HoneyBee

[darkwolf29a]

Hi, I'm new to helis. I have a toy (that's what I call it) Havoc heli, but...it bit me for a real RC heli.

I've been considering a Honeybee, or similar electric model. I've never been a fan of the gas engines, in any form, even though I do understand it's necessary evil. And, I do plan on doing that eventually.

So anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks

[Leaf Blower]

Thoughts: Larger is better. Easier to learn on. Also, quality counts- unfortunately, the Honeybee really lacks on that measure.

Consider parts availability- can you get them locally or will you be waiting for your shipment from China ?

My experience wth the Honeybee King II is that the quality of the heli is fair- but the electrics are - well - substandard. Brushed motor barely lasts two weeks. Servos are marginal but OK. Gyro is troublesome. After replacing motor, speed control, battery, and gyro- it would have been cheaper and better to get something else. That's my opinion. With the problems I saw with the HBK2, it makes me wonder about their other "cheap" helis. Are they any better ?

That said- if you are looking at just trying out heli's and are basically just blowing a couple hundred bucks - it's OK enough to get your feet wet. But by the time you start "upgrading" this and that- it might be wiser to get a better heli at that point.

Which model were you looking at ?

[darkwolf29a]

I've been contemplating the FP version.

But, I'm also looking at the Blade CX2 and Lama V4. I'm pretty much sold on the CX2, to be honest. But, I'm still investigating all the possibilities.

So, if you have ANY thoughts...I'd appreciate them. :)

I'm just trying to stay within a couple of details. I'd like to be able to fly, a bit, indoors, and I'd like to stay with electric, for now.

[jayrok1018]

Hey darkwolf,

I started getting back into RC flying stuff last year with the havocs etc, and quickly found that the HoneybeeCP2 was what I thought a beginner heli should be (Small, cheap, and complete for <$100). That said, since my first, I've been through many many many parts, and the smallest error (coming down a little fast) would break the LG and almost always cause a tail boom strike. (About $12 damage + shipping & waiting)

After a lot of frustration with it, and the general consensus of 'bigger is better' I decided to move up into the Hurricane 550. Its about 3x the size of the CP2, but PARTS COST is the SAME! Swing by the Hurricane forums and you'll see that there's also TONNES of help here, and some of the best guys to chat with on HF.

Then again, if you're still really unsure, maybe go with the CX2 or Lama to see if the heli-bug sticks!

~!JR!~

[darkwolf29a]

Wow!!! Thanks for the advice. :) I'll go take a look.

I know the bug stuck. Honestly, I've wanted one since I was a kid...a LONG time ago. LOL

Thanks. :)

[darkwolf29a]

I'm still thinking, so...if you got any thoughts...let me know.

I'm going to go with something small, for this one. Winter's coming, and having something small for indoors would be a good way for me to spend my winter. :D

So far, the Walkera 4#3 is what I'm thinking, but...I can be swayed...in case you couldn't tell. :smokin:

[jayrok1018]

Again, think of the quality over 'getting in on the cheap'. With a good heli, you'll be FAR less frustrated in the learning process, and will your skills will progress MUCH faster than with something of crappy quality (ie: better flight characteristics, parts availability etc). I've yet to hear anything good about Walkera, though E-Sky isn't much better (and that's the route I went initially). I know you're trying to keep costs down, but is it really worth getting something like that (micro-heli/FP), when the 'air hogs' at wal-mart for $19.99 does about the same thing. My first CP2 was $100 all-in and since I've spent at LEAST $700 more on parts and upgrades and really, (hindsight is 20/20) should have likely gone with something better from the get-go, 'cuz that one is an expensive decoration on a shelf now!

What about something along the lines of the EP100/Hurricane200? Small, cheap parts/crash costs, full control (CCPM). (and in the meantime, see video below for 'inspiration') -- oh and it's NOT me!
urUaa38AlKQ

[darkwolf29a]

I do appreciate that...But, i also have to deal with some size requirements for this one. Since it's not outside, it HAS to be of the micro-size. Honestly, anything over about 13 inches is too big.

I live in a 2 bedroom apartment, so anything that starts too big, ends up too big in a hurry.

[Skarn]

If you NEED to have a micro...and will be flying indoors, the ONLY heli I'd recommend would be a Blade CX or Llama 4.

Skarn

[ptc]

I would recommend the HB FP as a good cheap trainer.

It has about a 13" rotor span and it could be trimmed down to make it into a micro-heli. There was an article in a recent issue of RC Heli that describe how to do it. Everything got trimmed, main blade, tail rotor, landing gear and the tail boom (i think).

[darkwolf29a]

I don't HAVE to have a micro, but I won't be flying anything if I don't. LOL Honestly, a 20 inch heli just won't make it down my hallway. So, IF that's my only good option, then I'm stuck without one until I move into a house again. I'd rather not do that. And I don't want to start into the hobby and not be able to fly over the winter, with something. :D

I'll take another look at the Lama, Blade, and the HBFP. :D Time for some Math. :lol:

[jayrok1018]

Well I totally hear you on needing something small for indoor practice. I'll be heading into my 3rd winter with nothing for decent indoor/living room practice. My Honeybee CP2 is the same size as the FP (don't be decieved by the 'rotor span of 13"!), its too big for my apt too (rotor tip to tail = total length = 30"!!). The Hurricane 200 has a 13.5" total size (or less than 1/2), and that's what I'm looking at for a winter project. Hope to have some better skills to take out to the field next year, and from what I understand a lot of the flight characteristics of the 550 have been replicated on the 200. Something else to consider over the winter is to build something over the winter and pass the time/practice with a really good sim. You can crash 'till your heart's content and it doesn't cost a dime!:thumbup:

Hope you find something that 'fits', both in your indoor flying area and budget! Keep us posted darkwolf!

