Beam E4 build Vids

[ROne21]

Man, sorry to hear about your frustrations. Missing parts on a kit sucks. I'm sure Advantage and/or BEAM Heli would own up for the missing parts and make things right. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones who had all my parts except for the button head screw but that's nothing major. I'm also lucky in the sense that Advantage is in the same state as me and can usually get parts to my door the next day. And if I do want a part badly, they're only about 2 hours drive away.

[steve90210]

I sat down to start putting mine together, figure I would just start and take my time finish over the week. I still need a power set after all. Well, I got a little over excited and finished the whole kit robed my trex for the power set and am ready for the maiden.

I didn't have any missing parts, my head came half assembled and I had the servo mounting screws. It looks like Beam is making improvements as they go.

Husky just give Len a call at advantage, he will help ya out. Sorry to hear about all your problems, sounds like you got a bum kit. :(

I did come across one issue the swash ball was tight, I did the finless mod, sanded down the nylon holders and everything is super smoth now.

So far, this is hands down my favorite heli, I like the way it goes together and how serviceable everything is, Lots of cool feature's. I like how the head is tilted forward and gets the tail further off the ground. I can't wait to see how it flies.

[huskynox]

I can never get a hold of Len. He doesn't return calls or return emails......? I'm not impressed with Advantage. Their web site says stuff about great Customer Service, blah, blah, blah.

A warning, don't order priority or 2nd day air from Advantage. This is how their shipping works:

Normal shipping is: Priority Mail (2-3 day)
Priority is: UPS ground (3-5 day) depending on location and is $5 extra
2nd day air: (2 day for some of your order) My order came in 2 and 3 days because they split my order up? I paid $20 extra for this service :(

I still DON'T have my frame parts which I discovered were missing on March 21!

Len has my phone numbers and email, he should return my messages!

I guess maybe I did get a bum kit. The box was sealed!?! I have 4 Align Trex 450 V2's and have never had 1 single problem with any of them. I guess this is why Align is the norm. Great kits and great parts availability. I'm almost sorry I strayed.... So much for BEAM's quote of "ditch that old dinasour and get with new BEAM", or however it goes.

Ready Heli where are you....? I need support! hahaha

[blade strike]

Well My kids went to bed last night @ around 9pm, didnt think I would do much but the frame. Well I ended up building the complete air-frame, only took about 2hrs.
Parts are very high quality and the only problem with the kit was the plastic washout-arms, the mixing arms did not need a washer.
I am waiting on a tail server from rc-tek after that she should be in the air before my trip to Disneyland with the family!
Husky I have owned more than 5 align kits and out of those kits I remember atleast 2-3 missing parts. I would like to hear that advantage would take care of these issue faster than they have.
Come one advantage, if you continue like this, you kill this very fine heli! You can have one of the best heli's out but if you have poor support it will die VERY fast!

Ken

Edited:
Here are the specs of the rc-tek HG-D261HB Digital Tail Servo

Test Voltage: 4.8 VDC 6.0 VDC
Operating Speed: 0.07 sec (60°) 0.06 sec (60°)
Dynamic Torque: 2.4Kg/cm (33.16oz/in) 3.0Kg/cm (41.62oz/in)

I tried the HG-D251MG's Coreless on my rex500 and fell in love, I had 9650's in it and man talk about a difference!

I am expecting the same on this new tail servo!

[huskynox]

Blade Strike,

I'm not one to bash, but I am bashing now. This sucks. I can understand one missing part, but multiple missing parts and BAD customer service on top ot that!?!?!

It IS a shame. I think the BEAM is a nice heli, but bad customer service and kit QC will ruin it real quick.

I've built 7 Align kits including 450's, 500's, and 600's. The only thing wrong with any of them was on one of my 3 600's I had a bad flybar cage, one of the threads was stripped. Frank from Assurance RC took care of me immediatly. I have nothing but good thing to say about Align.

