HDE or CDE for max stability in scale flying?

[JEB123]

What do you experts out there consider more stable for slow and easy scale flying, HDE or CDE? I bought a Heliartist Hughes 500 and I'm trying to decide on which of the many TRex 450 types to put in it. I don't want to make a costly mistake on something that may go out of style or may not live up to such a nice FG fuse. I realize the HDE is easier for a newb like me to set up (I'm used to planks), but aside from a penta head (all in good time), which rotor head pitch mechanism gives the smoothest overall response and stability? It seems to me mixing levers would give just that, the most leverage and finer control, but am I mixing up issues here? Don't all HDE's use mixing levers? :dontknow

[Rodan]

Can you even get them anymore?

I would go with an SA, you may find parts for the older Rex's getting in short supply at some point. There's really no drawbacks to the eCCPM of the newer birds, and lots of advantages... lower parts count, better precision, etc...

[JEB123]

Thanks for your reply Rodan. Helihobby tells me you can choose the 450S in CDE or HDE. Just curious, why the SA? isn't that the aluminum version? I know it's cheaper and probably weighs the same as CF. I'm going nuts with so many TRex choices.

[Rodan]

The SA is the current 'base' model. It has the same basic architecture as the SE, so all the parts cross over. I don't think Align is still making the CDE/HDE, but I could be wrong. I think it's just left over stock at this point.

An alternative is a clone, such as this: http://www.nitroplanes.com/exi450arfrar.html

For a scaler, this might not be a bad place to start... I've not seen one in person, however the price is right!

[JEB123]

Thanks for the reply, sorry for the delay, I was out of town over the weekend, hey that clone looks pretty cool, but I wouldn't know where to start building. I've never built a TRex before, although I will have experienced help available for setup and such, but I would like to complete and fly it before removing the skids and installing it in the fuse. That should make it easier to balance and setup the gyro and all the electronics, no? What do you think of CopterX? My LHS tells me the Heli-Max MX400 came first and TRex copied the design? Is that true (of course he sells the MX400's)? Then again, he also told me "you don't need to balance LiPo's"!!!! Good thing he owns a hobby shop!!!

[Tintin]

Align is still making the CDE/HDE in plastic, or at least they have them both up on their homepage.
The S version is CDE only. Actually there is a difference as the CDE plastic doesn't have the servos directly on the swash. The CDE has just as meny levers/links as the HDE so no real benefit.

The S comes as kit + ARF in ALU, GF or CF as kit.

You can get an HDE CF frame but that requires some fiddling to work and are a pain to fit into existing canopies. Have one and have tried all canopies but the V2.

I would skip that LHS fella, he's out in the fields.......actually I can agree you don't need to balance lipos, but I'd never risk carging them without a balancer connected. Not for the balance, but for safety. If it was safe charging lipos without a balancer then my laptop wouldn't have had one....

Personally, if I was to get a TRex 450, no matter project, I'd grab a V2 without a doubt.

[JEB123]

Hi Tintin! Thanks very much for your reply and thoughts, and guess what? I just ordered a V2 without electronics yesterday for $225 US! I won't believe it until it hits my doorstep in 2 days. I figured I would need some power to lift my fiberglass Hughes 500 fuselage around so I also ordered a Scorpion motor and ESC for it as well... I can't wait!!! Ya know, I just read on the Apogee site (like you said), the LiPo's don't require balancing, but how much trouble is balancing? Not a lot, and I agree with you, it's worth it just for the safety.
Take care and thanks again!

[Tintin]

Good for you.
Just to be 100% clear on the lipo deal.

Lipos may not require the use of a balancer every time, however I do, every time. I do not want to be a member of the "I burnt down something because I didn't use a balancer"-club. :D

Even tho it's clearly stated and you know you should never charge unattended, trust me it will happen. Then the balancer is your safety device that might help you avoid a fire. I started arguing about the use of balancers back in 2004, not many agreed then and it has taken a number of burnt down garages, cars etc for people to realize. Luckily now, not many argue about not using it.....use it, every and I do mean every time.

Align just released a new charger and have gone back to their initial concept with built in balancer. There is simply no way but the balance connectors to connect batteries.

I have had charging sessions being stopped by my balancers several times which means if I hadn't had them some cells would have been overcharged which will cause damage and is a potential fire hazard so I'll never go back to stone age ways and charge without a balancer.... :D

[Rodan]

There's a great deal out there on the SA right now: $199 for airframe with motor and speed controller... http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=AGNH1100C

[JEB123]

Hey Rodan, if you didn't read the post above, I ordered a black 450SE V2 kit with no electronics or main blades (brand new on E-Bay) for $225!!! Hard to beat! Thanks for your input! I'll let you know how it works out, should get it tomorrow, if not Monday.

[JEB123]

Hey Tintin, what do you think of the Blinky? I have the Triton Jr. and need to get a balancer.
Jorge

[Rodan]

Hey Rodan, if you didn't read the post above, I ordered a black 450SE V2 kit with no electronics or main blades (brand new on E-Bay) for $225!!!

I did, but thought the info would be of interest to others reading the thread.:thumbup:

[JEB123]

Gotcha. Thanks again for all your killer advice.
JEB