Honeybee FP owners, share your experiences

[Tatonka]

I would like to make this a place where everyone can discuss mods and flight experiences of a fantastic little Helicopter. HB's fly great stock, but after you have learned to fly it, there are many mods that can be done to make it progress with your skill to fly even better.
Better motors, both brushed and brushless
D.D.-tail conversion for better tail authority
Other blades that change flight characteristics
Upgrade radio options
Other ingenius mods that others have shared with us
I would like to start by inviting everyone to share their set up.:)

[Broken Blade]

Hi,
I was flying my Honeybee FP in Cali. last week and it flew normal and lifted fine. Then came home to Colo. at 7000 ft and it wouldn't get but a foot off the ground after about a minute of flight time. I got to twisting the blades down which seems to help. Anyone else had this trouble?

[Tatonka]

Hi,
I was flying my Honeybee FP in Cali. last week and it flew normal and lifted fine. Then came home to Colo. at 7000 ft and it wouldn't get but a foot off the ground after about a minute of flight time. I got to twisting the blades down which seems to help. Anyone else had this trouble?

I've heard other people talk about it although I haven't experienced it myself as I live just above sea level..... Basically, the air where you live is less dense at 7000 ft than at sea level. so you aren't getting enough lift....Twisting the blades gives it more lift but it sounds like you might need to upgrade your motor to either a slo-max or brushless motor to get more headspeed and power....Did you have this problem before you went to Cali.?...It could also be your stock motor is wearing out or bad batteries.

[Broken Blade]

Hi. Thanks for answering. The HB did this once before and I changed motors but no luck. Then I changed blades and it worked so I figured the old ones were out of shape. I thought about up grading the motor so I'll check into that. The battery is fairly new but I just ordered more 900mAh batteries. Thanks for the info.

[evlfkrjohn]

Come down here to Louisiana in the humidity where the air is so thick a heli can almost hover with no blades:p

[Broken Blade]

Actually I am coming to New Orleans next month. No room to bring the heli though. Darn.

[evlfkrjohn]

Actually I am coming to New Orleans next month. No room to bring the heli though. Darn.

Ahh, my neck of the woods. Where theres a will theres a way!;)

[Tatonka]

I was in Houston in June for a couple weeks working outside,. Man, it was hot and humid.:( To much for someone from the Pacific North-West.

[almsy]

Started out with a HBFP last fall, bought two more 2cell lipos for it and had a great time with it. The only upgrade I made to it was the addition of the super skids landing gear set, I got tired of dealing with the fragile carbon rods breaking or coming apart all the time :mad:. Great little heli and takes a pretty good beating too. I still have it and fly it on occasion, but the major upgrade I made was the purchase of a Trex 450S last February. I crashed it the first time I tried, thinking the HBFP had me prepared enough, ... little did I know. :o
A good site to buy FP parts from is slickzero.com if you want to look them up. Cheap shipping costs too.

Enjoy,
almsy

[Broken Blade]

Thanks for the info. Yours sounds about like mine as I too got Super Skids for it. It's a fun heli. Funny thing I just got a Trex 450 but hasn't arrived yet. I also have a Blade 400 so I'll sell which one I don't like the best.

[AltonMan]

I've had a honeybee fp since April of 2008. I thought I knew how to fly because I had a Robins 22 Coax and could land that thing anywhere. Well...I was wrong. Took me a while to learn to fly the hb - big jump from Coax to single rotor.

My upgrades started with super skids, but after that I didn't have enough lift to do much more than hover a foot off the ground. So I upgraded to the slo-max which provides plenty of power, but makes the stock tail too weak. So I shortened the boom and installed a dd tail motor. I also shortened the main rotor blades an inch -- it flys good like that, but I think it might be a little to much headspeed required because my lipo and motor get pretty hot.

My next (and probably final) upgrade for the honeybee is going to be some m-24 blades. I would like to go with a brushless and all that, but at some point I think I should stop spending money on the honeybee and move up to a cp heli. I'm torn between the hb king 2 or the belt cp.

[Broken Blade]

Sounds like my problem however I just got 2 900 lipo's to replace my 800 lipo. And today it was lifting good but it rained lastnight and I heard that helps. I'm going to try a high output motor also and experiment. As for upgrading, I had a Belt CP and liked it ok but then sold it and got a Blade 400. I liked it better so now I just got a Trex 450 but still have to put it together. So now I have my Blade 400 up for sale. I hope it sells quick so I can pay back some I put out for the trex.
Thanks for the info. I almost bought an Extreme motor but I'll check out the slow max.

