Beginner question regarding T-Rex
11-27-2011 | 08:36 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Chicago,
IL
Beginner question regarding T-Rex
After a few years of flying airplanes, racing rc cars...time to get into helis.
I wanted to know your opinion on T-Rex 450 as my first real heli.
I'm thinking of spending a lot of time practicing on the sim, then getting T rex 100 to fly indoors and then get something bigger.
I'm trying to decide between 450 and 500
I know that Trex 500 are more stable and easier to fly however if I got 450, I could use the same batteries as I'm using for my airplanes.
As far as type of flying I'm planning on doing....I'm not into 3d and never will be...I just want to do some "scale-looking" type of flying..possibly get a scale body for it at some point
Please let me know if Trex 450 would be a good choice for me. Also, belt or shaft driven?
thanks in advance.
I wanted to know your opinion on T-Rex 450 as my first real heli.
I'm thinking of spending a lot of time practicing on the sim, then getting T rex 100 to fly indoors and then get something bigger.
I'm trying to decide between 450 and 500
I know that Trex 500 are more stable and easier to fly however if I got 450, I could use the same batteries as I'm using for my airplanes.
As far as type of flying I'm planning on doing....I'm not into 3d and never will be...I just want to do some "scale-looking" type of flying..possibly get a scale body for it at some point
Please let me know if Trex 450 would be a good choice for me. Also, belt or shaft driven?
thanks in advance.
11-27-2011 | 09:08 AM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 608
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Gatineau,
QC, CANADA
RE: Beginner question regarding T-Rex
I started, after the usual Small and Sim, with Trex 450 belt (3 HK and Align Trex 450 Sport), and then went to an HK 500 then a Trex 500 Pro. I do like the belt for easy repair, but the shaft is slightly better than belt. I did choose the 450 because batteries were same as my planes. I then went to a 500 with 6S batteries, and just bought a Trex 600E because I can use 2 of my 6S in it. In the end, it is about battery compatibility for me.
I added a Bell 500 fuselage to one of my 450 along with a 5 blade rotor. I am about to put a Flymentor on it because it doesn't have a flub at obviously.
Once you start, it seems like it never ends
I added a Bell 500 fuselage to one of my 450 along with a 5 blade rotor. I am about to put a Flymentor on it because it doesn't have a flub at obviously.
Once you start, it seems like it never ends
11-27-2011 | 10:17 AM
#3
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Chicago,
IL
RE: Beginner question regarding T-Rex
[quote]ORIGINAL: gi1mo2
I started, after the usual Small and Sim, with Trex 450 belt (3 HK and Align Trex 450 Sport), and then went to an HK 500 then a Trex 500 Pro. I do like the belt for easy repair, but the shaft is slightly better than belt. I did choose the 450 because batteries were same as my planes. I then went to a 500 with 6S batteries, and just bought a Trex 600E because I can use 2 of my 6S in it. In the end, it is about battery compatibility for me.
I added a Bell 500 fuselage to one of my 450 along with a 5 blade rotor. I am about to put a Flymentor on it because it doesn't have a flub at obviously.
Once you start, it seems like it never ends
[/quot
So would you recommend Trex 450 as my starting point...and then slowly move on to the 500 size?
11-27-2011 | 10:46 AM
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 608
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Gatineau,
QC, CANADA
RE: Beginner question regarding T-Rex
Start with the 450, and see how much you like it. Yes, the bigger they are, the better they fly (more stable), but the more expensive they are to repair. I started with a few HobbyKing kits, and learned a lot from them (build, repair, repair and repair). I did crash my Trex 450 a few times, and for some reason, more parts had to be replaced. They servos gears for example, stripped on one crash. Never happened with the clone with Corona servos (cheaper and more durable it seems). But after I was comfortable with flying and building, I stayed with Align (bought a 500ESP Pro and then the 600E Pro).
11-27-2011 | 10:55 AM
#5
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Chicago,
IL
RE: Beginner question regarding T-Rex
ORIGINAL: gi1mo2
Start with the 450, and see how much you like it. Yes, the bigger they are, the better they fly (more stable), but the more expensive they are to repair. I started with a few HobbyKing kits, and learned a lot from them (build, repair, repair and repair). I did crash my Trex 450 a few times, and for some reason, more parts had to be replaced. They servos gears for example, stripped on one crash. Never happened with the clone with Corona servos (cheaper and more durable it seems). But after I was comfortable with flying and building, I stayed with Align (bought a 500ESP Pro and then the 600E Pro).
