 to the performance i have now i do think the t-rex 500 is a much better deal, it flies very nice straight out the box .

[concept1]

I do not have the Trex 500, but when it came out I was decideing to either get the Align or upgrade my 550 to a new carbon or G10 frame. I had the plastic version with a upgraded motor, I liked it but was not happy with the plastic frame and battery configs. as soon as i saw the trex 500, it was a very easy choice. I now have the Rotorworkz g10 frame and the trex 500 is of no intrest at all. for me it is too small and I gain nothing over the Hurri! I allready have a trex 450 which sits on the shelf, i have sold all my 50 glow's. the Hurri. is not quite a 50 but so much more then a 500 size wise. I really decided on the 550 because it is a preffect heli for A123 cells, it is in the Larger catagory, power to weight when set up properly is awesome.
it can be gotten real cheap and upgraded as you progress, the battery choice is endless. if you get the plastic version, you will need the metal grips and elv arm, but not to much more then that, it can be tuned for your flying style. but yes if you do just want out of the box flying the Trex is a great heli! I can not fault the Trex besides it's size.

[istandalone]

hurricane 550 xes.

[vicrc]

I have both heli. The H550 in stock form is not a full 3d ship (IMHO- Mild 3D yes) and the Trex 500 is 3D out of the box, with a bit more metal parts and a carbon frame already. I purchased the H550 while waiting on my T500 to come and I don't regret doing it. If I only had one choice, I would still pick the H550, as it is bigger and a bit more stable than the T500. I gave up trying A123 on the T500 but the H550, being pretty light for its size, can handle the extra weight of 8sA123. There was a fair amount of upgrades on the H550 to make it 3D worthy and I have spent a bit more than cost of T500. It doesn't really matter as I have upgraded the parts after crashes.

For someone learning to fly heli, the Hurry is the way to go, cheap parts replacement an average $30 per crash with wood blades. If you want 3D out of the box then get the Trex 500. You can make the Hurry a capable 3D but you have to buy upgrades.

A few weeks ago, I crashed both my Trex 500 and Hurry. The Trex cost me $90 to fix and the Hurry $30, so I am learning a lot more on the Hurry as I am not to afraid of the cost to fix it.

[BL]

As the T500 is using 425mm blades but the H550 is using 500mm blades, and H550 flies well with 550mm blades, I'm using the 550mm blades for quite a while, very happy with 550mm and will not go back to 500mm blades.

So as compare 425mm to 500mm or 550mm, I think we should not direct compare these two birds, their are two different sizes.