[zore]

I'll tell you what i've done. Being very experienced in crashing, I've decided to take what i've learned about gravity and my blade cp and modify the fp to make it a little tougher to break.

I started with a set of super skid knock offs.

I replaced one of the fly bar connectors with an O'ring.

I replaced the rubber hose that holds the rear prop on with a metal fly bar collar.

I replaced the fiber fly bar with the metal wire one used on the blade cp.

I have tried to auger this thing into the ground at least a dozen times and i've yet to break anything but the canopy. Sure I bent a flybar a little and a few screws got lose and yeah, the head pops off any now and again, but no broken parts. It's amazing.

My plan, however is to get a belt drive conversion for it. I may do the blade cp as well. I'm not a huge fan of electric motors.

[Tatonka]

Sounds like my problem however I just got 2 900 lipo's to replace my 800 lipo. And today it was lifting good but it rained lastnight and I heard that helps. I'm going to try a high output motor also and experiment. As for upgrading, I had a Belt CP and liked it ok but then sold it and got a Blade 400. I liked it better so now I just got a Trex 450 but still have to put it together. So now I have my Blade 400 up for sale. I hope it sells quick so I can pay back some I put out for the trex.
Thanks for the info. I almost bought an Extreme motor but I'll check out the slow max.

I've been using slo-max motors for about 8-9 months and I like them.... Much better than the stock motor.... I've heard some negative things about the Extreme motor, like it gets very hot and is prone to burn out your 4-in-1.... Stick with the slo-max, people have been using it with good results for quite awhile now....I've actually been thinking of getting a blade 400 as my next Heli, I like the fact that it comes with a Spectrum DX6i which I could use on my HB.....How much do you want for it and how many times have you crashed it.:D

[Ogre55]

I've had a honeybee fp since April of 2008. I thought I knew how to fly because I had a Robins 22 Coax and could land that thing anywhere. Well...I was wrong. Took me a while to learn to fly the hb - big jump from Coax to single rotor.

My upgrades started with super skids, but after that I didn't have enough lift to do much more than hover a foot off the ground. So I upgraded to the slo-max which provides plenty of power, but makes the stock tail too weak. So I shortened the boom and installed a dd tail motor. I also shortened the main rotor blades an inch -- it flys good like that, but I think it might be a little to much headspeed required because my lipo and motor get pretty hot.

My next (and probably final) upgrade for the honeybee is going to be some m-24 blades. I would like to go with a brushless and all that, but at some point I think I should stop spending money on the honeybee and move up to a cp heli. I'm torn between the hb king 2 or the belt cp.

Where does one get these M-24 blades??

[evlfkrjohn]

Where does one get these M-24 blades??

http://www.ultimatehobbies.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=KYOCA1015!1012

Their shipping is a little high but for what you're buying its not to bad. M24 blades are not easy to find!

[Broken Blade]

I don't remember if I replied to Tatonka yet but if not, I'm asking $225 for the blade but it has no TX or RX which you can get for I think $170 in a bundled package. It has lots of spare parts and never crashed bad. maybe twice though. It's in good shape now though. Thanks

[Ogre55]

http://www.ultimatehobbies.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=KYOCA1015!1012

Their shipping is a little high but for what you're buying its not to bad. M24 blades are not easy to find!

So I've noticed, thank you!

[evlfkrjohn]

Well this is the start of my fp build. Im waiting on all the extreme metal head parts to arrive, then i'll continue this journey into the fp world!

[Tatonka]

If you use a slo-max motor on your HB and a HPI steel pinion, then you probably use some kind of spacer between the motor and frame to get the pinion to match up with the main gear.....Most people just use washers, or plastic for a shim but I came up with a little better way to do this that gives the correct shimming plus stiffens and strengthens the frame....Also, as an added bonus, it works as a heat sink on the bottom of the motor can....I made it from some aluminum that I got from my local hardware store and it took about an hour to make...Here are a few picts of the spacer.....Notice that in addition to required holes, I put some notches in the sides that match the motor for ventilation.:cool:

[evlfkrjohn]

If you use a slo-max motor on your HB and a HPI steel pinion, then you probably use some kind of spacer between the motor and frame to get the pinion to match up with the main gear.....Most people just use washers, or plastic for a shim but I came up with a little better way to do this that gives the correct shimming plus stiffens and strengthens the frame....Also, as an added bonus, it works as a heat sink on the bottom of the motor can....I made it from some aluminum that I got from my local hardware store and it took about an hour to make...Here are a few picts of the spacer.....Notice that in addition to required holes, I put some notches in the sides that match the motor for ventilation.:cool:

Looks good! Im going to be using the stock 10t pinion from a blade cp so that I can position it anywhere on the shaft. I got all the metal extreme parts in yesterday but I hav'nt started on them yet. I got in two esky digital servos, anyone have an opinion on them?

