Shadow99

I'm looking to get a 200 sized heli, can't decide between the Gaui EP200 and the T-rex 250. I know that the EP200 has been out for quite a while (offers shaft drive on the tail), where as the T-rex 250 is new to the marketplace. I imagine they fly nearly the same, small & twitchy.

If you had a choice which would you choose?

Shadow

Shadow99

Fourty plus HITS, yet nobody can help point me in a direction? []

ALIGN vs GAUI, in a steel cage match, fight to the death?!

Shadow

UTM

I think that due to the fact that not a bunch of people are yet flying the rex not to mention both it's pretty tough to compare and contrast. I'll bet if you post after Christmas time you'll get plenty of opinions.

Druss

I agree, I only know of 1 guy with the Trex 250 and that's only because he's an Align sponsored pilot. How can you put up a comparison without actually having flown both.

I also doubt that the guys that may possibly have the trex 250 also owns a Gaui 200.

For the next 3-4 months finding parts for the trex 250 is going to be very hard, the same thing happened when the trex 500 was released.

With that said, and not even knowing how much the trex 250 is selling for, Align typically has higher pricing than Gaui but they also tend to have better quality.

stump3r

Uri isn't too far off with his comments. If you visit Helifreak or RC Groups there are alot of reviews of both birds. I personally fly the Gaui 200SD, great little bird but does have a few small issues that are easily resolved and quickly fixed. Makes a great little helicopter. Gaui has released it's 200V2-SE and it is an excellent little heli with many advanced features over the Align. If I was to buy another today it would be the Gaui V2 hands down. You can also get the V2 in a flybarless option. The flight reviews of both birds put them on same playing field in that they fly so similar you probably wouldn't notice a difference flying one from the other. Align makes a quality product so you certainly can't go wrong buying a 250. The advantage of the 200V2 over the 250 is the ability to move the motor to the front or back of the bird to correct COG, plus the V2 frame is designed to easily house the GU-365 flybarless controller.

Dave ESPI

having flown a bunch of T rex, the 250 is a scaled down version of the 450. It will be a nice heli. I have one on order myself, and I presently am toying with a Gaui firefox 100 ( more/less a 200 just with shorter tail and blades) and its taking some effort to dial it in, but should be nice in a few days time with trim adjustments finished. I can say teh T-rex will be a "quieter" heli, the Gaui are loud and will let you know you are flying a "machine".

For the price, the Ultimate combo on the T-rex is hard to not seriously consider.

mediclavina

Hey Dave!

I got a question for you. Now that I can easily control the SRB Quark in flight (all hovering orientations, forward/backward/sideward flights), do you think I'm ready to fly something like the EP200 or the Trex 250?

TIA
Medic

Dave ESPI

Jumping from a Quark to a T-REX is a bit different, but possible. Try to spend some time with a simulator......3-D and C-P can get hairy..... the Quark kind of Auto -recovers into a stable hover..... T-rex dont.

mediclavina

I find it difficult to deal with a 2-dimensional view like in a simulator. I cannot tell whether the heli is going away or towards me until it's too late. Moreover, the heli on sim can easily disappear from clear view (pun intended) because my PC monitor is only 19" in size. These are some of the reasons I can fly the Quark better than a sim of a .50 size nitro.

On the other hand, I'm very tempted to get the GAUI 200 V2 because I can get it RTF (including a DX6i, 2 Lipos, and balanced charger) for just a little above $500. In my opinion, the GAUI is becoming the better choice over the Trex 250 as far as cost and proven reliability is concerned.

Dave ESPI

I;ll have my GAUI 100 up and flying in 2 more days. I'll report back as to how stable it is. RTF is nice only if the Quality Control guys did their job right and didn't rush a set up. GAUI states they are all test flown. I believe them. Mine hovers nicely.

Loopy1

Shadow,

I have the Gaui 200 (belt drive) and love it. It's really quick even with the stock motor and CF frame and skids. It's stable enough to fly in my back yard, even though my yard isn't all that large and has many trees and other obstacles. All depends on the setup though. Take time with the mechanical setup, and you'll have a stable bird. Don't take time and I can almost guarantee a crash. I have Hitec 45HB's for cyclic and switched to a JR 290G tail servo for the Align 550 gyro. You'll need to stay on top of this little bird when flying it, because it can get away in a heartbeat. It's also very durable and I haven't had to replace a lot for many hard landing/ crashes, whereas my Blade 400 almost self destructs if I even tip it over.

I can't say anything about the Trex 250 though. I'm sure it's a good heli to although I haven't even seen one yet.

/Dave

mediclavina

Where did you get your RTF GAUI? I also want to get one that is test flown before the shipping.

