Which HK Heli To buy:

Many people have been asking me what to buy! More people than I can answer in my Leisure. So I thought I make this thread and guide the people here who want to buy them.
This is a decent beginners, decent budget heli.

Note: You will need to have a 6 Channel TX with E CCPM 120 Degree support and a spare RX and a 3S Lipo charger.

1)
a)Pro Series: These are good. If budget permits, get this and stick to the PRO series instead of getting V2 Series initially and then upgrading to the PRO. Some head and tail, body parts are not compatible between PRO and V2.
HK-450GT Pro 3D Belt-Drive Helicopter Kit (Align T-Rex Compat.)
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=10902

b)V2 Series: I read that some faced tail vibration issues, but thats all luck with helis at this price.
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=10900

2)Servos: X 3 Required. D933MG Digital Metal Gear Servo 2.0kg/ 12g/ 0.10sec
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=10977

3)Motor:
Beginner: Turnigy Typhoon 450H 2215H Heli Motor 3550kv (450 class) - Use 11 T Pinion
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9021

Advanced: Turnigy 2836 Brushless 450-Size Heli Motor 3700kv - Use 12 T pinion
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=8137

4)Battery: ZIPPY Flightmax 2200mAh 3S1P 20C  X 3 To enjoy. Minimum 2 recommended. I have 8.
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6306

5)Gyro:

New Gyro but Good! HobbyKing GA-250 MINI-MEMS Gyro - Iam not sure if this supports Analogue servos.
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=15318

Old gyro. Hobby King 401B AVCS Digital Head Lock Gyro. Its good, but some experience a slight drift to the left. None the less, its livable.
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=10113

6)Tail Servo

Digital: Turnigy DS480 Digital Servo 1.85kg / .068sec / 10.9g
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=8511

Analogue: GWS Park HPX Servo 19g/.05sec/3.6kg (JR Plug) - THese are fast! but I havent mounted them yet!
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=4696

7)ESC: TURNIGY Plush 40amp Speed Controller
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=2165

8)Hex Drivers: Turnigy Long Shaft 4pc Hex driver set. Note that you would need 2 1.5mm Hex drivers to remove the bolts of Feathering shaft.
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=11048

9)Some medium thread lock. Anabond blue and loctite 222 low strength Threadlock

10)Get TONS of spares. It would usualy mean:
a)FiberGlass main blades.b)Main gear set,c)Tail Booms d)Main shaft, e)Feathering shafts, f)dampeners, g)tail shafts h)belts i)flybars j)landing gears

as far as i can remember. these are the ones that usually break. Your luck can be bad so get another helis as a spare    

11)Pitch guage
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9653

12)Swash plate leveler tool.
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=11041

13)Ball link pliers:
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9801

14)Screws for mounting motor:
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=8714

15)Training skid: Get the skid with an aluminium hub. My first heli crashed due to the breakage of the plastic hub(which i got from heli direct).
http://cgi.ebay.com/3D-Big-Training-kit-Alum-Metal-Center-450-Heli-/180555273285?pt=Radio_Control_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a09eed445

16)Bullet connectors for connecting motor to ESC.
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9284

17)XT60 Connectors for battery to ESC:
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9572

This configuration is based on what I have used till date! Except the Gyro. Iam not responsible if you dont like this, or if this causes problems to you in anyway!

And do yourself a favor! Dont buy any Heli stuff from EBAY!
If you Build an HK Heli, then you can build any electric Heli
If you build an EBAY heli, you may not build anymore Helis  

UPDATES:
1) Beginners should stay away from torque tube versions as the umbrella gears strip on medium hard landings. Updating here as per post #68.

Heli Gurus, please let me know if something is missing. 

Made this thread a sticky

The DS480 tail servo has been perpetually out of stock !  My order has been in BO status forever !  Someone wanted to buy my HK450PROTT, but with cheaper electronics, so I have been waiting for this to swap out the GY401/S9650 combo !

Why did you not list the HK401B gyro ?

If you can authorize me to edit the first post forever.  

Its outdated and has a slight drift to most of them. Only few people get good ones. The Ga 250 looks like a good one. I have one on the way. I will add the 401 B as well to the main thread.

Very nice to see you help people build their heli's.

You forgot one thing which you have already mentioned in one of your build thread

Its a must for begginers
Training gear

http://cgi.ebay.com/3D-Big-Training-kit-Alum-Metal-Center-450-Heli-/180555273285?pt=Radio_Control_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a09eed445

Also i have the same motor as you specified for experts it didn't came with screws.
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=8714

Also velcro Tape for battery.

