HK-450 clone electrics

[JetPlaneFlyer]

Originally Posted by solentlife

I applaud your optimism ... all Heli guys I know warn me away from TT tails until I can fly well .. I see guys strip the plastic bevel gears in them ..

Nigel,
I should have asked about belt vs. tube before ordering.. First time out and first flight I landed it, not too bad considering, but slightly tail down and the tail rota caught in the grass and stripped the bevel gear that drives the torque tube

I'm actually not too disappointed because the gears are cheap and this heli was actually far easier to fly than the cheap helis I've tried before. The flybarless controller seems to do a remarkable job of keeping it stable, though setting it all up was a challenge!

I'll have to fly it from a smoother surface from now on. The grass seemed like a good idea to make for softer impacts but it snags the tail.

[JetPlaneFlyer]

Just an update on my progress with this heli.. First the damage: - I've busted a couple of bevel gears on the tail drive, they are very fragile, especially the cheap clone ones. I've also busted the landing skids (again pretty brittle plastic on the clone) and also one vertical fin. None of this damage was from what I'd describe as a 'crash' just slight heavy landings. Flying on grass was what causes the tail drive problems, a hard surface seems better.

Anyway the good news is this heli is soooo much easier than the ones I tried in the past. I'm not sure if it's the flybarless set up but either way its far more stable and locked in than anything I've tried previously. I'm now at a place where I can consistently keep in in a controlled hover for a full battery pack, even with a fresh breeze blowing. This is much better than I ever hoped at this stage. Next step is to get my orientation with the heli at 90degrees and 'nose in', hopefully not a problem given that I'm used to orientation with fixed wing.

Steve

PS.. the ZYX-S flybarless controller has proved to be fantastic: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=24522
It was very intimidating to set up as there are no instructions with it, lots of googling and forum reading was required. But once you get the thing figured out it really performs great.

[JetPlaneFlyer]

I've been flying the HK-450 for a couple of months now and it's really gone a lot better than I ever hoped. After initially stripping a few gears on the tail drive I've not damaged any more. I think the difference is that I got some genuine Align gears which seem a lot stronger. I have had one 'proper' crash which meant new rotors and a few other bits and pieces, but this really wasn't my fault, I was hovering about 8' up and it just lost power. I don't really know what caused it, the battery was fine. Just as a precaution I got myself a new ESC, one of the YEP 45 amp jobs from Hobbyking which is highly rated for heli use, no problems since, fingers crossed.

I've now got enough confidence to actually move the heli around a bit rather than just hover in front of myself. I'm really quite enjoying this heli thing!

YouTube Video

[solentlife]

The speed / edf / pusher bug has got me and my Heli is sitting there hardly flown for months, apart from odd hops now and again in the garden.

But talking to another guy in my group who has upgraded his Copter-X to Flybarless ... he reckons it changed a twitchy machine into a rock-steady model. He's 100% for FBL now ...
I have to say that he lept forward in flight capability after fitting it.

Nigel

[JetPlaneFlyer]

Been getting lots of flights in on the heli and the quality (or lack thereof) of some of the clone parts is starting to show itself.

First thing to go was the bevel drive gears to the tail. They stripped at the slightest contact between tail rotor and earth. Replaced with genuine align parts and never a problem since.

With multiple flights I'm starting to get wear and play in a few key places. The tail rotor control mechanism has become very 'sloppy'. The swash plate also developed excessive play. All of this made the 450 a bit 'loose feeling' to fly.

I still think the HK-450 is good value but there is no doubt that to some extent you do get what you pay for. I'm enjoying the heli so I decided to upgrade to genuine align DFC rotor head, swashplate and tail unit. Went for the latest type of tail with a yoke type control arm on the tail rotor slider which should much reduce slop even once there is a bit of wear in the linkages.

Will report back on what difference my investment makes.

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by JetPlaneFlyer

Been getting lots of flights in on the heli and the quality (or lack thereof) of some of the clone parts is starting to show itself.

But at price of clone parts - there's no reason why you cannot swap out more often questionable parts

First thing to go was the bevel drive gears to the tail. They stripped at the slightest contact between tail rotor and earth. Replaced with genuine align parts and never a problem since.

I'll try not to say - Told you so !!

With multiple flights I'm starting to get wear and play in a few key places. The tail rotor control mechanism has become very 'sloppy'. The swash plate also developed excessive play. All of this made the 450 a bit 'loose feeling' to fly.

I still think the HK-450 is good value but there is no doubt that to some extent you do get what you pay for. I'm enjoying the heli so I decided to upgrade to genuine align DFC rotor head, swashplate and tail unit. Went for the latest type of tail with a yoke type control arm on the tail rotor slider which should much reduce slop even once there is a bit of wear in the linkages.

Will report back on what difference my investment makes.

The older 450 SE and before had yoke style tail control and it's available via various online people ... I don't like the single arm type and have been considering swapping out to the yoke.
One change to tail part that is really good ... the Tarot single piece tail fitting. Gets rid of the silly block mount type that others have ... but still accepts all standard slider / rotor parts to it. But then again - it's belt not rod drive.

It's been some time since you got this 450 ... so I reckon you have had your moneys worth ? Compare prices of Align to your HK450 + parts ... bet you are still clear !

Nigel

[JetPlaneFlyer]

Originally Posted by solentlife

It's been some time since you got this 450 ... so I reckon you have had your moneys worth ? Compare prices of Align to your HK450 + parts ... bet you are still clear !

Nigel,

Yeah, no question. it's amazing value.