Im pretty sure I want a trex 450. Im an experienced heli pilot (Raptor 30 Nitro, and Esky Honey bee king 2) I just need someone to help me sort out the different versions. SA, SE, SE V2, XL. There are just too many versions for me to figure it out. It looks like the SE's come with a metal head, and thats about as much as i can figure out. Is there much of a difference in flight characteristics or availability of parts? Also any recommendations on where to buy? Which motors are best for moderate 3d performance, which speed control is good. I basically need a buyers guide.

If you are an experienced pilot, the 450S is economically the best machine for you. $229 at hobbypeople.net. Includes ESC and motor.

You'll find people on both sides of that argument. While it's true that the 450S is economical in the short run, it's prone to more extensive damage in a crash than the 450SE, closing the price gap in pretty short order. Even an experienced pilot can crash, especially if he/she is pushing his/her abilities.

You can get the SA with motor and esc. for $186.98 from My RC Supply:

http://myrcsupply.net/index.php?main...th=118_283_271

I ordered one from them and got it on time, no problems.

orlbuzz

XL = Plastic everything
SA = Aluminum body, plastic head and rotor
S CF = Carbon fiber body, plastic head and rotor
SE = Carbon Fiber body, metal head and rotor
SE V2 = Basically a SE with all the complaints fixed

Those are pretty much listed in order of price and performance.
Each kit can come with a slightly different motor/esc, the 450L (3550kv), 450XL (3700kv) and for esc the 35G and 35X (not sure what the diff for esc)

I see it for $269

TEX.

Well, I'll be darned! Horizon (the distributor) must have gotten on to them! I got mine at about $212, and they had it listed at $186.98 last night, and had for about a week!

Lucky Me, I guess! I'm glad I bought when I did!

Thanks for pointing that out.

orlbuzz

Thanks Druss, you just saved me alot of headaches

It happens, there was another site selling brushless motors for $12 each. Turns out they were actually supposed to be $80 or so. They had so many orders for it in one day that they had to cancel all the orders because of the typo. I am sure they would have lost thousands if they hadn't caught it. You lucked out since the order actually processed and nobody caught it. It's not like Horizon to do that, but good that they honored the price even if it was wrong.

I'd have to disagree with the crashing bit. Crash the SE hard enough and you are out 10 times more money than with the same crash on an SA.

The 450SA (ARF distributed exclusively by horizon hobbies??) & 450S (kit) are supposed to be the identical. I have the 450S kit & examined the SA too. Apparently the SA still comes with a z bend tail pushrod & split yoke tail contol.. whilst the S has full ball linked tail control (much smoother & no binding as i found in the SA tail control!

But anyway "fluffhead" from what I have read sofar, you should only get any of the SE versions specifically because the rotor head feathering shaft has thrust bearings in addition to the standard axial BB's making the collective movment etc.. much less STICKY so the machine is is much more precise! The head also features stronger 4mm feathering shaft, compared to a 3mm one on all the others!

I still prefer aluminum frame over carbon for it's durability so I stuck with the S (lie: hobby store only had those in stock! lol) & will just buy the complete SE head available for about $170 after I prang the head on this one!
Laters

Oh in regards to electronics:
The fastest EP tail servo is the S9257 (0.08s / 60deg) & GY401 gyro, 3 HS65HB's (karbonite gear) or 3 HS 65MG's (metal gear, much more crash resistant) & a Futaba 146ip micro PCM receiver.
Fly the stock align blade (not consistent) then move up the either Vblade 325's or radix 325's

The SE kits should come with the 430XL (3700) motor & matched 35amp speed controller, so check that out! As for batteries, I did my research & i went with Flight Power Evo 25's .......2170mah, 11.1 v 3cell, 25C dicharge etc.. they are slightly heavier 180g than the Thunder power 2200 exteme packs (170g) but I have come to the conclusion that they may last me longer the the exteme's plus you can get the "charge through" flightpower balancer so it can be balanced & charged in one go!
enjoy!

Am I wrong or is the difference between the 35G and 35X ( as asked above ), is that the 35G ESC has a 5V BEC, and the 35X is 6V....??

Yes the BEC is as you stated. The 35x has the heat shrink mod and it has a throttle response setting, low, medium and high, correct me if i am wrong but i dont believe the 35g has this option.

Yes my 35G has this option, standard speed, medium speed and quick speed. (not sure what it's supposed to do though)

the 35g and 35 X are the same in all options except the 35 X added a thottle responce speed (5-1 ,2 and, 3 )
std is 1 is like the 35g and 2and 3 kust resond faster on the stick . i am set for now at Med (5-2)

I have an align 35g, and it also has throttle response settings. only difference I know is that 35g has 5v BEC and 35x has 6v BEC

EDIT: If you allready can fly helis (especially the hb king2), I think you would be able to apriciate all the 'goodies' of the 450SE v2. But it all comes down to $$$.

Also I have both the 450XL CDE and the 450s alu edition. The 450XL is ok, but the 450s is way better in design (espesially the servo position and the lack of bellcranks(?) on the s). I also have a 450SE v2 in the mail (will arrive friday/saturday) and can't wait to try it out.

G'day I just bought a 450S then I saw the 450 HDX it's not Align but it looks at least as good if not better so I checked it out here

http://www.trextuning.com/HD%20V2%20Frame.php

After seeing this flight test & build report I bought one of them as well, Looks like the equivalent to the V2 (got it on ebay for $153.00 metal head tail and carbon body Couldn't let someone else buy it!) so now I have 2 in the mail one of each

Throttle response time.