[Tatonka]

Looks good! Im going to be using the stock 10t pinion from a blade cp so that I can position it anywhere on the shaft. I got all the metal extreme parts in yesterday but I hav'nt started on them yet. I got in two esky digital servos, anyone have an opinion on them?

I switched both my HBs over to the Esky digital servos awhile back, so far so good. Just don't mix one digital servo with an older analog one, it will cause problems.....I also have the Extreme swash and paddle control frame on one of my HBs, like them very much...Didn't try the rotor head though, I've heard people say that they have had trouble getting it to seat on the bearings right.....I'm using GWS hubs and rotor heads on mine which is much stronger than Esky parts, Extreme rotor head won't fit on GWS hub though.

[evlfkrjohn]

I switched both my HBs over to the Esky digital servos awhile back, so far so good. Just don't mix one digital servo with an older analog one, it will cause problems.....I also have the Extreme swash and paddle control frame on one of my HBs, like them very much...Didn't try the rotor head though, I've heard people say that they have had trouble getting it to seat on the bearings right.....I'm using GWS hubs and rotor heads on mine which is much stronger than Esky parts, Extreme rotor head won't fit on GWS hub though.

I fit the metal head to day and it seated on the bearings with no problem. I found that I have to mod the swash guide a little on the fiber frame to get everything to flow smoothly, i'll get to that tomorrow. But from what i've seen, I really like the extreme metal parts. I wood like to get a set of the extreme blades and give them a shot as well.

[Tatonka]

Have you tried the M-24 blades?.....Yea, I had to clean up and widen slightly the swash guide on my stock frame as well, Extreme swash was binding slightly in it.

[evlfkrjohn]

Have you tried the M-24 blades?.....Yea, I had to clean up and widen slightly the swash guide on my stock frame as well, Extreme swash was binding slightly in it.

Now...with the swash guide issue filed and spaced I do have a set of m24 blades on it now. I ordered a set of the 8deg extreme blades lastnight just to have the option of trying both blades. I am disapointed in the fiber frame not having the option of clamping the tail boom. It looks like it was going to be made into the frame but then someone changed the're mind:rolleyes: I do like the extreme canopy, its thinner than I thought it would be but the looks of it are really nice. It has a nice flow to it. I also have a pile of carbon rods coming(for a whopper auto gyro project) that includes a 38in 5mm "thin walled" tube to replace the stock esky carbon boom and reduce the tail wieght a bit. I guess I should post a picture of my progress;) I've got some money tied up in this little heli, and it got there fast! I wanted to add my painting scheme idea too???!!! I'm not much of a painter, so any ideas would be helpful:o

Guruz frame
extreme canopy
extreme 8deg blades
extreme metal head
extreme paddle control frame
extreme swashplate
M-24 blades
2 gws ics 300 esc's
gws pg-03 gyro
gws 4ch rx
slo-max motor
2 digital esky servos
dd tail setup
I'm scared to add it all up!!

And I still have to sort out a battery!! I'd never get my money out of it if I wanted to sell it! Also have any of you guys seen these http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=110291603327 ? I'm gonna order one today, I think it would be a lighter way to moniter the battery other than guessing or using the extreme blinking light method. Having a little buzzer go off would be kinda neat. And its about the same size as a blinky balancer.

[66tbird]

I started flying helis on a used HB (superskids, and a couple other mods) that I got off ebay. I 'learned to fly' is all I can say about that deal. Then I tried a friends stock HB. Big difference there, and not for the worse. It was lighter by 60gr. So I bought a barebones and after flying that in FFF I knew I needed the M24/Slowmax/DD setup. I like it a lot. light and nimble

I then built a guruz w/belt tail on 3S Brushless. It flys better but is not as relaxing. The HB is more challenging to fly FFF in the sense that one has be aware of its limitations and flight envelope. My heli friend can't fly it. He complains the tail is not stable and it won't go where its pointed. I don't know what to tell him, flight envelope is a lost concept I guess. He can't fly a 3D foamy either, so I don't push it.

All in all the HBFP is a great ship to learn on. You can fix, mod, and crash on the cheap while learning a lot.

