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Gyro Hobbies . E-flite . Next D

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Beginners Corner > Blade 400 vs T-REX 450
 
 
pc-grafix
New Heliman
Location: Plainfield, IL

I am really new to all this. I currently have a very cheap Falcon 40 that I am trying to learn on, and a sim. Looking ahead, I had kinda of settled on a T-REX 450 as my next bird - after learning a bit more how to fly. At my LHS the other day, I asked some basic questions about it and the guy there is steering me toward a Blade 400 instead.

So ... I was hoping for some input from y'all about it. Budget is always a concern, but also don't want to waste money. I have also been looking on eBay and found what looks like some really good deals on some Blade 400's. Some with lots of upgrades like metal rotor heads, etc.

Any suggestions? Why is one better than the other?
08-08-2008 05:40 PM
 
 
Skarn
Senior Heliman
Location: Pasadena, MD

The trex will be better, but mainly because you will be putting in your own choice of servo's and gyro. It also depends on which version of trex you are referring to.

But if money is not too much of an issue, I'd say get the trex kit....by putting it together yourself and setting it up yourself, you will learn so much that a rebuild after a crash will not be intimidating.

If money is a great issue, there is nothing wrong with a B400...for $400 you get a decent RTF heli with a decent radio. But you will be replacing the stock servo's for sure and eventually the stock gyro.

Good luck,
Skarn

It's better to burn out than to fade away...
08-08-2008 06:04 PM
 
 
taterm6
Heliman
Location: Fayetteville, Ga

My first heli that I had was the trex 450. I liked being able to build and put in my own electronics. Its a little more up front cost, but it pays off. This is still a favorite heli of mine. Looking back on other options I had at the time...Im glad I went with the T-rex and I wouldn't have changed a thing.
08-08-2008 06:35 PM
 
 
rcmadness
Senior Heliman
Location: Midland, Texas - USA

I have had them both at the same time and I liked the the B400 to learn on better than the T450. For the life of me I cannot tell you why I liked learning on it better but I had the choice to fly either heli every day and I would always pick up the B400. After I could fly pretty well I moved on to the T450SA and never looked back. Maybe it was the fact that the servos were a little slower and the cyclic was not as responsive that made me feel more comfortable.

Now days I fly a Trex 450SE v2 with the fastest cyclic response I can get.

Finally got past the sweating palms!!!!!!
08-08-2008 07:36 PM
 
 
payne1967
Veteran
Location: warwick uk

another vote for the t-rex 450 but also look at the thunder tiger mini titan, the two best machines in the 450 class with good parts support
08-08-2008 11:20 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Drew7601
Senior Heliman
Location: Albuquerque, NM USA

yea both t rex and mini titan will be great choices parts for them are everywhere! and you will have choices of electronics that will best suit you

Drew,,Mini Titan, honeybee cp2,Cx2.
08-09-2008 07:07 AM
 
 
TJinGuy
Elite Veteran
Location: Socorro, NM - USA

Both fly well and bothare suitable for learning how to fly. But that is where the similarities end ... so ...

If a guy wants to get into rc helis and start from the ground up with building one, outfitting it with electronics, setting it up and THEN learning to fly, the Rex450 (or Mini) is the way to go.

Or if a guy is not sure about rc helis and wants to give it a try but doesn't want to worry himself with understanding how to build or setup a rc heli and just wants to get right into 3D flight, then Blade400 is a bargain. As a side note, most of these guys get to tap into their eBay skills soon after their purchase.

- Chris

Variety+spice+life+supporting_paper_towel_industry=
King2+Rex450+Protos+Concept30
08-09-2008 07:24 AM
 
 
TachyonDriver
Veteran
Location: Chipping, Lancs, UK

Quote 
just wants to get right into 3D flight, then Blade400 is a bargain

You can of course fly them around without doing 3D - just because you hit idle up doesn't mean you have to do all that inverted stuff.

Tach.

Little Spinning Bundle of Joy® DON'T DISS THE DINO!!
08-09-2008 06:03 PM
 
 
RyeGuy83
Senior Heliman
Location: Crest Hill, IL - United States

Vote for Blade 400

My vote is for the Blade 400. It's definitely a cheaper bargain. It comes ready-to-fly right out of the box as soon as you charge the battery. Stock servos , gyro, blades, and frame are definitely not the best (some Trex models come with carbon fiber frame, stabailizers, tail boom, etc..) but definitely are really cheap at replacing.

As far as it goes Grafix... don't worry about parts. Leisure Hours carries TONS of both Blade 400 and T-Rex 450 parts. I've gone in there 6 or 7 times for misc. parts to fill my crash-kit. either way you go... by some more batteries. I can suggest some to you if you'd like.

If you come to the fun-fly's on monday (the one's i told you about), I can show you my Blade and you can see what you think. I'm usually the only person there with one, and one of the guys flies a min-titan that is around the same size.
08-09-2008 10:39 PM
 
 
payne1967
Veteran
Location: warwick uk

it all depends on the budget
the trex and mini titan is better than the blade 400
the blade 400 is better than the art-tec (century mini pred)

if you can afford the better heli go trex/mini titan
if you can't go for the blade 400

but what ever you buy, just have fun and be safe
08-09-2008 11:36 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
RyeGuy83
Senior Heliman
Location: Crest Hill, IL - United States

Parts

I agree with payne1967. If you have the money, I'd probably shell out for a better package for the T-Rex 450. I would double check how much replacements are for them first though. I can guarantee that most parts for the B400 will be between $2.50 and $4.99 a pack (almost everything comes as a pair of 2 except gears). Besides that, a lot of the parts can be slightly modified to fit either B400 or TRex 450.
08-10-2008 03:26 AM
 
 
pc-grafix
New Heliman
Location: Plainfield, IL

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to give me some input. I think I am going to stick with my decision to build a TREX (I like the idea of building one from a kit and getting to know all about it)

... but, will the 450 size be good or should I consider going up to a 500? Looks like a significant cost increase. Are the electronics interchangeable between the sizes? The 600 is just to much $$$ for me to consider right now.

Thanks! This forum is GREAT!
08-11-2008 01:03 AM
 
 
RyeGuy83
Senior Heliman
Location: Crest Hill, IL - United States

Rex 450

Graphix-

I would stick with the 450 for now. Especially as you're learning to fly, they are just about the perfect size. not too large and expensive, and not too small and cheaply made. If you do decide to build a kit from scratch, make sure you look over the different kits for the 450. I believe there are at least 3-4 in both black and silver carbon fiber. Also check the forums of people who own and fly the TRex 450, and ask around for decently priced / good servos / gyro / Rx / Tx combo. You can usually get a really good deal if you buy all 4 servos, gyro, receiver as a package. The transmitter is really up to you and what you like. If you plan on going to a larger scale heli at a later time, I'd suggest the Spektrum Dx7. just a thought.

-RyeGuy83
08-11-2008 02:26 AM
 
 
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Beginners Corner > Blade 400 vs T-REX 450
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