RC Helo - Honey Bee King 3

[101RRS]

Any one got a Esky Honey Bee King 3 RC helo is a bit smaller than this Rex http://www.aulro.com/afvb/parking-lot/95501-did-you-know-helicopter-could-do.html but has similar capabilities (maybe slightly less).

Family friend got one for Christmas - first test flight was OK but on the second hover test one of the training balls and arm came off and when trying to correct itself suffered a boom strike - unfortunately the blade did not break and some damage to the rotor head was done as well as the tail and fly bars.

So anyone got one of these and what are then tricks to get parts and to set them up.

Garry

[350RRC]

Hi Garry,

Mine is a different brand, but I bought a 'crash kit' with it for an extra $100. Comes with all the parts you'd smash in a really big prang, including a spare tail boom. :eek:

There's probably similar available for the one you're talking about if it is a common brand.

cheers, DL

[101RRS]

Thanks - haven't seen one but a crash kit is a great idea. I expect the helo will be crashed again first flight out so we will soon find out what breaks regularly. Blades, boom, tail rotors etc will be bought in large numbers.

Doesn't seem to be anyone selling parts in Aust but quite a few online in Hong Kong. Like most things the parts are cheap but shipping is more expensive than the part.

Cheers

Garry

[Lucus]

The HBK3's are incredibly hard to fly. I eventually gave up on mine and replaced it with a HK450 from Hobbycity. The stock tail drive ratio is too low and doesn't give the tail rotor enough speed to maintain tail authority.

I upgraded my\ine too an Xtreme carbon main frame and 43t belt pulley and 9tooth tail pulley (google this belt pullet upgrade its a must!)

I have a heap of spare i was about to advertise on ebay. PM me if you would like details of the bits i have or the best place to get spares for them

Luke:)

EDIT: Major brain fart, mines a HBK2, i have bolted that manu HBK3 parts on it to make it half decent i get confused.

If your mate is a first time Heli pilot, investing in a decent programmable radio and head lock gyro (if not already equipped) will make the Heli much eaiser to fly. The HBK3 still has tail control issues but not as bad as the K2.

cheer out
Remote Control Helicopters - Guides, Forums And Loads Of Helicopters (http://www.heliguy.com) The Aulro of Heli sights

[lro11]

Are there any RC heli pilots on the forum? My boy has gone nuts over helicopters and it would be good to take him to a field day.

[p38arover]

Not any more. I still have my RC helis (about 5 or so) in the garage but I haven't flown in over 20 years. :(

[scanfor]

I have a Trex 450 which I TRY to fly - crash a lot too.
The hobby is very active in Brisbane and Gold Coast - Tingalpa or Dakabin are the most likely fields.

[lro11]

I have a Trex 450 which I TRY to fly - crash a lot too.
The hobby is very active in Brisbane and Gold Coast - Tingalpa or Dakabin are the most likely fields.

I may have to pick your brains I just bought a trex 450 clone. I thought this would be cheaper to crash than my hirobo shuttle.

[101RRS]

I have the HBK3 which the boy flies - is very skittish and as purchased is not really suitable for beginners but with training balls and flybar weights it is really tamed down for learning and becomes a pleasure to fly.

For myself I have a Trex 450 SE V2 which being a little bigger than the HBK3 is a lot more stable than the HB especially with a few flybar weights and tennis ball training balls.

I would like to fully support local businesses bit the hobby shops are a bit greedy and charge through the nose for helos and equipment and often do not carry bits. As a consequence I normally buy off ebay or direct from Hong Kong suppliers - less than half the price in some cases.

Eg - Genuine Align 750 Gyro - on special $170 in Aust - $110 delivered from HK. Yesterday I had a servo fail and bought a Eflite servo from the local shop for $26 and the mounting tabs failed on installation - ordered two better ones off ebay last night for $10 delivered and these will arrive by Friday.

A tip is to buy parts in bulk because at the start every flight will end in a crash requiring blades, booms, gears and various shafts - but then part of the fun is in the rebuilding.

Have fun.

Garry

[brad72]

I fly a trex 500 and a esky belt cp. Very addictive hobby. The 450 size heli's are very cheap to crash compared to the 500 but the 500 is easier to fly as it is far more stable. In saying that 600mm diameter rotor spinning at 2400rpm can be a bit daunting. Just make sure the heli is setup right and you won't crash nearly as much.

[lro11]

Well I have my trex 450 clone and I am having a bit of a go in my hotel room. it is worth the money. It even comes in a padded aluminium brief case and it is ready to fly. I can't believe how cheap it is but still quality.

[101RRS]

Well I have my trex 450 clone and I am having a bit of a go in my hotel room. it is worth the money. It even comes in a padded aluminium brief case and it is ready to fly. I can't believe how cheap it is but still quality.


Mine is a recently purchased clone as well. With use the the screws have been vibrating loose and some of the electronics are not the best - burnt out the ESC on first flight and a servo just packed it in - and the Gaz Gyro was not the best and now replaced with an Align 750. Of ready to fly does not really mean that - my setup was awful and I had to reset the servos to centre, level the swash plate and reset linkages to correct length and reset the blades.

I would be undoing all the nuts bolts and screws and loctiting them - only use the weakest stuff as medium and high strength stuff will only result in stripped allen keys and heads when you have to remove them later.

Garry

[big guy]

Below is a link to one of my helis.
Well, it was my heli till some-one broke in and stole much of my gear.

Its a pretty big scale electric heli I build.
I started on Trex and just kept on getting bigger.

Best way to start is via a simulator with same controls as your heli will have.
Hardest thing to master is the hover and than the head in hover where the heli faces you.

Just keep doing landings and hovers.
Than practise little circuits and after that do auto rotations so you can land under power failure or similar.
They take time to master but like anything, are very addictive.
That heli on the you tube video cost me around $10k.
Flight times are around 8 min and current draw is around 80amps constant.
Good luck and happy flying mate.:)


YouTube- Agusta A09 Model Helicopter Adelaide

[brad72]

as for the screws vibrating loose a bit of loctite on them will solve that. Also the servo's for those smaller heli's are not expensive to replace as they usually break in a crash until you go to good quality servo like the Hitec HB65.

As well as the simulator, a set of training gear can be a good investment . Really helps stop the heli tipping over whilst learning to hover. And remember, always look at the nose of teh heli, not the tail, so when you move the rudder to the right, the nose will go to the right, and visa versa.

[brad72]

Than practise little circuits and after that do auto rotations so you can land under power failure or similar.
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I remember auto rotations...man they are scary the 1st few times

That is really nice helicopter you have. I guess as long as it doesn't crash the smile will remain on your face.

[the big fist]

I started on one of those Esky fixed pitch honey bee's.
Nightmare to setup and learn on. Much better to take the plunge and get a better quality heli to start AND a Sim.
I still suck at flying but have a t-rex 450se and a 250se.

[lro11]

Well I have just returned from China again and much to my wife’s disgust I brought home another helicopter, a trex 600N clone. I spent yesterday building it and the quality is amazing.