Honeybee FP

[dogfart]

I'm looking for a heli to fly indoors this winter. Since the Honeybee FP was highly recommended by several freaks, I bought one (from HeliDirect). I just fired it up. The friggin' thing shakes so violently that it just about falls over. And forget about getting it off the ground in that condition. QUESTION: Should I ship the thing back, or screw around with balancing the blades and flybar (assuming that might fix the problem).

[wren1702]

No don't send it back just yet! You can get it better one of two ways.

1. Snug the blades down tight, then play with the blades a bit moving them back and forth until the vibration is better. After you've done this a few times it becomes easier. It'll run smooth as silk after you find the "Sweet Spot".

2. Add a stiffener plate to the top of the head, you can use lite ply, carbon fiber or just about anything. Use 4-40 bolts all the way through the stiffener with locknuts. With this method you can run the blades loose.

Any questions on this puppy and I'll try to help.

Alan

[wren1702]

If you are really bored, here ya go: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=657500

Wiki run down: http://www.eflightwiki.com/eflightwiki/index.php?title=HoneyBeeFP

[xrbcoronalogoflyer]

sorry for jumping in on this thread...i'm more than satisfied with my hbk2, but i stumbled on this hbfp thread in rcg...it's one of the coolest and most remarkable vids i've seen...great sound too...ken

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=618997

[racin06]

Yes, those funnels with the HBFP are quite impressive. Actually, the HBFP is a great little micro FP heli. I started teaching myself to fly helis 10 months ago on the HBFP. As a matter of fact, I've flown nothing but the HBFP for the past 10 months. Now, I'm beginning my move up to 450 size CP helis. However, I will always have an HBFP in my fleet.

I think alot of people never get past the hovering stage with these FP helis because there are those that say you can't fly these micros in the wind. However, that is far from the truth. With lots of simulator (Phoenix RC for me) practice, you can develop the skills to fly (I mean actually performing forward flight, figure 8s, circuits, etc.) these micro helis in 10 mph even up to 15 mph winds (yes, it's a handful, but possible...and fun!).

Below are some videos of me flying my HBFPs. As you can see, the HBFP is a quite capable heli (for an FP heli).

Stock HBFP in 10-15 mph winds (http://media.putfile.com/Flying-the-stock-Honey-Bee-FP-in-10-15-mph-winds)

Stock HBFP w/AR6100/DX7 at Sunset (http://blip.tv/file/393521)

HBFP w/Slo-Max 300/M24 Blades/GWS DD Tail (http://media.putfile.com/Honey-Bee-FP-wSlo-Max-300-GWS-DD-Tail-Motor-and-Kyosho-M24-Blades)

Backyard Flying - HBFP w/Slo-Max300/M24 Blades/GWS DD Tail (http://media.putfile.com/HBFP-Slo-Max-300-DD-Tail-M24-Blades-Backyard-Flying)

[warpspeed]

^^^ What they said. Stick with it-it's probably the best cheapie heli out there and can take serious abuse. I think I still fly mine more than any other heli I own;
One little tip-(after you've gotten rid of the shakes) Advance the motor timing by inserting the tips of a very small set of needlenose pliers into the holes on the end of the can and turning the plate clockwise. Don't go too nuts-half an inch or so is about right. The extra power comes in handy outdoors.

[flyboy320]

Do other people find the head to tight on this heli? It seems the flybar is stiff if you try and move it up and down. If it hit one end of the flybar, it may bounce back up 1/2 way and then stop. I kn ow its not a Trex, but when I do the same on my Trex, the flybar bounces several times before stopping.

I have sprayed silicon spray on the head links and joints to try and help. I suspect this leads to "sluggish" response from the swash.

Just wanted to hear other peoples opinions on their HB FP.

[warpspeed]

It helps to size the links, but mine's still not as loose as the Rex. You can try the usual things-pull off the flybar weights and move the servo links to the outermost holes, but the little rascal will just plain never be as agile as the Trex. (Although swapping out the stock servo's for something a little faster helps) My only complaint is the tail motor-seems like they're constantly burning out.

[dogfart]

Thanks for all of the advice guys.

[dDavid]

dogfart,
Take the main rotor blades off the heli (still attached to the rotor head set blade holders) and pull the blades both outward at the same time to seat them in the correct position. then take two glasses and balance the blades on the balls of the head set. Use a small strip of electrical tape on the blade that is higher until the blades are level.

With the main blades off, plug in the battery and spin up the main rotor while having the rudder stick full left (in order to keep the tail rotor from spinning too) Check for vibrations and look at the main shaft and note any movement that indicates a bent shaft. If everything looks fine then put the main blades back on and take off the tail rotor and balance it by removing the gear and simply using the CF tail shaft while on the heli or remove the rotor and balance the blades with a piece of 2mm CF and a glass.

This should get you either balanced or let you know what your problem is...