OK BOB, let us have it..700 vs A@#$A

[stmpngrnd]

Bob,

Now that you have flown each, how about nuts to bolts comparison?

I'm not afraid of an honest review of the two head to head.

Is Align QC up to par on their new flagship machine?

Is the A@#$A really the best thing since sliced bread?

Which flys better and how?

Which was easier/ more fun to build?

Which do you have more fun flying?

Which flew the best off the bench?

What needed tweaking at the field on each maiden?

Thanks for all the great work!

[jetpilot]

I really like to know as well!, but guys understand bob!



Don't Taco my choice dude!


Luc

[Bobbyk]

Bob is not going to make a comment on which is better, which is understandable, as his footer notes says "he is only here to help with what you purchase"

That being said if you watch his vids closely he make comments that suggest his favorite heli.

This also brings up a good point, we need someone with Bobs caliber who is not tide down with a manufacture that can give us honest evaluation on these machine and some good feed back to the manufactures.

Trextuning does a good job in evaluating these kits and product.

Thanks

Robert

[mk1spitfire]

yes but he is a hobbiest like us and is not sponsered, he has an opinion he could share? No

[Espeefan]

I don't think Bob would do a write up like that. He could tell us the strong points of each model, but a direct comparison doesn't seem like the right thing to do. Does Bob pay for the models out of his own pocket, get a discount, or anything like that? It'd be pretty bad to bite the hand that feeds you, so to speak, if he gets these models to review for a discount.

[Finless]

Well I am not tied to a manufacturer so in fact can say whatever I want if I wanted to. However, I also don't want to piss anyone off either by blatantly just saying this is better than that. Anything or anyone that says that... Remember it's just an opinion... One guys trash is another guys treasure.... The same will go with opinions of helis... You constantly see someone ask questions like that (e.g. A Raptor50 or a Trex600 for instance) and look what happens.... Several people give their opinion on which THEY think is the best, and the thread turns into a pissing contest and eventually goes down hill to even name calling and other BS...
Look at the BLASTING I got when I said the Hurricane550 was a POS (mine was). Sheesh... thats what I get for stating an opinion.... In the end opinions are like arse holes... Everyone has one :)

But here is a honest eval without trying to say which is better... BUT realize I have not flown either a lot yet... 4 flights on the Aurora and 10 on the 700..... So as far as quality to reliability I have no input yet.

Trex700
One of Aligns best helis in my opinion and as you know I have them all... Some good changes in designs and a VERY solid frame. SUPER EASY to build heli. There basically are NO adjustments to make in relation to gear backlash, motor and clutch run out, etc... With that said Align HAS to keep the frames and holes consistent to keep this reliable.
The heli flys like a bigger 600e with the head feeling a tad more "connected" and responsive. Quality is great! However I think once again we all will be changing bearings as they are the same type/quality as Align has been using on other helis. We all know they work but don't last as long as more expensive quality bearings. In the end this heli flys great and is for sure a keeper for me...

Avant Aurora
What can a say... KICK but heli. It's also built like a TANK... Very rigid frame setup. By looking at the higher amount of video you can see that building this heli and setting it up right takes more time and adjustments. Gear backlash, and other adjustments need to be done right. So it's not a SLAP together heli like the 700. But I think having this ability to adjust things makes it more rewarding and possibly more reliable as far as wear of parts over time. Only a lot of flying will show that though. The Aurora flys great with so many choices in the programmable head I doubt anyone will have the time to try them all... You can set this head up for many different flying styles.... That is a neat feature and in fact I have changed mine from the build video and took out some delta. This didn't slow down the response but did give me what I wanted which was better tracking in forward flight. Anyway this heli is absolutely a keeper!

So in the end which flys better? Thats an apples and oranges comparison. They fly "different" and both are a blast to fly! The sheer fact that I have a different engine in each of them makes it not comparable. I will say this the YS SR absolutely has more power than my OS and is not fidgety with needle settings... It's kind of like set it and forget it! I was always a OS person and never before used a YS but YS has a winner engine here for sure.. I gotta get another to put in the 700....
So which will I fly more? Well right now I will probably fly both anytime I go to the Nitro flying field. Over time I may internally choose one which I like to fly more but until then I cant say. Ask me a few months from now and I'll let ya know but for now I am going to enjoy both of them...

So.... Does that answer the questions?

Bob

[docjoe]

Bob,

I was going to PM you about this very question. I was thinking you would say what you were going to say simply from the way you were building both. I've seen the build videos of each and still have not yet decided which one I will end up going with. Still there's time for me to decide. Both helis aren't readily available. Auroras are still back ordered for the most part and the 700, while it will be out soon, won't be out in full production in some time, like the 700. I myself am leaning towards the bling of the Aurora but the ease of the build/setup goes with the 700. Also for me, I like to build so I think I may enjoy the extra setup of building the Aurora and putting a little "love" into the heli.

