Atom Stretch vs Gaui X5

[jchen]

Hi Guys,

Was wondering if anyone has done a comparison.
If so which is better ?

[Wiebe_nl]

Hi,

I fly with a stretched atom 550. My mate flies the X5.

There are differences between those helis. The atom is a stretched 500. This means that is still is a 500 size heli (relative small canopy and a long tailboom). The X5 is designed as a 550 heli.

The atom has a belt where the X5 has a torque tube.

The atom has 3300 mAh packs where the X5 can handle 4000 mAh packs.
Result here is that the X5 is slightly heavier. But when you fly in windy conditions the disc load is a bit low for the Atom550 (in my opinion the X5 can handle better heavy wind conditions).

But both are great.

[jchen]

Hi Wiebe,

Doesn't the X5 uses 510mm blades as well ? If the disc loading of the Atom
is light than we should be able to run bigger lipos like 3700mah packs to compensate
right ?

[Wiebe_nl]

HI Jchen,

I will ask my buddy about the blade size. I think they are the same.
Heavier packs gives too much weight on the front of the Atom (unbalance).

[John Cook]

I'm a Compass team pilot so take what I say accordingly.

the Atom 500 to 550 stretch is a nice heli for sure. Light disc loading and it's an easy airframe to maintain. Powerwise, it's not in the same league as the X5, stock vs stock. The X5 has a pretty powerful scorpion motor from what I remember. TT vs Belt IMO is kinda a wash as far as performance as I have no complaints with the tail, and my friend Eric Brandenburg fly's my Atom 500 frequently and he's pretty picky about how a tail feels and he's happy with it. Mine is still a 500 though, so I cannot say for sure the 550 feels the same, but I haven't heard anything negative about the 550/stretch tail.

The X5 is a nice kit. I usually don't brag on other brands, but I think they have a winner there. Seen JC Z. fly his quite a bit and was always impressed with it. My only dig on it, and this is just per my recall, is some of the parts seem a bit pricey, but I'm sure people can argue the same for almost every brand so that wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

What would I buy.... Compass baby!! But again I'm biased . I think you'd be happy with either one to be honest. Each probably have their pluses and minuses. I can say they are both good and you have 2 good choices among your picks.

[jchen]

Hi John,
Thanks for the advice. I actually have 2 Atoms one is new & stretched. Dont like the X 5
for its short flight time. If I were to upgrade the motor, what would you recommend ? I would
like to be able to do 5 mins of 3D flight. Thanks, oh am thinking of using 3700 mah packs.
what do you think ?

[John Cook]

well if you want 5 min flights then the stock motor is probably good. Flight time is all about how much you are drawing, and a higher power motor is going to pull more watts unless you tone it down and at that point what is the motivation for getting the better motor? the stocker is good/ok for a 500 and IMO a bit weak for the 550 stretch. It would be fine for most people, but I'm not most people. If I was doing a hot setup I'd get that new scorpion 3226-900kv and I'd do an 8s setup with a Castle ice75. Maybe 2600mah packs 2x4s in series . That would be my "dream" setup lol. My realistic setup since noboby is paying for my dream cept me would be the new scorpion 3226-1400kv and a smaller pinion but I'd probably end up with 3-4 minute flight times on 3000mah packs. 3300mah is probably the max you can fit in there without issues.

[jchen]

Hi John,
Thanks again for the advice. Yes currently Im flying with 3300 packs.
thinking if I could squeeze a 3700 pack into my stretch Atom.
Thanks again for the advice

[John Cook]

yeah if you stretch it you might be able to provided it fits
I myself like a very light setup so I like smaller batts, but if you like the current setup with 3300 on the 500 then I think the 3600-3700 would be similar feel and disk loading .

[helidude71]

Originally Posted by jchen

Hi Guys,

Was wondering if anyone has done a comparison.
If so which is better ?

I have, and the answer is easy, the X5.

Don't stretch your Atom 500 and keep it as a backup heli and/or learn new tricks on.
Go for the Gaui X5 FES kit.

Wiebe already said, the Atom is still a 500 and the stretched one doesn't fly a lot bigger.
However the X5 is a true 550 and flies more like a 600.
(The current X5 FES kit comes with 520mm blades.)
Because of the bigger canopy visibility is much better.
It runs full size servos which is a plus if you ask me.
The new swashplate is optimized for FBL use. (geometry)
(BeastX will give you a blue light at 6*.)

And last but not least, it has awesome power.

Good luck with whatever you go for.

[helidude71]

Originally Posted by John Cook

...

The X5 is a nice kit. I usually don't brag on other brands, but I think they have a winner there. Seen JC Z. fly his quite a bit and was always impressed with it. ...

Honest answer from a biased person.

[John Cook]

Originally Posted by helidude71

Honest answer from a biased person.

lol we are all biased wheter we admit it to ourselves/others

The X5 is solid and I try to be as objective as possible with advice for others. I don't think it does people a world of good to just push the products you rep for. I believe in Compass products, and I can recommend them highly, but that doesn't mean they are the only choice, or for everyone . Great thing about our hobby is there are several good brands now, and the choices are very good now with several high quality and well designed kits .

[helidude71]

+1
Well said.

[jchen]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the advice. To be honest I have just too many helis I think. Lol
Im flying my TRex 550 fbl more than the rest simply because Im an old fart.
Its got more presence which means I get less dis orientated which equals
no crash. With small helis one would have to fly closer & lower for visability
but in doing so does not help in learning new tricks. Perhaps for me the better
way is to fly a bigger heli higher up to lear new tricks & fly the smaller ones for
smack when my skills are more up to standard. Thanks again. Btw might look
around for a bigger canopy to add more presence for my stretched Atom.
Any suggestions ??????

Thanks again guys

[sly the dogman]

Yea, wonder if we can set a 6HV canopy on a 5.5. Maybe tightning it up wiht a piece of string or a tie-wrap

I'll ask Jeff.
For the canopy, I mean.

[jchen]

Hmmmm Sly might take up your idea. Wakakakaka

[sly the dogman]

Might be interesting to find out what's available out there for the 5.5 as far as visability goes.
It be a bummer for me to get a 6HV canopy and it doesn't fit or looks like a poor man's
fuselage on a cool lookin' heli, you know.
You see I don't own a 6HV so.....
Anyone out there that have both helis, might what to try one on for size, with pics, of course.

[myrseth]

John did you try the 9t pinion with GOOD cells on the 550, having good batteries is key for this setup I feel like 3300 30c restrict power to the motor but with 60c batteries it was extreme, as I seen the 550 is a whole lot quicker with right dampeners and headspeed then the gaui, while the gaui flies bigger because of its size.

[kachur779]

i put my 6hv canopy on my 550 just see andit looks pretty goofy lol

[chopstick]

@ Kachur: Picture?