Start with the 450, and see how much you like it. Yes, the bigger they are, the better they fly (more stable), but the more expensive they are to repair. I started with a few HobbyKing kits, and learned a lot from them (build, repair, repair and repair). I did crash my Trex 450 a few times, and for some reason, more parts had to be replaced. They servos gears for example, stripped on one crash. Never happened with the clone with Corona servos (cheaper and more durable it seems). But after I was comfortable with flying and building, I stayed with Align (bought a 500ESP Pro and then the 600E Pro).
11-27-2011 | 11:04 AM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Swansea,
MA
RE: Beginner question regarding T-Rex
+ 1 on the 450. Try like a HK 450 sport. kits are, & its compatible with align parts decent & very reasonable, replacement parts cheap. You will crash so starting with a 450 size make more sense to me. Also once your comfortable with flying the 450, the 500 size of bigger gets easier not more difficult, do to them being more inherantly stable.
Get the sim. Spend the winter on it as much as you can, & start flying the 450 in the spring. The sim will really help. Wish I had one when I started. I'm flying a Pheonix sim. Graphics & physics are fantastic, plus it plugs right into my Dx6i & i can practice onmy radio which is a big plus in my opinion.
Good luck, by the way it is an addiction LOL
Get the sim. Spend the winter on it as much as you can, & start flying the 450 in the spring. The sim will really help. Wish I had one when I started. I'm flying a Pheonix sim. Graphics & physics are fantastic, plus it plugs right into my Dx6i & i can practice onmy radio which is a big plus in my opinion.
Good luck, by the way it is an addiction LOL
11-27-2011 | 12:15 PM
#7
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Chicago,
IL
RE: Beginner question regarding T-Rex
ORIGINAL: augerin2
+ 1 on the 450. Try like a HK 450 sport. kits are, & its compatible with align parts decent & very reasonable, replacement parts cheap. You will crash so starting with a 450 size make more sense to me. Also once your comfortable with flying the 450, the 500 size of bigger gets easier not more difficult, do to them being more inherantly stable.
Get the sim. Spend the winter on it as much as you can, & start flying the 450 in the spring. The sim will really help. Wish I had one when I started. I'm flying a Pheonix sim. Graphics & physics are fantastic, plus it plugs right into my Dx6i & i can practice onmy radio which is a big plus in my opinion.
Good luck, by the way it is an addiction LOL
+ 1 on the 450. Try like a HK 450 sport. kits are, & its compatible with align parts decent & very reasonable, replacement parts cheap. You will crash so starting with a 450 size make more sense to me. Also once your comfortable with flying the 450, the 500 size of bigger gets easier not more difficult, do to them being more inherantly stable.
Get the sim. Spend the winter on it as much as you can, & start flying the 450 in the spring. The sim will really help. Wish I had one when I started. I'm flying a Pheonix sim. Graphics & physics are fantastic, plus it plugs right into my Dx6i & i can practice onmy radio which is a big plus in my opinion.
Good luck, by the way it is an addiction LOL
Thank you very much for your advice and warning
I'm fully aware that this hobby is nothing more than an addiction...some time ago I bought rc car just to go racing from time to time....yeah right....I will practice over the winter time and start looking for a good deal.
so belt or shaft?
11-27-2011 | 04:28 PM
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 608
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Gatineau,
QC, CANADA
RE: Beginner question regarding T-Rex
In the beginning, it doesn't really matter. Belt is cheaper to fix. Belt can be the cause of problems initially. For me, being new to building my own, I didn't tighten the belt or check it after a few flights, and it slipped, causing a crash. It did even on my Trex 450 Sport, and you'd think I would have learned my lesson after 3 clones...
Shaft should be better, but the only heli I'm having tail problems with is a Trex 500 ESP where I get tail kicks which I don't understand and haven't been able to correct. Only at rotor high speed on idle up mode...
Shaft should be better, but the only heli I'm having tail problems with is a Trex 500 ESP where I get tail kicks which I don't understand and haven't been able to correct. Only at rotor high speed on idle up mode...