[blade strike]

I do have to agree its how its handled. Like I said in my last post if they wont support this heli right it will die and die real fast!

Sorry to hear that you have had so many problems, I know I would be pissed also! How long has it been since you contacted adavntage?

[huskynox]

I got a "PM" from BEAM USA this morning. It's nice to see someone is watching this thread.

We'll see how they handle this. I offered to return the heli and the $250 worth of spares I purchased, which I am willing to do at this point. I really don't feel like dealing with bad support.

I can order Align parts from Readyheli, Tech Models, CME, or Grand RC and have them on my door step in 2 days (Southern California)!

The BEAM is pretty! BUT get some friggin' suppliers who care involved or your Heli will die fast! AND, get some QC at the factory!

What's up with Readyheli, can they carry the BEAM? Or maybe they don't want to deal with all this...? :)

[brianbruff]

Yes would be great if readyheli or the like carry the beam,
I saw one flown by a sponsored pilot here in ireland and went out and bought one,
Lovely heli, and would be even nicer to have more places to buy parts from.

[huskynox]

Well, I emailed and phoned the BEAM USA Rep that PM'd me right here on Heli Freak. No reply to my email or my phone call....

This is the PM I received:

Huskynox,

I am sorry to hear that Len did not get back to you. What parts do you need exactly. Give me your phone number and I will get it handled for you on Monday. You can email me directly xxx@xxx.com. My phone is xxx-542-0000

Sometimes the phone messages fall through the cracks, we will get you everything you need fast.

Thanks for your patience,
Beam Heli USA

No response from that guy...... so, so much for getting me everything I need fast...

I finally got a hold of Len @ Advantage who seemed more agitated with me than anything. Claiming I "flamed" Advantage. Which in a way I did, BUT that didn't have to happen! It's funny how these vendors get upset. I repeatedly tried to get a hold of them for parts and support to no avail. I always give the vendors a chance before I so call "flame". It's funny how when someone *****es they're surprised.....? Go figure?

Anyway, he took note of everything I'm missing in my kit, which of course is the only kit in existence that has had this many missing parts (that is what I was told), then he told me he'd call me back with some shipping refunds for the erratic shipping I listed in a prior post. That was 6 hours ago.

So, here's the list of missing parts:

1.) Carbon Upper Gyro Tray
2.) Carbon Lower Gyro Tray
3.) Carbon Radio Tray
4.) Carbon Servo Plate x2
5.) Pitch Lever Holder
6.) Pitch Lever Holder Screw
7.) Servo Mounting Hardware (6 screws, 6 socket washers, and 2 2mm nuts)

Not a call or email back from Advantage or BEAM USA. I guess I complain too much after throwing over $500 at these guys and wanting some support.......?

Len was rather rude with me, which I've read in prior posts - he can be. I called him on it asking; "Are you agitated with me?" He of course said "No, I'm just trying to figure this all out". Well, what's to figure out? Mail me the parts!

Man, this is weird. If I was BEAM or Advantage, I would be express mailing missing parts to an unhappy customer , not be rude to him/her.

So, here I sit almost 2 weeks after my initial build start date. I will let everyone know how this all turns out.

Good luck fellow BEAM buyers! Roll the dice :)

[blade strike]

wow and on their site all they do is talk about customer service :roll:

Sorry to hear about the problems! It's making me think about selling my beam before its even in the air. :thumbdown:

[Finless]

Well I have called them 4 times since starting this build and always got a return call. Maybe it is because it's me?

I have called them and told them about this issue huskynox has and asked them to respond. I am sure there are 2 sides to any story so I hope they respond.

I think this is a good heli folks. I am sure they are having growing pains getting it going. Let's give them the opportunity to respond and take care of customers.

In the end users will decide how well this heli turns out not just me and my build vids. I do ask that as a new heli you all understand what it takes to get something out and be patient until they get up to speed. If they never do... Well OK... If they do get going GREAT.... Again users will tell the story.

