SAB Kraken Nitro Conversion Kit

The kit is very easy to build it flies great

This very well made conversion kit, originally conceived by Scott Graham, and fully implemented by SAB as an official Conversion for the venerable Kraken oozes quality!

Includes everything needed to convert your Goblin Kraken airframe to accept a glow engine! (OS 105 HZ-R recommended!).

However, there is one part not included in the conversion (That really should be) that you will need to keep from your original airframe, and that is the aluminum frame side inserts to mount the tail boom onto the airframe. Normally these are included with the electric kit, and are also included with the spare frame sides for electrics. They are unfortunately missing from the frame sides that come with the nitro conversion kit. A small oversight by SAB, but worth noting for anyone that is doing the conversion that these inserts are required to be retained from your original airframe.

This kit utilizes the same engine mount, fan, fan hub, clutch, clutch bell, fan shroud, fuel tank, and fuel tank mounting bars as the Goblin Black Nitro.So those parts are easily replaced if needed by ordering using those part numbers. The frame sides, and front canopy mount are specific to this kit. Do note that you will need to trim your canopy in places so that the exhaust will fit, for access to the tuning needles on your carburetor, for your starter shaft access, and for added ventilation. There are trimming masks included with the kit to assist in this.

Also of note: Once installed, the fan shroud is designed for the Black Nitro. This poses one small issue. The Kraken, by design is narrower than the Black Nitro, which leads to a small fitment issue with the Kraken canopy. The Fan shroud sticks out by approximately 15mm wider than where the canopy would normally sit. This causes the canopy to bulge out and deform and causes a fitment issue. This can be remedied in one of two ways: Cut a rectangular hole in the side of the canopy to allow the fan shroud clearance, OR trim 14mm off of the fan shroud on the right side of the heli, and affix a flat piece of carbon fiber plate, G10 plate (Many pilots use one of the battery reinforcing plates included with the Kraken kit battery trays), or a piece of lexan or ABS plastic sheet. This can be secured by screws, epoxy or both, and will give proper canopy clearance.

The conversion itself is very straightforward, and can be done in about a day if starting with a pre-existing Kraken electric model. Please note that the manual is Digital ONLY, there is a link provided on the sales page and the SAB website as well.

There are a few areas where attention to detail is key. You will need servo extensions for your throttle servo, and extra wiring to extend power supply leads back to your flight control unit (FBL) as the Kraken was originally designed to be an electric helicopter. Another area of note is your tail servo mounting blocks on the tail boom. On my build, I had the self tapping screws start to back out after several flights due to the oil residue collecting on and in the tail boom. these screws tap into plastic inserts, and oil can seep into the holes enough to lubricate them. When doing your conversion it is highly recommended to remove the screws one by one, and add a drop of Medium thickness CA glue to them and reinstall them. This will help lock the screws in place.

This is very high quality kit, and the digital manual is very easy to follow. Once converted the machine flies very well, and is significantly lighter than its electric counterpart. Do note that as of the time of this review; spare parts other than engine mount, belt, clutch stack and fuel tank parts for this kit are only able to be ordered directly through SAB. Hopefully this will be remedied in the near future.

Build is straight forward for pilots and builders that have some experience in the hobby, however this is not a kit I would personally recommend for a beginner without a little supervision.

If you're a fan of the Kraken, and also Nitro powered helis, this is a GREAT BUY!