11-27-2011 | 04:58 PM
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 608
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Gatineau,
QC, CANADA
RE: Beginner question regarding T-Rex
Pro is Shaft, Sport is belt. I started with belt. Not sorry I did. Others may say Pro. It is really your choice. I would stay away from models that your LHS doesn't have parts for or you can't get readily. It might be different for me in Canada. I see you are from Chicago, the windy city . That's where I got my first toy heli, at the airport on display in a store while waiting for a delayed flight 4 years ago.
. That's where I got my first toy heli, at the airport on display in a store while waiting for a delayed flight 4 years ago.
11-28-2011 | 09:17 AM
#11
Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Canton,
MI
RE: Beginner question regarding T-Rex
Definitely Align 450 Sport. That was my first heli this March, and I have not flown my planes since. The parts are plentiful, and I find it easy to repair. The belt is the way to go for beginners because the shaft drive is more delicate(everyone crashes, some more often than others, and the belt is pretty robust; even if you have to replace it, I've never had to replace the gears driven by the belt).
Most of the videos online are of people doing hardcore 3D, but you can easily adjust the heli to make it pretty tame as you learn. HeliFreaks has lots of newbie info and tips and videos.
GET A PITCH GAGE. You will need it to set it up properly, and adjust then tame the pitch range to taste, and you will definitely need it for crash repair. GET A GOOD RADIO. The better ones are more friendly for heli use(more features, mixes, adjustments)
The simulator helps, but there is nothing like real stick time.
Yes, it's an addiction.
Good luck!
Ed
T-REX 450 Sport Super Combo
Futaba 7C
Most of the videos online are of people doing hardcore 3D, but you can easily adjust the heli to make it pretty tame as you learn. HeliFreaks has lots of newbie info and tips and videos.
GET A PITCH GAGE. You will need it to set it up properly, and adjust then tame the pitch range to taste, and you will definitely need it for crash repair. GET A GOOD RADIO. The better ones are more friendly for heli use(more features, mixes, adjustments)
The simulator helps, but there is nothing like real stick time.
Yes, it's an addiction.
Good luck!
Ed
T-REX 450 Sport Super Combo
Futaba 7C
11-28-2011 | 09:33 AM
#12
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Chicago,
IL
RE: Beginner question regarding T-Rex
ORIGINAL: ehernan3
Definitely Align 450 Sport. That was my first heli this March, and I have not flown my planes since. The parts are plentiful, and I find it easy to repair. The belt is the way to go for beginners because the shaft drive is more delicate(everyone crashes, some more often than others, and the belt is pretty robust; even if you have to replace it, I've never had to replace the gears driven by the belt).
Most of the videos online are of people doing hardcore 3D, but you can easily adjust the heli to make it pretty tame as you learn. HeliFreaks has lots of newbie info and tips and videos.
GET A PITCH GAGE. You will need it to set it up properly, and adjust then tame the pitch range to taste, and you will definitely need it for crash repair. GET A GOOD RADIO. The better ones are more friendly for heli use(more features, mixes, adjustments)
The simulator helps, but there is nothing like real stick time.
Yes, it's an addiction.
Good luck!
Ed
T-REX 450 Sport Super Combo
Futaba 7C
Definitely Align 450 Sport. That was my first heli this March, and I have not flown my planes since. The parts are plentiful, and I find it easy to repair. The belt is the way to go for beginners because the shaft drive is more delicate(everyone crashes, some more often than others, and the belt is pretty robust; even if you have to replace it, I've never had to replace the gears driven by the belt).
Most of the videos online are of people doing hardcore 3D, but you can easily adjust the heli to make it pretty tame as you learn. HeliFreaks has lots of newbie info and tips and videos.
GET A PITCH GAGE. You will need it to set it up properly, and adjust then tame the pitch range to taste, and you will definitely need it for crash repair. GET A GOOD RADIO. The better ones are more friendly for heli use(more features, mixes, adjustments)
The simulator helps, but there is nothing like real stick time.
Yes, it's an addiction.
Good luck!
Ed
T-REX 450 Sport Super Combo
Futaba 7C
I got Dx7 for my airplanes and I'm hoping to be able to use it for my heli as well.