Bob

[huskynox]

Here's something funny. I recieved some parts in the mail today, but one was wrong....

I explicitly stated during my phone call on March 21st to Advantage that I was missing the Carbon Radio Tray, and the Carbon Upper and Lower Gyro Mounts. Well, today I got a Battery Tray, and the Upper and Lower Gyro Mounts. Great, so I have an extra Battery Tray. Awesome!

UGH! BEAM USA help me please!!!!! Nice heli, but turn it over to Ready Heli!

[Beam Heli USA]

Dear Huskynox

We truly do apologize for all of the energy you have had to expend trying to get your machine in the air; I know that when someone pays their hard earned money for a product you want it right....can't blame you. But all the product and company bashing won't get your problems solved any faster. You might think that your approach has gotten you results, but the truth is that I just happened to be visiting HeliFreak last evening and stumbled upon your rant. Now less than 24 hours later we have addressed your problems, compensated you financially and sent you some free product, you continue to find fault. Just go to show that no good deed goes unpunished!

Since you have made your concerns public, I think it’s appropriate that our reply be as well....... As Finless states there are two sides of the story!

Shipping. We messed up and sent your shipment by the slowest way possible even though you paid for priority.

Dealing with this for two weeks. From what I understand you received your kit and did not open it until you returned from being out of town. As stated in your post today, your received your parts, but you got a FREE battery tray and somehow we are idiots for sending it to you???? Well, we were just acting in a business appropriate manner, the carbon parts you were missing are pre-packaged from the factory and thought we would simply include it. You mistake generosity for stupidity.

Returning your call today. Upon receiving your email reply and voicemail I forwarded your information directly to Len and he called you and remedied your problems. I called you this afternoon to follow-up and there was no answer on your phone. I would think that the important thing is to get your problems addressed?

How we tried to make it right. ( For the benefit of the readers here) We overnighted another set of carbon parts to you based on your claim that you did not receive the parts as of the time when we spoke to you ( I guess you can keep those too and claim that we are stupid for doing so). We sent you all of the other missing parts. We credited you $10 for the extra postage you paid to us earlier for priority mail- rightfully so as we did mess this up. We sent you one of the new Beam Chrome Canopies - a $39.00 value (http://www.advantagehobby.com/product.php?productid=72934&cat=98&page=1 (http://www.advantagehobby.com/product.php?productid=72934&cat=98&page=1) ) and all of this was done to make it right.

We are doing our best to import, market and support the Beam products in the US. Beam is a young company and they too are trying their best to improve their products with every shipment. No one is perfect, not Advantage Hobby, not Beam and not certainly not me.

The other dealers you mention are fine companies, but don’t kid yourself, they would be asking you similar questions about your kit if you claimed to be missing some parts. We don’t do this to annoy you, we do it to understand as we need to know if the problems people are encountering are across the board or just incidents. Just for the record, to date we acknowledge that the links on the mixer are molded backwards, some of the kits are missing the servo mounting screws and the tolerances on the mixing arms can cause problems requiring a spacer between the bearings- we are working with Beam to address these problems.

These kits are packed by human beings, need I say more? We are doing our best to work with Beam to get this stuff right and are happy to work to solve the problems if given a chance. Yours was the first kit to be missing the carbon and as you can see we DID send it to you...TWICE!

Most people in the world don't have the courage to put their butts on the line and produce a product, start a business or subject themselves to public scrutiny. We as modelers have a moral obligation to do every thing we can to encourage more people to dream, make a product or start a business. These forums need to be use for constructive purposes rather than destructive ones. Its time to stop this kind of behavior as If we don’t, modelers will stop dreaming, business people will stop investing and we can all fly Align.

Thank you all for the opportunity to live, work and dream in America.

Barron Guss
Partner - AdvantageHobby.com
BeamHeliUSA
XeroG

[huskynox]

Barron,

Thank you for your apology, but trying to turn this around and humiliate me will do you, BEAM, and Advantage no good.

