Is a 450x for me?

[douglas88]

I have been reading many posts on people stepping up from a Mcp x to the 450x with relative ease. I have been flying for 2 years now, and collective pitch for a year.

I Have the mcpx pretty waxed, inverted,rolls, loops etc etc. Im looking to the next step in heli's and i really would appreciate some advice Being a student cash is tight, the 450x will cost in a crash, and i see local hobby stores in South Africa are charging the $52 for fbl main blades! ridiculous I also like the 130x, would that be a better option for me and then maybe the 450x? cheers

[ahahn]

If you can fly as you say, then I think the 450X will be a fine match for you. The main ssue is to educate yourself a bit about these bigger heli's, because unlike the mCPX, there are more user options. Looking over the BeastX manual is a good idea, even if the heli is pretty ready to go.

I'd certainly look into Align Flybarless blades (3G) as a way to save some money on blades.

However one thing you need to get use to is that crashing is less of an option, as compared to a mCPX, so you need to be deliberate in your flying.

[Talesin]

The 450 would be the better step up, given the cost involved (and performance of the 450X).
If you're a video gamer, the transition is like going from Hard mode (mCPX) to Normal Hardcore (*much* easier to fly, but the penalty for screwing up when you do is huge by comparison).

I've already gone through a pretty bad crash ($150 in parts, ~$50 is closer to normal) and still have no regrets whatsoever. Just fly it up high when you're starting out, and you should be able to recover from almost anything with zero problems.


The other concern is that there's really no telling how the 130X is going to perform at the moment. Their demo videos make it look AWESOME, but as no one outside Horizon has got their hands on one... well, for comparison the mCPX videos were showing inverted flight inside a conference room and continuous tumbles.
The 450 X is a known-good at this point (possibly aside from the main motor bearing issue) even after an early-adopter shakedown period, and many feel it outperforms an Align 450 3GX, which costs a good hundred dollars more... including professional RC pilots.

[Sambuka]

You are very well qualified I only mastered mcpx forward flight banked turns and I could fly the 450 first day i tried nose in FF. Align 3G blades should be the go a lot cheaper. Haven't tried mine yet though.

[dl5973]

450x is a great heli
easy to fly and crash costs are not too bad

if you had to choose between 130x and 300x and 450x for flying characteristivs the 450x will be the most stable simply due to it having the largest diameter blade

the 130x will be the lightest and therefore will break less parts on impact and probably cost the least to repair

so you will have to make a decision on what is more important to you? more stable heli or a cheaper heli to crash?

no one will be able to tell you crash cost of blade 300x or 130x until they have been flown for a few months by everyone

the 130x will not be as crash resistance as the mcpx simply due to it being more powerful machine with greater mass.

[HFMan]

One factor is flying space. Although a 450X can be flown in a relatively smallish park, it likes to GO FAST and it can eat up a lot of air real quick. You can do HUGE maneuvers with the 450X, and still keep in sight. A 130X will get real small real quick, and is confined to smaller spaces due to visibility alone. If you are the kind of flyer that likes to do tight 3D- it does it well. If you'd like to just get out and shed your chains and fly like a bat out of hell, it does that well too. It's a good step up.

I'd say step up to the 450X- it sounds like you are ready. If you don't have a good sized space to fly it, be careful.

[rc-bender]

If you're as good as you say you are on the mCPx, then definitely go get the 450X. You'll be grinning ear to ear. It is so easy to fly, far more capable then the mCPx and just a flat out fun heli. Crash costs are typically less than $40. Canopy, blades, main gear and a couple shafts are what break/bend most often, maybe a tail boom.

[douglas88]

Thanks guys for the advice, much appreciated! I believe i am ready to step up to the 450, just not sure if financially im ready I do have some mcpx's i could sell off to put towards a 450x. The size of the 450x appeals to me too, i enjoy sports flying just as much as 3d, fast forward flight and stall turns and fast loops. I know how quick you lose orientation on the mcp x and the 130x is only a bit bigger than a mcp x so leaning towards the 450x.

[Talesin]

Go for it. The 450 X will have you smiling every time you land (on the skids anyway).

Really the only down side is that it does require a lot of space. A football/soccer pitch is about the minimum for FFF.

[douglas88]

Originally Posted by Talesin

Go for it. The 450 X will have you smiling every time you land (on the skids anyway).

Really the only down side is that it does require a lot of space. A football/soccer pitch is about the minimum for FFF.

Yeah i think im just going to land up getting the 450x, the 130x will only be out in South africa with parts etc by end of july. Its a long wait I fly in the sugar cane fields so space ain't a problem for me, there is also the local flying club, could head there too.

[TheHeliDude]

The 450X is awesome and that's great you have the space to fly it. It really does fly way better than an mcpx. The parts aren't more expensive than an mcpx (some cheaper) you just need to be more careful.

I recommend getting a couple sets of the exi 325mm fiberglass blades from hobby king or another website because they cost $4. As many people will tell you they wont flip and roll the heli as quickly as the stock blades but if you still crash your heli these are really cheap. These blades fly fine as far as my skills can tell