T-Rex 450 XL or SE?

[rc10t3]

I'm looking to get my first RC Heli. I'm an experienced plane flyer, but this will be my first Heli.

I was looking at the T-Rex 450, either the XL or SE.

Since I'm new, I was thinking I'm going to be crashing a lot.

Is it better to get the SE because the aluminum will be stronger and resist breaking or is it better to get the XL first (because the aluminum will bend or break anyway and it is cheaper to replace plastic)?

Thanks

[rcfan]

Get a simulator first and crash that as often as you like ... once you're comfortable, then go out and get yourself a suitable heli.

[Motions]

I have to agree with rcfan. You need to jump on a sim first. There is no way I would learn on a T-Rex. Parts are just too much. and setup can be a beast.

[rc10t3]

Thanks,

I'm already pretty comfortable flying helis on my RealFlight simulator. So, I'm ready to try a real heli now.

[Fasrc]

I have not flown the SE yet but I am very happy with my XL. I would assume that in a hard crash the SE would bend the metal parts and the Xl would break similar pieces, but in a small crash, some SE parts would probably stand a better chance of survival. The majority of things that break in a small crash are probably the same between the 2 such as boom, landing gear, blades, main shaft, spindle and links. I guess you can break the head components on the XL but the cost difference to fix the extra pieces on the XL are minimal.

If you want a shine hot looking small heli get the SE, but if you don't care about it being flashy get XL they fly almost as good.

[HAF]

Start with the XL and upgrade it with aluminum bling when you crash and break the plastic pieces.

[dhotamis]

Hi everyone.
I am alittle more than a beginner I think, I have a blade cp and I can hover, land, go forward and I can do some curves. I am planning to buy a T-rex and try to build and learn the hobby and flying on it. I do not know if that is the best idea but every day I am almost ordering the kit. I need some Ideas some suggestions please.
I am also not planning to buy the T-rex RTF, I am planning to buy the kit,ESC, and Motor first. Later transmitter, and gyro...

Please send me your ideas

I am extremey excited in this hobby and I want to learn it well.

Thanks

Deniz

[dhotamis]

Also, I am living in Boston, and I wonder if there are people that can help me with my problems in this hobby.

Thank you all

Deniz H.

[axis]

I went from a Blade CP to a TRex with awesome results. I also went with the XL vs the SE simply because it was cheaper. As I break things I replace them with aluminum. The aluminum parts haven't bent yet. If I had to do it all over again, I would get a sim first and foremost, then the Blade CP and then my TRex XL. Get a Sim and a 450 XL and upgrade to aluminum as necessary.

[dhotamis]

The problem with the simulator is, I am a MAC user and there are not simulators that works with MAC as well they are all for PC as far as I know. If anyone do know please let me know I will be very happy to hear that there is.

Deniz

[axis]

Alpha Omega Flight Sim for Macintosh (http://www.flying-model-simulator.com/mac/index.html)
From what i could tell from a quick google search thats the only that may be out there. I think its free and once again from the quick search there are plenty of models available for it as well.
hope this helps ya.

[Motions]

Go with the the XL. The SE is all bling and you won't get anything out of it unless you do hardcore 3D.

If you have a BCP, use that to try new things and practice and be very slow with the Trex. It's better to crash a BCP than a Trex.

[tdswan]

Definately going with Motions on this one. All that bling doesn't make you a better pilot. My 450XL CCPM is so precise, I'd challenge almost any sport flyer to tell the difference. I have a friend who has all of the metal on his Rex, I've flown it, I wasn't impressed at all.

3-D gurus...Yeah, get the SE. Beginners to even mild 3-D, you will never miss it. Spend the extra $300 on some better electronics, or radio.

[dhotamis]

Hi again,

I downloaded the simulator for the MAC OSX.
Also I am still looking for more deals for the TREX 450XL HDE and that seem to be a good deal but since I am a beginner Ithink I need some comments from more experienced people than myself.
Take a look at this combo please and this is $340 including the shipping.
Should I do it?


T-REX 450XL Kits Set X 1 Set
Aluminum Case X 1(not for assembled T-rex450)
420LF 3200KV Brushless Motor X 1 SET(Apply to 13T Main Drive Gear For 3200KV Motor)
Fiber Rotor Blade(325x32mm) X 1 SET
Wooden Rotor Blade 315mmX 1 set
LI-PO 11.1V 2200 MAH BATTERY X 2 SET
LI-PO CHARGER X 1 SET
Head lock Gyro RCE-500 [K10255A] X 1 SET
RCM-BL25T 25A Brushless ESCX1 X 1 SET
MINI micro servo X 4 PCS
FM 6CH Receiver RC-RX6 KA913008A X 1 SET
Motor Gear:3.2mm 15T/13T/11Tx1set


THanks

Deniz

[axis]

Yea I thinkit sounds like a good deal.
I paid $248 for my TRex with motor and esc..