My last post posted at 8:10 pm yesterday evening, I received an email from Advantage about the 'overnight' replacement parts at 10:47pm last night. (see attached .jpg).

Also, it would have been nice to let me know by either email or phone that you were trying to solve this problem. When you say you called and their was no answer, why wouldn't you leave a message? I have AT&T cell phone service ONLY. I had NO missed calls and NO messages. My phone is always on my body.

Concerning the carbon parts being prepackaged at the factory with the battery tray and gyro mounts being in the same bag, this is simply false. The battery tray that I received was separate, and the gyro mounts were in an OPENED, divided parts bag when received, so unless you pack these parts yourself you should keep your mouth shut!

Mixing arms - this is the first I've heard of any acknowledgment of them being backwards...? I was told they were made this way so that they are harder to pop off....? My email and phone calls were never answered about this question either....? BEAM/Advantage should post more regularly on these public forums to let people know what's happening with issues such as this. If you haven't noticed, Andy from Assurance RC does this. AND, the readers always give him positive praise for keeping in contact with Align customers. If HeliFreak users will notice, this is BEAM HELI USA's first post EVER on HeliFreak.com

I DO BELIEVE this rant has made BEAM and Advantage get off their butt and make things happen. AND I believe it won't happen again to anyone else. So, in my eyes this has been a good 'public' thread. God knows that if anyone else has major issues they will let it be known.

As far as other vendors and how they handle issues like this, such as ReadyHeli, I praise them! They have set a standard that is VERY HIGH! This in turn makes other vendors support their customers just as well, or they will go away! (Hint - This is why ReadyHeli is so well respected. John/Jen have built a great business with a personal touch. They ALWAYS return emails, phone calls, and make things right within 2 days).

Again, thank you for taking care of this and overnighting the parts! This is how the original package should have been sent. The BEAM is a nice heli which deserves GREAT support........

Oh, and thanks for your first post on HeliFreak.com.....

[blade strike]

Husky -

Man what will make you happy? It does seem you are starting to act like a child and need to grow up! In no way do I see them TRYING to humiliate you or turning this around!

Humans make mistakes, it’s how they handle the problem and try to fix it that counts! I have owned every Align heli you have owned (plus many other brand of helis) and the quality comes nowhere near beams. You and I know both that Align has the same issue. Look at their battery problems for one. Did they even try to fix it and make it right? I don’t think so! Don’t even get me started on my other list of issues regarding align. Beam is a young company and I think they are doing a hell of a job! Look how long Align has been in the game and they still have issues.

Why bring readyheli into this? I don’t see how RH would have handle this any better! I think advantage and Beam have stood up to the plate and taken care of your problem better than I would have ever dreamed! You are even getting free product!

The only issue I had with my kit were the plastic arms, that won’t stop me from getting in the air!
Please let’s start acting like adults your problems are soon to be gone and you are sitting even better than us people that didn’t have any issues at all!

[TheBigKid]

Husky -

Man what will make you happy? It does seem you are starting to act like a child and need to grow up! In no way do I see them TRYING to humiliate you or turning this around!

Humans make mistakes, it’s how they handle the problem and try to fix it that counts! I have owned every Align heli you have owned (plus many other brand of helis) and the quality comes nowhere near beams. You and I know both that Align has the same issue. Look at their battery problems for one. Did they even try to fix it and make it right? I don’t think so! Don’t even get me started on my other list of issues regarding align. Beam is a young company and I think they are doing a hell of a job! Look how long Align has been in the game and they still have issues.

Why bring readyheli into this? I don’t see how RH would have handle this any better! I think advantage and Beam have stood up to the plate and taken care of your problem better than I would have ever dreamed! You are even getting free product!

The only issue I had with my kit were the plastic arms, that won’t stop me from getting in the air!
Please let’s start acting like adults your problems are soon to be gone and you are sitting even better than us people that didn’t have any issues at all!


