Is Tarot actually TRex?

[geckgo]

I really don't understand these threads. Yes, I'm new to the site and to the hobby, but it occurs to me that if Align isn't making a stink about it, why are we?

There's a lot of talk in this hobby about clones and IPP, but I mean really? They are all making basically the same product, a miniature helicopter. Move some bearings around here, change something there, and it's still a miniature helicopter. How different do you want them to be before they aren't copies?

It's Align's problem, so I'll let them do the worrying and I can just go out and fly. As far as everyone wondering about who's using what factories and what production lines, gawd, sounds like a sewing circle in this hobby.

In my other hobby there is a band of followers for a company named GLOCK, and every time a new plastic framed pistol comes out they all complain about how it's a GLOCK ripoff. Funny that nobody worries that 1911s are being manufactured off of the exact same blueprints by almost every company out there, and most of them are interchangable with eachother for parts. No fuss about that. hmm

Who cares? I didn't want to fly helicopters so I could learn and complain about who made what.

[jockstrap]

I love Tarot stuff.. I find it one of the best, of not the best of the clone stuff..

But having purchased a lot of different Tarot stuff and align stuff there are NOT the same..

There are subtle differences in design between them and material and finish quality..

Having said this.. If, and it's a big if, Tarot is owned by Align.. then the raw materials they use are of a slightly lesser quality, likewise the machining tools and the cnc templates are different slightly too..

So even if align does have something to do with or own Tarot - the end Tarot products are of lesser quality than Aligns... it would be like buying a cheaper version of the same product from the same seller.. but NOT the same..

Conclusion: Regardless of who owns Tarot - the end products are not the same as an Align.. full Stop..

But as i said - I love Tarot stuff and it's very good. not far behind Align so I often buy it as Tarot stuff usually is less than half the price for a tiny little less quality - that suits me fine!!!

[Fast-Pitch]

Nicely said. Like i said, i hope my miniature helicopter gets here soon, i cant wait to build it and fly! And enjoy the savings!

[HeliHoverAP]

Clones suck. The plastic is horrible and the quality control is a joke.

There's my view. I always look on the good side of things though. 10 dollar 3 cell 2200 45c lipos from China suck too, but look at the price of a name brand lipo. Prices have dramatically dropped, over the past few years, since there interduction. May be we will see an overall price reduction in helis over the next couple of years too. May be not.

[jockstrap]

But this thread has nothing to do with random clones? It's about whether Tarot is Align or not..

Who cares if you've had a dodgy clone in the past and it was bad - what's that got to do with Tarot?

How about understanding what you're posting before posting...

[HeliHoverAP]

Tarot is a "dodgy" clone. Sorry but a clone is a clone.

I've also never had the pleasure of wasting my money on a pile of s--t.

Oh and there is no way in hell that tarot is related to Align. If you read every post, you guys have all ready answered that for yourselfs.

[Corinator]

Originally Posted by HeliHoverAP

Clones suck. The plastic is horrible and the quality control is a joke.

There's my view. I always look on the good side of things though. 10 dollar 3 cell 2200 45c lipos from China suck too, but look at the price of a name brand lipo. Prices have dramatically dropped, over the past few years, since there interduction. May be we will see an overall price reduction in helis over the next couple of years too. May be not.

Originally Posted by HeliHoverAP

Tarot is a "dodgy" clone. Sorry but a clone is a clone.

I've also never had the pleasure of wasting my money on a pile of s--t.

Oh and there is no way in hell that tarot is related to Align. If you read every post, you guys have all ready answered that for yourselfs.

Thank you for saying things so bluntly. Align is already a very reasonable company price wise and it amazes me you can get something even cheaper. You get a lot of bang for your buck with Align.

Of all the clones I have worked on, I've never had one that struck me as "hey this thing doesn't scare me that someone is going to fly it". I understand there are guys who have had good results with clones and the reason being is that they are just a copy of another companies well proven design. Companies like Align spend a lot of time and money designing these helicopters which is why clones can be had so cheap. They have no money tied up in the design process other than tooling of the machines and they can substitute cheaper materials. I would also like to say that Align has taken measures against cloners with how they watermark their manuals and do not offer them on their website. Unfortunately it is very difficult to prosecute any company making knockoff products in China as a lot of those factories operate illegally to begin with. It is very common in the world of airsoft guns, the high end Japanese companies try to shut down the illegal factories in China producing illegal clones of their products.

[walkera4g3]

Originally Posted by jockstrap

But this thread has nothing to do with random clones? It's about whether Tarot is Align or not..

Who cares if you've had a dodgy clone in the past and it was bad - what's that got to do with Tarot?

How about understanding what you're posting before posting...

Dude don't worry about those clone haters I've seen them before. They are there because they own a hobby shop that sells align and they are not making any money or the are related or affiliated with someone that does. When I see guys like that in the field I tell them to go to hell, either that or I punch the living crap out of them. They know better to stay away from me. Do the same guys keep away from these traveling sales men. Frankly I'd rather buy a Protos than an align.

[genuine]

Originally Posted by slimjimi09

Hahahahaha. ^^^^ Tooooo good.

ive actually order a boom block holder for 450 pro the tarrot brand ,an it was actually made to fit way better an smooth,an there ttb gears are nice, by looking at that new dfc head they have i say there in with align somewhere just differnt name,besides its another way to make money go under a differ name an sell qaunity. tarrots are the best clones on the market with the 450s imo. really i mean what else you expect. the shipping from HOBBYWING is what gets yeah but they ship faster than HK duz an there stuffs better qaulity then Hk. only if they could start selling gens ace, cause hobbypartz never has any in stock the ones i want anyway, but owell.