On a bad note for the Aurora, the crash costs can be quite bad. There's a guy on RR who had a swash failure (Augusto is taking care of him...but will he take care of me if my bird goes down). That crash costs the guy about 700-800 bucks which is a little on the high side for 90 sized heli. I'm sure that a 700 crash would probably be 1/2 the cost. Hmmm.

[huskynox]

It's always been funny to me how everyone just assumes OS motors are the best.....Until they try another brand.

I've owned a lot of nitro motors in my life, only 2 of which were OS's. Not to say OS's aren't good, but there're usually better motors out there. I've owned 3 YS's and they've always been power mongers. Maybe I've been lucky...?

As far as planks and 4 strokes. I've watched guys fiddle with OS 4-strokes, while I've always flown Saitos and YS's. As soon as the OS guys try a Saito or YS, they always say "wow, these motors run great!" and continue to buy the Saito or YS.

These sponsored OS pilots (Szabo, etc) get their motors for free and believe me they arn't stock OS motors......

NOT a slam on OS, but usually BIG companies that build a lot of different products for a wide spectrum of hobbies (cars, boats, airplanes, helis) don't build the BEST product. Smaller companies that concentrate on 1 or 2 products always seem to do a little better job. Just my opinion......

I have a YS 91SR/Hatori SB-19 pipe sitting on the shelf awaiting for my 90 :YeaBaby: Glad to hear everyone is liking this combo... :thumbup:

[Finless]

Well a comment on 90 sized crash costs.... I have had several 90's over the years. Some cost more for parts than others.. A prime example was the Vibe 90 I had. If you had a BAD crash that damaged the head yoke and frames expect almost a rekit or darn close to it.

Bottom line a 90 is expensive to crash period! A bad crash IS going to cost ya.... So really its almost a wash as a bad crash is going to add up.....

I have not done the math but a bad crash would be
Frames
blades
tail blades
mainshaft
flybar
paddles
spindle
boom
torque tube
tail gear sets
maingear
landing gear
Possibly a motor case
muffler
And possible some other odds and ends.

My worst crash on my 600 cost me over $400!!!!

Bob

[docjoe]

Here's my worse 90 crash with my Fury. It was so bad, it was almost a rekit. I made it into a Stratus:

http://docjoe.smugmug.com/photos/323683818_XHZwQ-M.jpg
http://docjoe.smugmug.com/photos/323683831_a9MFv-M.jpg

My latest 600N crash cost me about 500 bucks:
http://docjoe.smugmug.com/photos/280488301_mwzvP-M.jpg

I thought you might enjoy those. ;)

[~Tron~]

I recently crashed my Trex 600 Nitro Pro. I have not repaired it yet but I did price out the parts. $665.00 w/tax
It would not have been nearly as bad if it did not destroy the engine and muffler.
It's just one of those things so what are you gonna do?
BTW those are nice pics.

[powermalex]

.Bob... "4 flights on the Aurora and 10 on the 700"

I'm curious, you got the Aurora first but flown the 700 more.
What's the reasoning? I aasumed you would fly the Aurora more since there is more to adjust.
or did the 700 take more flights to dial it in.

[jet22b]

I am looking to pickup both heli when the nitro fuel is in good supply.
This is good info to know. Thanks Bob for the input!!

Sonny

[Finless]

I got the Trex700 first and the Aurora a week later. I finished the T700 one week before I finished the Aurora thus it had a full weekend of flight on it before I flew the Aurora.

Bob

[ozace]

Interesting reading, personally i wouldnt have thought the 2 machines were competitors. One is a mass market machine built down to a price and the other is supposedly a high end machine.

[LoveMyTrex]

you forget align makes their machines cheap, but doesn't build them crappy. yeah they skimp on bearings and such, but their helis still fly great, and you can get parts for them anywhere, my LHS stocks ALL the parts for ALL the align helis.

[jetpilot]

Thank you bob


That is why i like you so much! i read two line of your comments on the Rex 700 and Aurora, and i know by my type of person what heli is best for me!


ps: i need to find a YS now! GRRRR


Luc

[mk1spitfire]

Great, honest, informative comments Bob. You talk as if you are one of us.
:thumbup:

[jetpilot]

I have a question what about value for money? the Aurora is more expensive, but more quality parts, on the long run is he a better investment?



Luc

[gadawg58]

I am looking to pickup both heli when the nitro fuel is in good supply.
This is good info to know. Thanks Bob for the input!!

Sonny
Nitro fuel is in great supply in my basement after 1 big special order and the good fortune of getting it filled! :)

[Super D]

I think the nitro shortage is just a scare! My LHS in AZ has about 50 gallons of CP30% in stock!!

[PacketSpike]

what is your local hobby store called?

hint hint...

PacketSpike

[Super D]

Now thats my Secret:YeaBaby: