by heliplanes » Sat May 12, 2012 4:39 am
G'day Sluggo,
I've been buying 90% of everything I need from HobbyKing. I've had a few arguments with them but they got sorted out. I have received a few pre-stripped servos and one ESC which didn't work. If I added up everything I'd spent with them and what the equivalent would have cost from an Aussie dealer I'm a mile in front. When I want to buy something from a plane to a new motor I ALWAYS read the comments left by previous buyers. (scroll down from the picture of the item and you'll see reviews and comments) I've been itching to buy a new item but after I've read the reviews and comments I give it a miss because it's obviously rubbish.
Remember local hobby shops don't like HobbyKing, although I know many of them buy stock from them. So the bad comments may be made by them to put people off. Plus some people will whinge at everything and anything. Use your own judgement. Go to other forums and read what people are saying, ask questions if you're still not sure. Finally add up what it costs, use your gut instinct and mix that with a little luck and decide whether to buy or go elsewhere. I've decided to stop buying from them a few times but I last a few days and I put in another order.
A little advice, when you buy a plane and you think it's a real bargain, I'd advise you to stock up on small spare parts. I always pull the cheap and nasty servos out and replace them with better quality ones. Have a packet of clevises and control horns handy because they often turn up broken. Never fly the plane until you've checked every prt of it. Tighten every screw, bolt and nut and add a drop of Loctite. Reglue things which can and usually do come adrift like horns and engine mounts if you can get to them. A little extra glue won't hurt your speed or CG and it gives you peace of mind.
Again read the reviews and look for modifications which people advise you do. There are always reports of ailerons coming away from the wing or vertical stabilizers falling off or even props suddenly disintegrating. There's literally hundreds of things that can go wrong and some of them are unavoidable but the majority can be avoided by spending a little time doing a close inspection.
Finally, please, please, please DON'T think a plane will go faster by putting a bigger battery in it. The times I've seen guys telling their mates they are going to try a 6s battery in a plane designed for a 3s. You'll burn your ESC and probably your motor out, this will send your plane groundward and there's a good chance of wrecking an expensive battery and your plane. If you want more speed it has to be a strict code to follow. What will the airframe handle? (speedwise) will the motor fit?, will the ESC handle the extra current?, will the motor handle it?. Usually an upgrade consists of a more powerful motor, a better ESC, a bigger battery, more room to be found, better wiring and definitely a consideration where the center of gravity (CG) lives. Something they usually forget, can they handle a plane travelling 4 times faster than it did. In short, are they good enough to fly it.
My Skyfun will fly at around 100k out of the box, I fly it at about 60 or 70k. I have another one ready to build with a motor which will take it to 200k and more but I won't be flying it for some time. I need experience first. One guy tried to push his even faster, it took off like a scalded cat but the rear end decided to overtake the front end and it snowed foam for 10 minutes. He never found the motor, the ESC was mangled and the battery looked pregnant. All he had left was a few clevises and some bent pushrods. The plane and the mods cost him over $200.00 and he blamed Hobbyking for building a lousy plane.
Geez, I've said enough for now. If you need any further help just holler, someone will help. Good luck
What goes up, must come down, the heaviest parts first.