HK500GT Experiences ?

[SamS]

I am considering buying a HK500GT airframe to use as a camera ship. I've heard lots of good things about this heli, but also heard a few disappointing reviews.

The heli will be doing no Sport or 3D flying, literally just gentle hovering and Normal gentle flying.

I'm currently using a 450 as my cameraship, but it just isnt big enough, That's where I thought that the HK500GT would be ideal, its cheap, and it's available in the UK.


So, Have you had any experience with this heli, and did you change any parts to genuine Align parts ??

Thanks

[Baldie]

I had a SkyA 500, and had a HK500 for spares. Its not so much the quality of the parts more how they are put together. I wouldnt hesitate to get one if i wanted a 500, But would change the Feathering shaft and mainshaft and the bolts that go with them. also be very careful about rebuilding up the tail unit and It should be fine.

[cjcj1949]

People also have problems with genuine Align parts. All helis are variable in quality. The clones tend to be much cheaper than Align especially for spares. An Align head for a 450 is about £110 whereas one from Giant Cod (now Shark) is about £20. All metal to metal parts need to be taken apart and loctited. I doubt if any parts need to be replaced with genuine Align. Just buy another Clone part. All parts have a finite life and the overall reliability depends more on the servos, esc, rx and tx. I don't see the point for example in getting an Align heli and then controlling it with a tx that does not have a soldered battery pack.

Reliability only really applies up to the first crash. After that the amount of damage is unknown. Only damaged items that don't work get replaced.

For those lucky enough to have the money getting the best will lead to less failures and failure of a 10p screw will result in a crash cost of much more than 10p.

I would not use a metal frame again. Carbon Fibre is much better at withstanding a crash.