Compass Atom vs T-Rex 500 Pro DFC

[cyclo]

I have decided my next step up would be to a 500 class heli and have narrowed my choice to these two. I will be using an AR7200BX FBL controller as I am already familiar on how to set these up. The plan is to do sports flying, mild 3D (loops, rolls, inverted) with this machine while getting more aggressive with my 450's. Any comments and suggestions are welcome.

[wocka_wocka]

I have a Compass Atom, FBL w/beastx & Futaba, and have had a Trex 500 FB (TT tail). No comparison. Atom: beefy, built like a tank. I had no real issues with the way the Trex flew, but it was just flimsy in comparison.

I've crashed my Trex 450 into a wall and replaced main blades and flybar.

I dropped the Trex 500 onto the floor in the most minor way you can imagine, eeerrrmm, main blades, flybar, popped all three cyclic servos and bent the boom...

And another thing, I don't like the Trex gyros. The 450 has a CSM smart lock and its lovely to fly. The 500 had a 780 gyro that I never really got set up properly.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-Trex at all. I have a Beam 450 and an old Trex 450 and while the Beam is much better mechanical quality I enjoy flying the Trex far more.

Go for the Compass Atom and see what you think.

[heliphlier]

I think I have narrowed it down to the Compass myself. I like Align but I want to try another company. I played around with the idea of getting a either a Logo 500, Gaui X5 or the Compass Atom 500. It sure isn't an easy choice.

[electronjunkie]

Compass Atom 500 can be stretched to use 520mm blades I believe. It is sure built to handle them.

[Lighty]

The compass is a also hell of a lot lighter.

[Maypole]

Originally Posted by wocka_wocka

I have a Compass Atom, FBL w/beastx & Futaba, and have had a Trex 500 FB (TT tail). No comparison. Atom: beefy, built like a tank. I had no real issues with the way the Trex flew, but it was just flimsy in comparison.

I've crashed my Trex 450 into a wall and replaced main blades and flybar.

I dropped the Trex 500 onto the floor in the most minor way you can imagine, eeerrrmm, main blades, flybar, popped all three cyclic servos and bent the boom...

And another thing, I don't like the Trex gyros. The 450 has a CSM smart lock and its lovely to fly. The 500 had a 780 gyro that I never really got set up properly.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-Trex at all. I have a Beam 450 and an old Trex 450 and while the Beam is much better mechanical quality I enjoy flying the Trex far more.

Go for the Compass Atom and see what you think.

To the OP:
While the above post may very well be a fair and accurate comparison between the Compass and a Trex 500 Esp, (in any of it's nine million versions), it really doesn't pertain to your original post.

The 500 Esp and the Efl Pro DFC are two completely different machines. Very few of the parts will even interchange. I've built both, tweaked both, flown, crashed and re-built both, and can tell you that the new machine is far superior. So, when looking at comparisons, make sure they are between the birds you are interested in.

The only input I am qualified to give you is on the Pro DFC. I am much happier with it than I was the Esp. So much so that I have no desire whatsoever in any other machine at this point.

If you fly at a club, what is flown there? Have you done research on parts availability and cost? Have you checked the subforums here to gauge the amount of support and frequency of posts?

I know of several who have the new Pro and love it, and I know only one who has the compass, but he swears by it, and from all indications, it's a well designed and solid flying machine.

If, after doing your research, you are still on the fence, flip a coin. By all accounts, and from what I have seen and read here on HF, you can't go wrong wih either.

[Shogun71]

My atom 500 fell from approx 20 feet up. Lost power to a possibly bad esc bec.

Damage:
Main blades, links to blade grips, tail boom, canopy, front skid bracket, tail fin, one bearing in one of the blade grips.

Frame was completely intact, battery survived, main shaft and spindle perfectly fine.

Large crater in the ground, literally....

Approx $175 to repair, only due to the canopy, blades, and blade grip links being fairly expensive. Overall took a complete free fall quite well......

[Jeff_Barrett]

Originally Posted by Shogun71

Approx $175 to repair, only due to the canopy, blades, and blade grip links being fairly expensive. Overall took a complete free fall quite well......

I can vouch for this, I was present at the time! He now has the industries' first 'induction' canopy.