As for maintainance
Either singer sewing machine oil – cheap
Or
Tri-flow oil
http://www.helidirect.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=TRI-FLOW+6oz+NON+AEROSOL+DRIP+BOTTLE

I would also recommend getting a pair of 1.5mm allen wrench
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5418
For removing the feathering shaft.

I have both the triflow and scorpion motor bearing oil. scorpion motor bearing oil is far far better!  

The tri flows and sewing machine oils(which I got) are almost water! The scorpian is the best consistency, neither watery nor thick!  

I have Updated the LIST.

I already mentioned the hex driver set, hex wrench may not be required.

For tail servo i have this
D922MG
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idproduct=10976
can't this be used. The tail servos which you have in the list is little bit high in cost.

Also add this
Turnigy 4.7mm Ball End Reamer
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=11140

The screw link at the start missed out the product number please correct it.

Also if you listing all the things which is needed to build the heli.
A vernier caliper is also need.

I haven't buit my hk450 GT V2 yet. but i have all the product which you have mentioned here.

Can the TURNIGY Plush 40amp handle the amps required for the Turnigy 2836 Brushless 450-Size Heli Motor?

I have used the 922mg and saw a drift(Probably bad gyro  ), the gws was much faster at a lower price. So if anyones wants a good tail servo the ds480 is it and its WAY better than DS420 or 922mg! I didnt want to confuse the users with too many choices.   If you want me to put it there I will. Is a ball link reamer really required? I have one with me since 4 months and I have never bothered to open the pack. The hk ball and links that they ship as of today are almost perfect!

Yup I have not seen it pump more than 30 amps till date. It only is amp hog on 4S! Which I am going to try on my 450 pro.  

Note that a vernier is not required, a simple steel scale will help you measure stuff as good as vernier!. I have a digital vernier but now I use scale and it has become way too easy!

The idea is to list the MINIMUM required stuff to build the heli, I will put the rest in the optional List. Will do it at night. got work.

One of my swash plate links was very tight. Since i haven't assembled i am not able to comment on other links .you can't say that all hk ball and links are perfect. So it better to put 2$ more to see them working fine. Without prior experience about the gyro (Ga 250) why have you listed it here?

Quote from: vinay on January 22, 2011, 06:04:36 PM
The tri flows and sewing machine oils(which I got) are almost water! The scorpian is the best consistency, neither watery nor thick! 

I have been happy with Triflow, because it is thin, yet it does its job well. Thicker stuff seem to attract more residue. 

Try it out anwar sir, the tri flow is general purpose, and scorpion is designed for RC bearings. 

Have u ever felt that tri flow removes the grease out the bearing and makes the bearings pretty loose and wobbly after using triflow? 

That is where I felt Triflow did a great job, it being general purpose.  A lot of heli problems I get into are usually with residue on the tail slider, tail linkage, head assembly etc, which are not exactly bearings, and are quiet exposed to the dusty environment we fly in (even otherwise, helis stir up quite a bit of dust).

ya correct but thats only for the slider and swash. But I still prefer scorpion for bearings. it does a better job in compoarsion and I now use this oil in all the bearings on heli run the heli for few mins inside the house and wipe out the excess with a tissue.

Why dont u get 1 and try it out your self, its just 5bux + shipping.

Quote from: anwar on January 22, 2011, 04:08:25 PM
Why did you not list the HK401B gyro ?

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=17195326&postcount=3408

Can you make the first post editable. Coz I plan to maintain it for long.

Thanks Vinay. Very useful. Can you add some blade suggestions for the HK450 with a beginner in mind.

Will do it, today iam busy, gimme some time, also you can use the same electronics that you got with your align pro for the hk 450 pro, if you dont want to spend more.

Hi Guys,

received My KH-450GT Pro Kit yesterday evening from HK.

Have done the unpacking. Everything was nicely packed.

Will upload pics shortly.

I need help from you guys to build the same....

Rahul

Here is what i plan to use on this setup :

HK 450 GT Pro heli - Belt version
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=10902

Turnigy DS480 Digital Servo on rudder

HK929MG Digital Servo

HK 401B AVCS Digital Head Lock Gyro

Zippy Flightmax 2200 3S1P 25C

Turnigy Typhoon 450H 2215H motor 3550kv

TURNIGY Sentry 40amp Speed Controller


I dont know why I am not able to attach pictures ? I tried many times it gives internal server error

What size images are you trying to attach ?

Also, the GA-250 gyro was reportedly better than the HK-401b.

The HK450GT PRO tail servo does not go on the boom. You have to make a simple mod to get the DS480 in the rudder servo tray. Make a servo mounting adapter to fit the tray such that the servo horn reaches the linkage.

Quote from: anwar on April 24, 2011, 06:52:18 PM
What size images are you trying to attach ?

I am trying to attache 4 pics in 1 post( image size @ 90kb each), still getting error