Just noticed this on one of the other forums (minus batteries, receiver and transmitter).

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11421334&postcount=584

The kit for only $35   

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=8467&Product_Name=HK-450_CCPM_3D_Electric_Helicopter_Kit

Hi Anwar,

About this clone of 450!  I dont know, i may be wrong.  I've seen two clone of 450 destroy itself to death. Both of them i saw was on a sucide mission 

Again may be i'm wrong.  I've not flown them till now, but i've only seen these things go down.  May be pilot errror too. 

Do you have any first hand info about these clones? 

Regards,
Adarsh
www.adarsh007.com

There is a big thread on rcgroups about this heli. You'll get all the info there.

RotorZone 

Please feel free to post the links to rcgroups that are of interest.  We are an "open" forum 

I hope you did not post the links because you did not have them handy (and not for any other reasons !)

My brother just ordered a full kit (minus RX/TX) for the heck of it. Will update this thread after flight tests.

Yeah, I was just too lazy to look up the thread. Here it is

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=976255

One more thread about this heli
http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=114833

Be careful with this heli. You might want to change some parts before spooling up.

http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=127909

My brother just told me it has still not shipped, as the tail servo is on backorder.

I do have a couple of Align 450 plastic main blade grips to substitute, so we will be using them for the build. Fact is that I have collected so much spares for the 450 series, that I can pretty much build a whole heli with them.  As the primary bird on which I started in RC, and the one with which I started doing 3D; I have crashed so many times (20+) that stocking spares became a huge necessity.

It took more than a month to get shipped, and my brother received it and had built it by the time I got back from a trip.  I helped him with the final radio setup and testing, and first did some basic hovers inside the house.

I noticed that the two plastic rings that hold the tail servo on to the tail boom had some play in them (probably my brother over tightened them), so we replaced those with spare ones from Align 450 originals.  Other than that, everything is stock on this heli.

Today was the first day I went flying after almost 2 months, and got a chance to fly it in the open.  After adjusting the tail a bit more, this thing flew great !  I did a few circuits, but did not try any 3D.

When everyone saw the heli and learnt the price of it (about hundred bucks), they all wanted one !  I think someone is making an order for like 5 of them in the near future, to be shared among our heli gang 

We had the first part failure with this couple of days ago. Luckily it was noticed in time, so there was no crash.

The plastic pully/gear (marked in the attached picture) to which the front of the belt is connected started rotating freely on its metal spindle.

Even comments in the Hobbycity page for the part show that there are many people having problems with this part :

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=8543&Product_Name=Part_#_F016

Some people have suggested fixes, like :

http://www.e-voo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=65034

We will replace it with the Align original, since we have it already.

Some has a video of the problem, and his fix for it.



Long live the internet !

Just saw this site dedicated to the HK450 :

http://www.hk450.com/

The site has useful information on tools.  And it pointed to a competitor for the HK450 with many metal upgrades, for a nice price.

http://www.ehirobo.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=334_174&products_id=5578

Looks like a nice deal with all the problem parts of the HK450 upgraded to metal (or fixed otherwise).

hi,

My friend has been through a full cycle of HK-450. Earlier he was flying Belt CP and now with the performance of HK, he has scrapped the Belt.

I will recommend this completely.

Just going through this thread. The problems related to this heli's tail gear drive, arent they fixed on the new, currently available Version 2 ?
I am in the process of recommending this to a friend, and was wondering if the Version 2 should have these issues fixed.

Selecting this heli over the MT and GT because :
- Cheaper
- Plastics are more suited to beginners. Metal would bend, plastic breaks. Spares cheaper.

Vinay, did you order the 27.99 one for yourself ? any specific plans to correct the problems mentioned here ?

Vinay first ordered the MT one and has his $27 V2 on the way and we would be pooling some parts orders together in day or two. After assembling his MT, Vinay found my V2 to be plasticky, esp the tail assembly. Neverthless even he maintains that its good for beginner. to be earnest, even thought I am not yey keep on helis, I got this V2 for the sheer price (won't mind I hang it in office/room as static) and to give some company to my friend Vinay . It would be great see if a $27 kit incites a heli freak in me!

The tail break part was fixed by HK Long back on all the Helis. Dont worry at all.

Regarding the quality, HK450 MT is far more Superior to the new plastic version 2. Bending /Breaking all depends on the kind of crash. Iam yet to receive the plastic version, Ill comment after that on the screw quality etc.

In simple words, if you have money buy the MT!!!

Thanks Ujjwaana, Vinay.
I am ordering this for a fellow flier. Looks like he is going to get the cheaper V2 version.
Are the parts for this available on site ?
When i view their parts list ie http://hobbycity.com/hobbyking/store/uh_listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?idCategory=297
I see the metal parts and plastic parts. I presume the platic parts would be for the V2 ? Since nowhere on the part list it says V2, I a not sure if these parts are V2 or the older V1 ..

Any ideas ? I would love to order at least the basic spares - Tail boom, main gear, shaft, blades and control arms etc alongwith the heli

It has become dirt cheap now ! Only $9 !

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__17199__HK450_CCPM_3D_Helicopter_Kit_Align_T_rex_Compat_Ver_2.html

Imagine how much $$$$$ align would be making  Considering its build quality is just 1.5 to 2X  better! What makes an HK heli fail is the precision of the components and some key components are a lil weak.

That all depends on how much Align has to spend to get that 2X boost in quality.  The money spent many not be directly proportional to the improvement in quality; it can be lower, same or most likely, higher !

True Anwar, not to forget the continuous R&D costs/sponsoring of Align. These Chinese people just scan and clone it No R&D what so ever. But again Align would have made millions! 

Certainly. Align is not in business for charity, nor are they doing this "for the love of the hobby" !

I get that point. What i was telling was the difference in the manufacturing price and the sale price. Almost 10X. where as for HK it would be like 2X?

Of course, they will include the price for R&D, marketing etc. Not 10x for Align, might be more like 3x (all inclusive). 

Remember that prices on this item from Align are more like from 4 years ago.