[dhotamis]

Where did you buy yours?

[axis]

Aero Hobbies in Lewisville, Texas..

Luckily we have an abundance of quality hobby shops around here.

[PoPRC]

The problem with the simulator is, I am a MAC user and there are not simulators that works with MAC as well they are all for PC as far as I know. If anyone do know please let me know I will be very happy to hear that there is.

Deniz

Here is a RC Heli Simulator for Mac OSX: http://www.alphamacsoftware.com/

I think its pretty good but I have not played any PC sims, they also direct you to where you can get a controller like the transmitter you would have for a real RC heli.

I am looking to purchase a Heli once I get better at this sim.

Whoop, I shoulda read the second page before posting. The sim is not free though its about $40.

[bebbe]

What I´ve heard from a really experienced T-REX flier is that you don´t need all the metal on the SE. It actually makes it a not so agile heli. Some parts are really good to have though.

[HeatSeeker{DEN}]

To this i would say to you check out issue 2 and look at Erich Stolz's T-Rex. It almost looks like a blueprint for thr 450 SE. There are very few exceptions. Then compare experiance levels between he and your friend. :cool:

[axis]

I must agree with heatseeker on that one. I saw an SE fly today in the hands of a very experienced heli pilot and all I can say is WOW!! That thing looked amazingly agile. Now I will say this, I don't see the aluminum making you a better pilot but, I do see it makiing the TRex a more durable machine. I was told that the reason for alot of the aluminum, is to reduce flex in the head and tail assembly therefore making the TRex SE an even more agile flyer.
With that being said, I have replaced almost everything in my tail and head with aluminum. I have just been replacing the parts as I break the plastic ones. Since I have started adding aluminum , I personally have more confidence in my machine now because I dont fear tearing the head down when I dump it into the ground. The aluminum will survive, when the plastic wont.

[bebbe]

To this i would say to you check out issue 2 and look at Erich Stolz's T-Rex. It almost looks like a blueprint for thr 450 SE. There are very few exceptions. Then compare experiance levels between he and your friend. :cool:

I don´t want to be rude or anything but I think the word sponsorship and aftermarket has a lot to do with it too. But as I mentioned earlier there´s a lot of things that could be better too. And I don´t think it´s anything wrong with changing all the things. But it will get heavier and you will get shorter flying time. For a beginner that´s not good. But for a really experienced flyer it could be a cheap price to pay to get the helli more responsive when flying extreme 3D. But still, some parts are not necassary. But they are cool anyway!

I will link up a movie when he is flying. He´s god, not as Eric of course but he knows what he´s doing. And he doesn´t have anything to gain in telling people what gear to choose.

http://www.users.one.se/tomafran/ezfly/Video/ROCKET2_TREX_XXL.wmv

[axis]

From racing RC Cars for 20+ years I can tell you that , yes I am sure sponsorship has some to do with it.However, I haven't noticed any change in my flight times. No more than I would have noticed whether I was flying in heavy wind or no wind.

[bebbe]

Ok, no need to argue more. The only thing I want to do is make life easier for the common flier and not make them think all the gangets are needed. Make fly time not bling time. But I cant tell enough how much I like all the gadgets to but they are not nessesary.

Even Eric him self says the same thing in the magazine.

[axis]

I will totally agree with that one. All the bling is not a must have. My TRex flew just fine without but as cheap as align parts are, I just found it more feasible to replace plastic with billet as the plastic broke. Thats one great thing about the TRex parts are cheap. Even the Aluminum. I like the way that you get everything you need when you buy something. If you buy a part that requires bearings, well you get them along with any spacers or bolts to go along with it.

[bebbe]

Yeep, what I have seen so far it´s a really good machine! No wounder that they are so popular.

[Rotoboy]

Start with the XL and upgrade it with aluminum bling when you crash and break the plastic pieces. I agree this 100%. T Rex is a wonderful chopper for upstart as well a pro. I think parts are not so costly as well. You can up grade as you see fit. Find what you are breaking the most and up grade that first. For me it was the Landing gear. did not find myself doing any major snapping of anything other then that, so other then this I just put on parts to make it smoother. First up was the tail gear box and tail slider , after that a digital servo on tail. Next I will move to the rotor head and so on...


Rotoboy