Druss

The test flown bit is from Gaui, apparently they test fly all the helis before they leave the plant.

As for RTF combos, Gaui does not sell them RTF so the only ones you can get RTF are done by the reseller such as this one: http://www.readyheli.com/203910_Gaui...p/203910-c.htm

www.flying-hobby.com also sells RTF ones but they are in HK.

Another option in the US is www.ka-planes.com, they don't have a 200 RTF listed but I'm sure they'd be willing to build it and test fly it for you before sending. May cost a bit more though.

mediclavina

Shadow,

I got to blame you for starting this thread.
I'm now waiting for my GAUI 200 SE V2 to get shipped from FH.

Loopy1

I don't think you'll regret it! It's a heck of a heli!

/Dave

mediclavina

Align may have been missing a lot of sales opportunity for taking time to fill the store shelves with their Trex 250 helis. And the release of the EP200 V2 from GAUI maybe hurting Trex the more. What a timing by GAUI.

I'm starting to like the GAUI more after comparing it with the Trex. It doesn't require 3S lipo packs because it is lighter and main rotor diameter is smaller.

My EP200 SE V2 is taking time to get shipped. But there's a good reason for the delay. It's being setup and flight tested before getting shipped to me. I'm impressed with the store's quick replies to my inquiries by email.

Shadow99

Thanks guys for your input!

Darn, I hate when I get bitten by those nasty "heli-bugs," I suddenly get the urge to expand my fleet.

EP200 V2 FLYBARLESS is the one I'm after now, although I was a little upset to find out that it's not available yet, and that Empire RC is not a public dealer, wholesaler only, even thou they advertised the new Gaui stuff in RC Heli mag.

Thanks Again GUYS!

Rick

Druss

Guys, i'm going to let you in on a secret. There is a company in Canada that sells the Gaui line, the prices are in canadian so you americans would end up saving a bundle. The site is www.3dhelidepot.com. Even after shipping, which you have to pay anyway, you'll save quite a bit.

Dave ESPI

Druss, not much on that site, but thanks

mediclavina

Got my GAUI 200SE V2 RTF last Tuesday.

Wow, I'm impressed with the quality of the machined parts! It's beyond the quality I got with my Walkera 62B. It's at least as good as the MX450 XS.

The only thing I didn't like with the RTF package is the build quality of the DX6i radio. The feel of the sticks is not as good as my Futaba 6EXH (FM radio). Also, it came with a broken battery cover (brittle plastic). I simply used scotch tape to prevent it from falling off. But the reason I had chosen it over Futaba is the DSM2 technology anyway (so not a big deal). I can probably get used to the feel or try adjusting the tension as described in the manual.

Fung of FH did a good job with the assembly and setup. My faith in the HK stores is restored.

Dave ESPI

I had to take my 100 to the LHS... its FUBAR fromthe guy I bought it from. Really a lot of stuff set up wrong on it, and It was beyond me to try and figure out what it all was that was making it impossible to fly right.

I think I need to definately upgrade the tail gear to all metal, the plastic is really junky.

mediclavina

I had to rearrange the electronics because the tail was drifting badly when I tested spooling it up. I also had to fix a loose part on the flybar. I also noticed the tail output shaft is bent causing severe vibration when the throttle is at 30% or higher. I still haven't flown this heli and won't be able to until the tail output shaft replacement arrives.[]

mediclavina

I got the tail output shaft replaced. Thanks to Fung of Flying Hobby for sending me the replacement part.

The severe vibration is gone and the tail control is smoother, but still not as solid compared to an SRB Quark, or an MX450 equipped with GY240 gyro and Futaba S3107 servo. I still have to chase the tail. Is this normal for a heli this small while in ground effect?

The GAUI 200 is too nimble for my skill level (got used to the SRB Quark), so the most I can do for the mean time is make it lift off about 3 inches for 3 seconds and I put it down again (while chasing the tail). I'm not confident going beyond that in an 8-square-foot area. I have to find a bigger indoor space to try hovering it at 3 feet or so. If the tail doesn't hold at that height, I may have to replace both the gyro and the tail servo.

Druss

you're really comparing apples and oranges between the gaui 200 and the quark. the quark was designed from the landing gear up to be super stable. the gaui is a 3d machine (if a small one). have you tried a better gyro and servo on the gaui?

mediclavina

Quick update:
After trimming the rudder a little more on the TX, the tail holds a lot better now when not touching the ground (better to have tail drift while on the ground than in the air). I can now hover the heli (still just 3 inch from the ground) for a minute or so. I wonder how much improvement would I get if I do it above ground effect. I won't try it until I found a more spacious area.

I'm using the GU-210 gyro to work with the cheapo Maxwell digital servo on the tail.