[4Pete2Fly]

I just ordered the Tarot 450 Pro off e-Bay & it is coming from Taipei City, Taiwan. My many clones fly just fine & cheaper to repair in the event of a crash.

Pete

[MattD7]

I highly doubt that Align and Tarot are the same company.

Here is my reasoning:

Align uses different, stronger materials.

There are differences in the part designs

example:
I crashed my EXI 450 pro a while back and completely destroyed the main rotor housing. The EXI housing was pretty cheap and the metal crumpled like it was paper. When it came time to order a replacement I was looking at an Align housing or a Tarot housing. While looking I noticed that the Tarot had filleted corners where as the align had hard 90 degree angles. (The Tarot design being the better of the two, as the fillets reduce stress risers.)

Just due to the cost of switching materials and tooling pretty much rules them out being the same company/product.

[Fast-Pitch]

Originally Posted by MattD7

I highly doubt that Align and Tarot are the same company.

Here is my reasoning:

Align uses different, stronger materials.

There are differences in the part designs

example:
I crashed my EXI 450 pro a while back and completely destroyed the main rotor housing. The EXI housing was pretty cheap and the metal crumpled like it was paper. When it came time to order a replacement I was looking at an Align housing or a Tarot housing. While looking I noticed that the Tarot had filleted corners where as the align had hard 90 degree angles. (The Tarot design being the better of the two, as the fillets reduce stress risers.)

Just due to the cost of switching materials and tooling pretty much rules them out being the same company/product.

Thats the kind of response we are looking for. Thanks for the info man!

[cannonball]

Tarot is a "dodgy" clone. Sorry but a clone is a clone.

I've also never had the pleasure of wasting my money on a pile of s--t.

Oh and there is no way in hell that tarot is related to Align. If you read every post, you guys have all ready answered that for yourselfs.
__________________
Trex 250 DFC 3GX
Trex 450 Sport DFC 3GX
Trex 700e V2 DFC 3GX


lol you just pissed you paid like 3 times what , as one guy said earlier; "us too poor to buy Align stuff, and shouldnt be in the hobby".. HAha I laugh at you.. You'll figure it out one day when you grow up.

And another thing who the are you to talk about a product you admit to never owning? what a fanboy.. omg

[cannonball]

[cannonball]

Sorry bout that, but now the topic at hand.. No I do not think Tarot and Align are the same company. But I do think if Tarot keeps improving and continue to develop their own designs they may be, in the end; the new standard in quality.
Every company has to get their start somewhere, and we all strive to emulate the best. But once we have got off the floor and started walking on our own it become up to the company; to either be a sub par part copier, or to try and grow and learn.
Tarot and dare I say Alzrc seem to believe in their products and have come to the point where the student is becoming the teacher. Just because something is cheaper than another similar product doesn't mean it bad quality is simply a VALUE.
SO in closing I dont think of Tarot as Align, but I see them as a child of Align.

[Fast-Pitch]

Just tracked my package, its at the post office in Charlotte. I guess it will be here tomorrow sometime... If this heli impresses me enough, i will probably get an Align later on. My reason for choosing a Tarot was that i wanted to try a larger heli to make sure i would enjoy this hobby without being scared to crash everytime i go out flying. I have been flying for 6 months and this will be my first real heli, glad Tarot makes it so affordable to "try" a larger helicopter.

[HeliHoverAP]

Originally Posted by cannonball

Tarot is a "dodgy" clone. Sorry but a clone is a clone.

I've also never had the pleasure of wasting my money on a pile of s--t.

Oh and there is no way in hell that tarot is related to Align. If you read every post, you guys have all ready answered that for yourselfs.
__________________
Trex 250 DFC 3GX
Trex 450 Sport DFC 3GX
Trex 700e V2 DFC 3GX


lol you just pissed you paid like 3 times what , as one guy said earlier; "us too poor to buy Align stuff, and shouldnt be in the hobby".. HAha I laugh at you.. You'll figure it out one day when you grow up.

And another thing who the are you to talk about a product you admit to never owning? what a fanboy.. omg

It's people like you that ruin it for others. Acting like your a Heli master and stating your opinions as facts because you own a few helis and have been flying for 6 months. I've been flying for 6 years now and I still learn something new all the time. My posts are from personal experience and not what the other guy said last week. I also have several years as a hobby store manager and I am known locally as a top notch builder and 3Gx master. When you grow up (get a few years under your belt) come back and read these post and you will agree that these clones are truly pieces of s--t.

Pissed because I spent 3 times what you did? No pissed because I can't afford something better than Align.

[cannonball]

yeah you really mad now.. I'm 48 young, and have been doing this long enough to know when I read it.. you sir are what is ruining the hobby.. You think of yourself as a elitist but your not better than the rest of because you can afford the expensive products. I can understand why you are so bitter though seeing how the clone market has stolen most of your over-priced revenue

[cannonball]

Originally Posted by HeliHoverAP

I've also never had the pleasure of wasting my money on a pile of s--t.

Originally Posted by HeliHoverAP

. My posts are from personal experience and not what the other guy said last week.

lol....

[HeliHoverAP]

I am not related to (any more....thank god), nor do I own any hobby shop. You buying clones does not affect my income. Not mad, just telling you how it is. Like I said you will find out in the long run, if or hopefully when you get to that level.