Align 550L or 550X?

[BladesinMD]

Folks,

I am looking at doing my first "ground-up" heli build and am considering the 550L or the 550X Super Combo kits.

I am only getting into loops and rolls with sport and FF flight, so I do not need a heli capable of "smack 3D".

The largest heli I have now is a Blade 360CFX.

It looks like I can get a new 550L Super Combo for $850 shipped, but will spend the extra $150 and get a 550X if it is worth it; that is what I am asking here.

I have seen a few videos and posts about ESC, servo arm, and other failures in the 550L, does the Super Combo kit for the 550X address any of these issues?

What would you choose?

Let me know your thoughts.. Thanks, all.

[crazy_for_flying]

I have a heavily modified 550L and love it... but then again it has a lot of upgrades. If I were to buy one again I'd go with the 550x hands down. Higher motor kv so you can reach those higher headspeeds and it's esc is slightly larger which was one of the larger cons of the 550L. It's also lighter

[Thestructured]

I totally think the new DS820M servos are just BL815's with new top and bottom cases. The specs are the same, and the middle section is the same. The only change specified from Align was the top casing. I use BL815's in all my helis and so far they're good.


Either heli would be good, the 550L gives you the option of a speed fuselage if you like that look. I would get the 550X though, because of the new non-dfc head, better esc that comes in the kit, longer boom, slightly lighter weight, and the new motor that allows for very high headspeeds for smack flying.

The 550L and older models are usually run at 2200-2500 rpm depending on flight style.


the 550L's 730mx 850kv motor comes alive around 2400-2500 rpm for smack flying to feel powerful. If you're sport flying like you've stayed you can run it at 2200 or 2300 and it'll feel nice and smooth, but will bog if you try doing any kind of fast tic tocs or anything that requires more power. Though I do not have a 550L, my 550 dfc pro v3 has the same 730mx 850kv motor in it, and the same BL815H servos.


The new 960kv motor can be successfully governed at 2700rpm, which is what they run it at in the demo videos. It absolutely rips at that headspeed, looks almost like a 12s machine. That is kind of a ridiculous headspeed for that size of heli though, I'm wondering if it's going to slaughter batteries worse than the previous models. If you are not going to be doing hard 3D and want to run the 550X at lower headspeeds without it bogging a bunch, you're going to need to change the pinion to something with less teeth.

Ultimately the biggest difference is going to be the higher headspeeds the 550x's new motor allows for. Both are great machines and there are a few 550L's used for sale for significantly less than a 550x kit.

[Steve Joblin]

Originally Posted by crazy_for_flying

I have a heavily modified 550L and love it... but then again it has a lot of upgrades.

Hey Crazy_for_flying... just curious... what up upgrades and mods do you have?

[tonys-heli]

if it was me, any 550 needs a bearing to support the pinion..most 550's have it except the trex 550..on a powerful motor all the stress is on the motor bearings/pinion/maingear.. slant gear / pinions want to pull each other off the shaft. with a pinion support bearing, that doesn't happen and the gear mesh stays more consistent.

[Gtamas90]

Originally Posted by tonys-heli

if it was me, any 550 needs a bearing to support the pinion..most 550's have it except the trex 550..on a powerful motor all the stress is on the motor bearings/pinion/maingear.. slant gear / pinions want to pull each other off the shaft. with a pinion support bearing, that doesn't happen and the gear mesh stays more consistent.

550L and X both have pinion support bearing block.

[Number]

The 550 V3 is the only Trex 550 that doesn't have a counter bearing.

[tonys-heli]

Originally Posted by Number

The 550 V3 is the only Trex 550 that doesn't have a counter bearing.

that's good to know, my older v3 didn't until I put one in it..im glad they did on the newer ones, it needed it.

[tacomaster]

550x. Also Amain has 10% off their kit so you can get the full combo 900 shipped or about 920 shipped priority.

Code is BF1016

[ic-racer]

If you already have your favorite FBL, you can get the 550X combo for just over $800 at Enterprise.

[tonys-heli]

Originally Posted by ic-racer

If you already have your favorite FBL, you can get the 500X combo for just over $800 at Enterprise.

you mean the 550X? or 500L..there is no 500X, at least not yet.

[tacomaster]

Originally Posted by tonys-heli

you mean the 550X? or 500L..there is no 500X, at least not yet.

Yea. Typed too fast on my phone. I just ordered my 550x yesterday stock super combo with a vbar silverline.

[BladesinMD]

Thanks, everyone.

Yeah, I think I will go ahead and get the latest and greatest (550X).

The comparisons between the 550L and 550X sound a lot like comparing the Blade 450X and the 360CFX. Mainly, higher headspeed which I am finding has its benefits even to the non hardcore 3D pilot.

1: FFF is just that, faster. I get a rush doing fly-bys and high speed banked turns, even if I'm not inverted...

2: When you are learning to be smooth in 3D, it helps to have power so that you do not bog out when you are trying to save yourself from a dumb-thumb moment...

Looking forward to starting my relationship with Align and their products. I have been very satisfied with Blade's products, but they do not make anything larger than the 360CFX and I have heard a lot of good things about Align.

[ic-racer]

Sorry 550x.

[tony#1]

[QUOTE=Thestructured;7192766]
I use BL815H's in all my helis and so far they're good.

Apologies to Thestructured for editing his posting.
I was interested in this thread because I have been researching for a BRUSHLESS motored servo for an older T-Rex 500.
I guess things have moved on since this was posted 2 years ago. The only 815 servo currently on the Align website is the DS815 recommended for "G800 Aerial Gimbal System".
Looks like the choice from Align for a 500 size brushed motored servo is the DS820/825 series.
Apart from that what other brand could I look at?