[jayrok1018]

Ok darkwolf, hopefully we haven't killed your interest into getting into this hobby further (telling you that you need to get expensive stuff etc), but if you are going to go with the RTF honeybee (whether its the FP or CP2, they're the SAME size, my personal recommendation in that case would be the CP2, with a few sets of wood blades (yes, cut down).

Something also of note, is that the best source for esky stuff online (always has parts, AND they're dirt cheap), is bphobbies (http://www.bphobbies.com). That said, (and not to take anything away from HF, [i love this place :thumbup:]) is that the best resource I found about the Honeybee (FP or CP2), is at RCGroups (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=494197). SSG Scott from the US Air Corps Heli Sqad has some really awesome tips & tricks to make your little bird fly just like the big ones.

Hope this helps, and keep us posted
~!JR!~

[darkwolf29a]

Nope, haven't turned me off yet. :) I'm just still looking, and deciding. I'm still thinking as small as possible...so that it'll give me ALOT more flying room. That's why I'm still leaning towards a small micro heli. It would a llow for more interesting maneuvers, at least. LOL

We'll have to see what I decide. LOL

[drsmith751]

I just started a few months ago on a HBFP. I think it is a great heli to learn to hover. I was amazed on what a beating it can take. Parts are dirt cheap. I was flying it in my garage. I don't think I would fly it in my house. One of my blades actually stuck into my aluminum garage door. (I pulled it out and kept flying) Check out nutcaze on youtube. He has a great video series on the HBFP. You can also fly the HBFP outside. Coax's you really can't.

Now the downside. The HBFP is very "squirrelly", and the tail always seems to wander. Also with a fixed pitch it is easy to get into the habit of "dumping" the thottle when you get in trouble and want to set it down. If you plan to move to a CCPM heli, that is not a real good thing.

I have recently upgraded to a T-rex 450 SE V2. A lot more money, but there is really no comparison. It is like comparing cutting with a scalpel as opposed to a rock. I really hovers and flys like a dream.

All said, I probably would start the same way with the HBFP. They are cheap. I also don't get the sense that the coax's are that great for learning. Cool to fly, but not much transfers.

Also, don't forget to get a sim. Phoenix is great.

[ronaldf]

Nope, haven't turned me off yet. :) I'm just still looking, and deciding. I'm still thinking as small as possible...so that it'll give me ALOT more flying room. That's why I'm still leaning towards a small micro heli. It would allow for more interesting maneuvers, at least. LOL

We'll have to see what I decide. LOL

Well have you made any decisions yet? Having read this thread and the other that you posted, I think your choices are limited given your experience level. If you are going to fly (learn and practice) the majority of your time in a limited space apartment, then your only choices is the Walkera 5G6 or the new Blade mCX. They are both coaxials and about the same micro size. If you want to push the envelope then get the Blade CX or Lama V4 (or any other similar size coaxial). A limited space apartment is no place for a FP and a beginner.
If you are going to be outside the majority of your time and need to get started with the minimum $$$, then any good FP should be the choice. If $s are not a concern then a larger and quality CP should be considered.

[darkwolf29a]

Well, I'm leaning toward the 4#3 or 5#10, most likely the 5#10, at this point. The CX2 would fit in the apartment, but I would have to be VERY precise, and wouldn't have a lot of room to maneuver around. We do have a 1 car garage, but there's no car in it. It's really my workshop, storage, and the place I park my motorcycle. So, that limits that out as well.

So, yeah...the smaller the better, at this point. I'm using my sim, which is very cool for figuring out a lot of maneuvers and things, which is nice. ANd if I can find something small...I can wait to fly outdoors until there's next to no wind. I'm ok with that, as long as I can have some fun indoors. :)

I'll be purchasing that on Friday, I think. So, that decision will be made soon. :thinking

[ronaldf]

Well, I'm leaning toward the 4#3 or 5#10, most likely the 5#10, at this point. The CX2 would fit in the apartment, but I would have to be VERY precise, and wouldn't have a lot of room to maneuver around. We do have a 1 car garage, but there's no car in it. It's really my workshop, storage, and the place I park my motorcycle. So, that limits that out as well.
So, yeah...the smaller the better, at this point.

The 5#10 and the CX2 are basically the same size. The 4#3B and the 5G6-1 are the same size with the 4#3B being fixed pitch and the 5G6-1 is a coaxial. I got my 5G6-1 today. It is perfect for the living room. Coax stability in a very small package. 7 inch rotor diameter and not quite 8 inches long.
I got my 4#3B and 5G6-1 from http://www.chinesejade.com/walkera_Heli.htm
I got my Lama V4 from http://www.xheli.com/coaxialmodels.html
I fly the Lama and 4#3B outside on calm days. The 5G6-1is for indoor stick time until I get better with the 4#3B. After I can truly fly the 4#3B indoor and out, then I will start using the T-rex for more than hovering.

[darkwolf29a]

VERY cool information. :)

Thanks very much posting that. :)

[darkwolf29a]

1 x HM-5G6-Z-01 Main Rotor Blades (http://www.helipal.com/hm-5g6-z-01-main-rotor-blades.html)1 x HM-5G6-Z-02 Flybar Set (http://www.helipal.com/hm-5g6-z-02-flybar-set.html)1 x Walkera HM 5G6 Micro Helicopter (2.4G Metal Edition) (http://www.helipal.com/product_info.php?products_id=453{2}7)1 x HM-5G6-Z-20 3.7V 400mAh Battery (http://www.helipal.com/hm-5g6-z-20-3-7v-400mah-battery.html)


Here's what I'm panning on buying. Anyone see anything I'm missing?