Hi.
I was thinking of building a ArduCopter based quad, but I realized that I have an unbuild HK 500CMT in my closet...
This is the order I placed at hobbyking about a year ago:
I also have an unused Futaba 10CG TX with an Futaba R6014HS RX. 2,4GHz.
I bougt on the above order a Futaba GY520 AVCS rate Gyro.
Batteries are two ABF 6S1P 22,2V 2200mAh. I might chose to have them in parralell to increase flight time.
I know that I need servos. I would rather buy expensive quality servos straight away, then using some half descent ones that I cannot have 100% faith in...
For autopilot, I was thinking of using:
APM 2.0 https://store.diydrones.com/APM_2_0_Kit_p/br-ardupilotmega-03.htm
Using an external GPS https://store.diydrones.com/MediaTek_MT3329_GPS_10Hz_Adapter_Basic_p/mt3329-02.htm mounted on the tail boom or other place to give a best possible gps signal.
C5883L - Triple Axis Magnetometer 
mounted on the tail boom https://store.diydrones.com/HMC5883L_Triple_Axis_Magnetometer_p/br-hmc5883-01.htm (Do I need this one due to the Invensense MPU-6000 sensor?)
MB1260 XL-MaxSonar-EZL0 High Performance Ultrasonic Range Finder https://store.diydrones.com/MB1260_XL_MaxSonar_EZL0_p/ac-0004-16.htm to help during landing and low level flight.
I would also like to be able to command the heli while it is flying. My understanding is that I need something like this:
Xbee Telemetry Kit https://store.diydrones.com/Xbee_Telemetry_kit_p/kt-telemetry-xbee.htm
This will take care of communication between a laptop and the heli, feeding new comands to the autopilot?
I would also like to add several cameras, but that is quite likely to happen at a later stage. I need to get this bird flying first :)
APM 2.0 have support for gimbal mounted cameras as I understand, and this is a feature I would like to use later on :)
Do I need to order a flybarless rotor head?
Any other parts that are required, or will help me greatly?
So far I am looking at around 300$, so that is no problem. I just want to make it work the first time around :)
Replies
Looks like you have a reasonable amount of spares, so that's always good. The only thing I think you're missing is servos. And you'll have to figure out a way to mount the APM.
As for the APM2, yes, you could put the GPS remote on the tail. I'm going to try and get the built-in GPS working on a 450 soon. It might work. We don't really know yet. The mag... that is a big question mark because it's built in and I'm not sure if you can do anything about it (I don't think you can use the external mag). The battery cabling will be a big issue.
You don't actually need an external gyro anymore. And you may not *need* the sonar.
No, you don't need a flybarless head. I have a FB on my 600, and it flies beautifully.