Hey everyone ,
I have been inactive on this forum for a while as i have been busy 
I have been thinking of getting the HK450 and have seen many reveiws about it . I would like to enquire from its users how is the quality of the kit and is it difficult to build for a 1st timer in building ? 
Ive flown a 6ch heli before . Also please include what all are the suggested or recomended parts and what are the parts being used ... 

I would also like to know the tools required for building it ...

Waiting for replies ..

Thanks ,
Sahevaan

The first one that I came across (a plain HK450 that my brother bought) had couple of quality issues, which are documented here. Those issue not withstanding, I felt it was an excellent value for money, especially for someone who is not into 3D flights.

The newer batches (known as "version 2") have many issues fixed. 

And if you go into the "bling" versions (like GT or MT), they are very good choices.

I have heard the quality of metal parts are bad.. they are soft 

Again, it depends on what kind of flying you do.  For normal and sport flight (loops, rolls etc; basically anything that does not involve "pitch pumping"), they work great.

I have got the Pro version, didn't get time to take it apart and build it on my own (need to ensure thread-lock and grease at the right places), then I will know personally if it can do 3D (at my basic level of it).

Could i also know what programming for ESC has to be done and can it do without the programming ?

Defaults are fine. It is rare that you have to program the ESC to solve any issues.

So what could be a suggested ESC for the turnigy E500 motor ? (4000kv)

No personal experience, but it looks like if you put a 11T pinion, you should be OK with a 30A ESC, or just for total confirmation, go for the 40A ESC.  The Turnigy Plush 40A seems to have great reviews.

Using the stock 13T pinion pushes the amps up (along with insane headspeeds), and you will need a larger ESC. It is better avoided.

@ anwar, NOT  Sahevaan

Turnigy 2836(700 watts), 60 amps Plush, 11T pinion, 4S lipo, CF blades - I heard many people fly this, just wondering what happens 

Speaking of ESCs theres a new Turnigy 40 A SuperBrain ESC out there that also features Data logging. Am i right to suppose that it would be better than the Plush 40A ?

super brain 40 is just max 3S lipoly

Quote from: vinay on March 15, 2010, 08:37:45 PM
Turnigy 2836(700 watts), 60 amps Plush, 11T pinion, 4S lipo, CF blades - I heard many people fly this, just wondering what happens  

There are people who can use as much RPM as they can get. But then, you better be flying like one of them

Quote from: gauravag on March 15, 2010, 09:28:46 PM
Speaking of ESCs theres a new Turnigy 40 A SuperBrain ESC out there that also features Data logging. Am i right to suppose that it would be better than the Plush 40A ?

I guess it is time to ask...  what is your purpose in life   ("450 heli RC life"!)

My point is that do not upgrade for the sake of upgrading, which I am sure you already know.  The Plush 40 is great for pretty much all types of flying (from what I understand), but if the other one has better features and is yet affordable, why not ?  It is better to wait for some reviews though.

@ Vinay & Gaurav unlcles  - what is the cost of the ESC ?
@ Anwar Bhaiyya - The video was AWESOME but far from what i could ever do !  I can only hover a 6ch heli for about 3 mins i guess   
I am mainly interested in planes but wanted to try Heli's .
I have a .46 size Subaru & THE BUHOR (both flying condition)    ! But the problem is i cant fly them in my garden or terrace 
My garden is approximately about 1200sq m or something like that.. I've heard that sufficient to fly a Heli (atleast hovering)

Thanks ,
Sahevaan

Sahevaan,
The 40A ESC costs $10 (TP) and $22 (Turnigy) at Hobbyking. Similar rating ESC would cost you anything from Rs 1200-2000 in India.

hovering a Co-axial Heli is quite different from hovering a CCP Heli. But definitely a good starting point. HK-450, though invitingly cheap, may not be the best thing to start with as they are much unstable. But if  you learn Heli with such tough nut, you are good for most of the helis.

0.46 Nitro are dangerous to fly in populated areas. If you have not flown R/C planes before, I would strongly suggest you to fly it only is predesignated places (check from local flyers of your town) and under supervision of an experienced flyer. 0.46 nitro engines can even kill a person and  render considerable damage to property like Car etc.

1200Sq m Garden!! What the hell you have ? A farmhouse !!

Not exactly a farmhouse , the garden is 30m * 40m so its about 1200sq m
I have flown planes before under guidance of capt. Randhawa and have built the BUHOR too..
I have learnt to hover the Walkera HM76
thanks ,
Sahevaan

Sahevaan,
I think you should be good with your garden and the HK450 heli.
If you see my video, you will find me flying , or at least hovering in a similar space. Though not recommended, it at least gives stick time in days where going out to the field is just not possible.
Go with the HK 450GT and order lots of spares ( if they have in stock ) .
I am just going to build a HK450 GT Pro in a couple of days so you can wait to have my review on that, and the electronics I am going to use there.

-Gaurav

Quote from: gauravag on March 16, 2010, 03:15:04 PM
Sahevaan,
I think you should be good with your garden and the HK450 heli.
If you see my video, you will find me flying , or at least hovering in a similar space. Though not recommended, it at least gives stick time in days where going out to the field is just not possible.
-Gaurav

Gaurav, the HK450/ Trex 450(from sim) are a heck lot more unstable compared to mini titan. Just try the sim of TREX 450. The link is available on my MT thread.

Are you talking about the sim alone ? 

In real life, they are very much comparable, depending on how well you have built it and done the setup (from my experience of having flown both).

well I am not very good of a flyer, but I tried both trex(sim) and real HK450 and felt that the sim version was unstable to my HK450. what i was wondering was when gaurav was flying his heli left to right and right to left so close by with just 3 feet away looked very scary to me. especially after flying the HK450. I dont think I could do that even after 100 hours of real life practice 

Some of test hover the Trex 450 in our living rooms, in less than 8ft x 8ft space, and that too in between the furniture

Fly it regularly for a year, you will do the same

hi guys,
its good to have the contol of 450 so good for small area flying ........but..........the dangers of flying within a few 'yards'of yourself or other people are realy dangerouse. ..a bad link or an unnoticed damage blade can cause seriouse injury.................. and upset her in doors when you trash the tv or something.........
take great care with any 300 size upwards they can kill.regards
don

It is not that we do it for the purpose of flying (like a full battery), it is more to test after builds/setup (at least in the case of the few people I know, including myself).  Plus, who would want to hover inside the house, once you are comfortable flying circuits and more.

The safety aspects remain the same, wherever you fly.  For example, I do not test in confined spaces unless I have built the heli myself. 

A large part of this testing is "light on skids" testing (as compared to full on hovering for long durations).  This is when you spool up the heli and give it enough throttle so that it begins to just raise above the ground, to watch for any unwanted movements and reversals of controls (especially rudder).

Almost all established Trex 450 (or same class of heli) flyers buy them for the simple reason that they can hover them in their front yards, and fly them in any moderately open area (like Gaurav was doing).  But anything with a blade size of over 350mm is serious enough not to try anything in confined spaces.

Vinay,
I think stability comes with practise. I think a Trex ( or its clone ) would be as stable as mini Titan.
During my first hovers I was also not very stable, When i did my first nose-to-the-left hover, i had the heli flying all over the place. After 20 flights , i could hold it just in one place.
Same with nose-to-the-right and nose-in.

Very soon, I will be building my HK 450 GT PRO so would be able to post comparisions in flight performance !

I am still stuck with the Sim . With only Sundays available at Jakkur, I believe I should start going to hoskote on Saturdays as well.