... and I cratered mine only a few weeks prior ... other than bruised ego, the parts count was fairly low considering the crash. Rob was present at said cratering. LOL!

The Atom 500 is an absolute tank compared to other models in its class.

[aja1216]

[MpVpRb]

Originally Posted by aja1216

Another vote for the Atom 500!

And another

[sansone]

Atom, for something different

[DrunkRabbit]

I love my Atom.......

But I also loved my Trex 500.....






Get them both?

[lazor 22]

I crashed my 5.5 hard (wish I had it on video it was really cool looking) and damage was probably the lowest out of any heli I've ever crashed. Main blades, boom, skids, grip arm, grip screw. Canopy is almost untouched.


To the person that said they were looking at the atom, x5, or logo. You might be interested in the 5.5 stretch. Only really 2 downsides to it, you have to run the compass/rotortech 515 blades, or run 470's, because the grips width is to small for other blades and it uses mini servos instead of full sized. But the mini ones work ok and I'm only running 510's. I think the JR's or MKS do fine.

[cyclo]

Thanks to all who replied. I haven't made the decision yet as in my opinion both helis are excellent for my needs. The T-Rex has parts availability and nice looks going for it while the Atom appears to have simplicity and toughness going for it. I also like it's subdued style and the belt driven tail. Performance wise they probably are very similar as they weight almost the same based on the published specs.

I might actually get one first and then the other later... I think they will both be excellent additions to my growing stable of helis.

[gothicbunny]

I was present at both Rob's and Jeff's crashes, but didn't actually see them. With my Trex next to their Atoms, there is no doubt which is beefier.

My advice is to consider where you do most of your shopping. If you have to start ordering online at somewhere special that you don't already order from on a regular basis, you may also want to take into account shipping costs.

For me, I fly with a Compass dealer so there are no shipping costs. The only reason I fly the Trex is because I already had it and is the oldest ship in my fleet. When it finally has an incident worthy of retiring it, I already know which way I'm going.

[andione1983]

Originally Posted by wocka_wocka

I have a Compass Atom, FBL w/beastx & Futaba, and have had a Trex 500 FB (TT tail). No comparison. Atom: beefy, built like a tank. I had no real issues with the way the Trex flew, but it was just flimsy in comparison.

I've crashed my Trex 450 into a wall and replaced main blades and flybar.

I dropped the Trex 500 onto the floor in the most minor way you can imagine, eeerrrmm, main blades, flybar, popped all three cyclic servos and bent the boom...

And another thing, I don't like the Trex gyros. The 450 has a CSM smart lock and its lovely to fly. The 500 had a 780 gyro that I never really got set up properly.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-Trex at all. I have a Beam 450 and an old Trex 450 and while the Beam is much better mechanical quality I enjoy flying the Trex far more.

Go for the Compass Atom and see what you think.

the new 500EFL... amazing machine... so fast sharp, nimble and belts along... my favourite heli to fly at present.. but then again i have never flown a compass 500

[cyclo]

I decided to go with the Atom 500 for now although I might yet get the T-Rex 500 sometime in the future.

500 sized helis will probably be as big as I will go. I prefer to ride my bicycle to the nearby park carrying the helis with me. With the 500, I might need to get a bike trailer as the Atom 500 inside a case might be too big to sling at my back.

[ARM_Coder]

As other said, the Compass is built like a tank, is very lightweight and very easy to wrench. I have the Atom 500 with the 5.5 stretch and an old Trex 500E converted to FBL. Now my 500E is collecting dust most of the time.

I can't say a word about the Trex 500 Pro, tough.

Cheers!

[Anthony440]

I have an atom 500 and a trex 500 ESP. My vote goes to the atom... Flies amazing and is a very under rated Heli for how great it is!

[esmoglo]

One thing I have noticed with the Align DFC heads is they cause allot more damage in a crash VS any Compass heli. With the solid CNC (arm that go from the grip to the swash) once they come loose they will hit the CNC auto rotation bracket bend it then bend the grip arm destroying it, then damage the grip were the arm bolts in to the grip. I have seen this time and time again with all the DFC heads it’s allot of unnecessary damage.

With the Compass at best you will break the derlin rods but that’s it. Also agree that with the Compass it will survive any type crash allot better then the T-500 will. So the Compass get’s my vote it’s a better 500 size heli option.