I'm glad someone had the courage to stand up and say that (and use their own account not like ould chicken sh1t me)
He's like a child that got a blue rattler and not the pink one he really wanted, screaming away in the corner and everyone trying to ignore him.
Felt sorry for him for a second until he went on and on, reminded me of my first wife..scary...

[blade strike]

Felt sorry for him for a second until he on and on,


Yeah me too, thats what makes me so mad :thumbdown:

[scoyle]

The editorial by Greg Hahn in the latest issue of Model Aviation is a must read for everyone. He writes about the dangers of negative publicity in online forums.

--Scott

[huskynox]

Guys, I'm fine. I wasn't trying to complain anymore, I was just explaining myself and what had transpired over the last 24 hours. If you had waited 2 weeks for parts, only to receive the wrong parts with no communication you'd be pissed too!

BTW - TheBigKid's post above - first post ever! I wonder who this really is?

I do appreciate that this was FINALLY handled correctly (overnighted mail).

I'm done posting on the matter.

Let's let Bob finish this build thread......

[DSJ]

I need some suggestions for replacement blades for the Beam. I'm new to this obsession and know I will ruin blades for a while so don't want to spend $40.+ each time.

I bought a set of Align wood 325 Pro and they will not fit in the Beam grips. I also considered the Tech Model wood, but they say they are only rated for 2400rpm and the recommendation in the manual is for a higher head speed.

Any suggestions?

Doug

[helibird]

The woods should fit it's the same grip size. I usually had to sand my woodies (and carbon) align blades a little to get them in the grips. You can either take off the plastic piece (careful it's kind of brittle) and sad the wood then reinstall or sand the plastic down a little. If your just starting the woodies are probably the best bang for your buck. After that I really like the align white cf blades.

[blade strike]

I havent tried align pro yet but when you say they dont fit, what do you mean?
Are they to tight? If so they are tight on the align se heli's too. I would just sand them down just a bit and try them... those are my fav. and I sure hope they will fit! I can try some once I get home and let you know.


edit:
looks like helibird beat me to the post

[dtate]

I replaced my Beam blades last week (not because I didn't like the Beam blades) with the Align 325 Pro wood set. My grip was tight and it did remove a little plastic when I first installed them and swung the blades around to go in the holder.
I think the wood are rated for max 2200 RPM then you need to go to the lighter cf blades.
Your mileage may very.

[BEAMHELIUSA]

Hi All.

Len Sabato here.

Just wanted to put in a quick post thanking you all for your support of the Beam, myself, and Advantage Hobby.

While we did make several errors in correcting Mr. Moser's (Huskynox) missing parts issues, we have made things right just like we would for any of our other customers.

We do applogize for this matter hitting the posts, and we wish Michael the very best with his now complete Beam E4.

Thanks again.

Len Sabato
Advantage Hobby.com
Beam Heli USA

[huskynox]

Hi All.

Len Sabato here.

Just wanted to put in a quick post thanking you all for your support of the Beam, myself, and Advantage Hobby.

While we did make several errors in correcting Mr. Moser's (Huskynox) missing parts issues, we have made things right just like we would for any of our other customers.

We do applogize for this matter hitting the posts, and we wish Michael the very best with his now complete Beam E4.

Thanks again.

Len Sabato
Advantage Hobby.com
Beam Heli USA

Thanks Len, I appreciate it. I am sorry this all blew up the way it did.... I hope that BEAM and Advantage move forward with great success. I've always said the BEAM is a beautiful heli. I can't wait to fly it!

FYI to all - I got my Orange/White/Black canopy from Advantage and it's beautiful! The clear coat is very uniform. I would say it's right on par with Aligns. I know others have said it's close to the Align canopy, but doesn't have a nice clear coat... Mine is sweet! Maybe I got a newer import? Very nice looking canopy...