Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

Did a brief search and found no real organized post for the T-Rex on this site and it seems that more are coming here with questions and plenty guys have lots of experience and advice who frequent other sites. Lots of new T-rex posts so lets organize it a bit
This is obviously the step up from most RTF kits around 200 bucks...not mentioning names and seems a few guys made the jump so that is why the need for the thread.

Post any build question,electronic question,tuning question etc. Glad to see more guys with it. T-rex is the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

Might as well give the first post, got another T-rex for Christmas and looking for more electronics...kinda makes me mad as I just sold an XL with full electronics. Got the hs-56's,Medusa external BEC, Hitec electron receiver, Mega 16/15/3 motor and still nego on a Futaba 9650 and ESC. Still need a gyro...most likely a GY401 or reluctantly GY240.

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

Why reluctantly??


They are the same gyro except for the remote gain....

I fly mine with a Cirrus and it flies great

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

I prefer the GY401 because it can be ran with the 9650 digital and that will depend on which heli it will go in. If I go 240, then I will go HS-56 on tail.

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

i run the GY401 on my XL and use a s3103 with it....i figured i would upgrade to the digital later on....but have had NO problems with this setup thus far....the setup is about 2 months old and i do mild 3-D....im sure there is room to improve but i just havent found the need yet...but if i had to replace this servo with another, i would probably go with the hs-56.....so in short....i would stick with the GY401 just incase you DO want digital tail in the future....but in my experience it is not necessary.

Jack

P.S.--- i run the mega 16/15/3 as well....

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

Okay fellas, I'm building my T-Rex eCCPM and I'm at the point where I start constructing the frame. I went ahead and bought the Align carbon fiber frame and obviously want to use that instead of the plastic one. My question is, do I assemble the carbon frame completely, then start adding the components from the kit? Or do I need to build portions of the carbon frame, add bits from the kit, build more carbon frame, add more kit bits, and so on? The directions are a little hard to follow. Thanks!

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

It kinda depends on where the servos go as to some of the difficulty in installing electronics. Sometimes people find it easier to install servos when frame is not totally assembled. I would build the carbon and go from there.

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

Right on, thanks leejax02. I sure would like to get this thing together over the long weekend.

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

My only experience with T-rex carbon frames came with the assembly of my SE and putting the servos in first as they needed to be mounted from the inside(hs-56's) would have made it a bit easier.

Boostcrzy, you are right on the digital gyro, I run a Gy401 w/E-flite S75 now in another T-rex. Although it is not digital, it does real well especially at the proper headspeed. I can only imagine digital with a 9650!!

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

how do you like the S75??...

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

O.K. so far, I hear the develop a bit of slop as they wear in a bit, but it is plenty fast enough and I don't have any wagging either...actually I had some a while ago until I increased head speed.

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

what pinion are you using??.,...im on a 13t with the mega 16/15/3 and @ 95% on my CC phoenix35 ESC...

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

boostcrzy,

How's this combo working for you? I'll be using the same, with Thunder Power 2100mAh Pro-Lites. Is there anything I should pay special attention to?

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

I am running the same pinion on the Mega, but run Align esc's. Pretty good power to me. Run 3s 2100Prolites too.

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

I get 8-10 minute flight times depending on routine....but it has great climbout with the 13t pinion and the 325 pro-blades very little bog on full pitch to pitch maneuvers....i'm using the Apex 3s 2200mah packs...
just be sure the throttle channel is reversed on the radio if you have a Futaba....otherwise you could be replacing a main gear before the maiden flight ;) ...also use the super soft start feature.....

Jack

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

Thanks for the advise Jack. I'll be using my 9C so I'll have to be sure and reverse the throttle.

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

Anyone tried the BEC on non-digital servos? Everything like it is supposed to be, the 6.0 volt should speed up everything and help eliminate some esc cut-outs...Will try the Medusa and let you guys know...

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

Anyone else with the Xl still using the plastic blades? These tend to brake grips/mixing levers on a crash that would only probably snap a blade. Had a mild crash yesterday where it went over my head and almost hit an obstruction that could have seriously grounded me. I was able to cut power, but could not power back up fast enough to pull out. Had a hard landing as it broke the skids and tipped over and sent the 2 blades flying with the ends of the grips. Also broke one mixing lever. Quick fix, but was missing 1 grip to complete rebuild.
I have a set of the 325 mm woodies that I was dragging to put on, but now they're on. I HIGHLY recommend getting the woodies and the indestructable skids from Heliup called the Gorilla gear. Out in a week or two.

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

Got some MX400 parts at the hobby shop and they had the aluminum head parts like mixing arms,swashplates etc. and seemed close to T-rex parts. I did realize they were way more expensive than align aluminum parts though. Getting more parts in for the rex...should be back in the air by tomorrow.

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

Hey guys nice to see an informative post like this , any of you guys versed in stock align quality? Rc-Expert has some seemingly sweet deals. Could you guys check this one out, and post some comments? [link=http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Align-T-rex-450XL-CDE-CCPM-RC-Helicopter-PLUS-hk_W0QQitemZ6026525356QQcategoryZ2563QQcmdZViewIte m]This ebay auction here[/link] I would realy appreciate it as the trex has been haunting my dreams and shredding sugar plum fairies. I have ccpm tx experience from my EVIL ms h2/paperweight. Realy wanna get a trex going sans financial turmoil.
Thanks soo much!!![&:]

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

i would say use the Align 35g ESC and 430lf motor combo...add in the 325mm pro blades and a futaba gyro....this is a great combo that really lets the T-REX shine...

Jack

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

Hey swashplate, I'm up the road from you in Troy vt with lots of helis. Give me a call 673-9969. Rich

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

I agree with boostcrzy with the gyro...get the GY401 if not then the Gy240. Everything else will work fine. You will want to check the 430 can so that it is a tight fit as some have failed in flight...this is not only limited to only Align motors, but as the T-rex is in the spotlight, any problems are magnified. Some have taken the top and bottom ends and JB Weld them back together.
Remember to green loctite the swashplate where the inner plate pressure-fits into the large bearing. Just a little bit will do, just apply it to the part of the swash that contacts the bearing.

No Post Office deliveries today...almost tried to run a "repaired" blade grip...ALMOST was that desperate. Could not bear to throw a blade and knowing me demo the heli.

Did buy some Helimax 325mm carbon fiber blades from the lhs... let you guys know, but at first glance, the do seem a bit heavier.
This

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

Servos seem to be my ongoing issue with my T-Rex. I started out on the tail with eflight s75 on a Fut 240. Thios seemed to work great but one tail bang later and the servo disintegrated. There was no other damage and the carbon fiber fin wasn't even scuffed but there was a servo hanging from the boom in 3 pieces. I replaced it with a much better encased hiTec HB56 but now I have a lot of tail wag and slowness. If I had the 401 gyro there like on my Raptor I would simply get a micro digital and call it good. However as I am running the 240 and it says no digital servos I am stumped at what to add. I suppose for $14 I could go back to an S75 and find a way to toughen up the ears on it.

Thoughts?

RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread
 

I would sell the 240 and get a 401...if not possible, then I would do the S75 again. I run one on my tail and it works great. Had one blade strike when I was trimming the tail indoors and it snagged the carpet. It probably was a freak accident that you had. Possibly try and reposition/rotate the servo to get it further out of harms way and maybe a longer servo horn can help in that. Also, the HS-50 from Hitec is another choice, but make sure that theye is zero binding in the tail,linkages or ball links. Pretty sure you already know that, but just my .02 cents.