[evlfkrjohn]

I am building this one with a driven tail for now. But I do have a plan in the works for modding it a bit more using an 8mm carbon boom and complete tail from a honeybee king 2. Also the oneway bearing and pulley from the compy 300. The 12mm boom on the guruz kit looks a little funny. As soon as it gets cold and windy i'll start on it;) My poor mini-titan is starting to give me a sad depressed look:(

[Broken Blade]

Anyone know the sites for tips on installing Slomax and DD's. I'd seen them but lost them somehow. Thanks

[evlfkrjohn]

Anyone know the sites for tips on installing Slomax and DD's. I'd seen them but lost them somehow. Thanks

You can find almost anything you need to know here: http://www.eflightwiki.com/eflightwiki/index.php?title=HoneyBeeFP

[Tatonka]

Anyone know the sites for tips on installing Slomax and DD's. I'd seen them but lost them somehow. Thanks

If you have any questions about anything you can't find, just post them here and we will see if we can answer them. I am currently running both mods on 2 HBs. I have picts on how to adapt the stock tail housing to fit the GWS motor if you are interested.

[evlfkrjohn]

Well here it is guys, finally complete! And I don't think I like it very much. I can't seem to get the thing programmed in my tx right! I did it on a futaba 6exa about 7 years ago and don't remember how I did it:rolleyes: I have a jrxp783 thats very user friendly except for fp heli's;) What do yall think??? Pay no attention to the paint job, I SUCK at painting! It may go on the chopping block tonight!

[Tatonka]

Well here it is guys, finally complete! And I don't think I like it very much. I can't seem to get the thing programmed in my tx right! I did it on a futaba 6exa about 7 years ago and don't remember how I did it:rolleyes: I have a jrxp783 thats very user friendly except for fp heli's;) What do yall think??? Pay no attention to the paint job, I SUCK at painting! It may go on the chopping block tonight!

Looks Great, sorry to hear that you are having problems with it.

[evlfkrjohn]

Looks Great, sorry to hear that you are having problems with it.

Nah, got everything worked out. Now its up for sale:rolleyes:

[Tatonka]

Nah, got everything worked out. Now its up for sale:rolleyes:

Why are you selling it?

[evlfkrjohn]

Why are you selling it?

I just got bored with it. I spent all that time building it and it turned out that I just don't like it. I have a 4#3b on the way that i'm going to mod and see how that goes:rolleyes:

[Broken Blade]

Hi,
well I got my tail spin fixed with a new tail motor. So I learned even if the motor works it maybe weak like mine were. So now it flies straight butslightly bucks up and down. I checked everything and it seems right. Anybody know why it does this? Thanks

[Tatonka]

Hi,
well I got my tail spin fixed with a new tail motor. So I learned even if the motor works it maybe weak like mine were. So now it flies straight butslightly bucks up and down. I checked everything and it seems right. Anybody know why it does this? Thanks

I have 2 Honeybees, both with slo-max motors and DD-tails.....One has always been prone to "bucking up and down" as you put it, and the other never has...I've tried swapping stuff around like tail props, ect and it doesn't seem to make any difference....Can't really figure what is causing this for the life of me....The only thing that seems to make it go away is to run the main blades tighter. (using m-24 blades) On the other HB I can run the blades looser with no problems, in fact I just put some 8 degree wooden blades on it about 2 weeks ago and I love these blades on it, flys great in FFF....Last night I put woodies on the other HB and couldn't get the damb thing to stop bobbing no matter what I did, so I put the tight M-24s back on and it flew great. (yes, I made sure the blades were balanced and were tracking perfectly)....So no, I don't know why it does it but if anyone does, I'd like to hear why.:blockhead:

[Broken Blade]

Thanks for the info. I got to thinking since I also replaced my swash, maybe the new ones tighter. I'm going to oil it and try loosening it up and see if that does it. But yesterday my old problem came back of not having any lift. Even with new batteries. So I have to get Slomax and DD for sure I think. I live at high alltitude and it was real dry yesterday so maybe that was it. Hope Slomax and DD don't cost a bunch as I'm still trying to afford stuff for my Trex. Expensive hobby but fun.

[Tatonka]

Thanks for the info. I got to thinking since I also replaced my swash, maybe the new ones tighter. I'm going to oil it and try loosening it up and see if that does it. But yesterday my old problem came back of not having any lift. Even with new batteries. So I have to get Slomax and DD for sure I think. I live at high alltitude and it was real dry yesterday so maybe that was it. Hope Slomax and DD don't cost a bunch as I'm still trying to afford stuff for my Trex. Expensive hobby but fun.

Slo-max only costs a couple bucks more than a stock motor, like 10 or 11.00, Tower has them and Horizon does too. The GWS motor is about the same price. ...These motors last way longer than the stock motors so you actually will save money in the long run.....After you get past the minor hassle of modding your HB to run these, you won't be sorry.:)

[evlfkrjohn]

Slo-max only costs a couple bucks more than a stock motor, like 10 or 11.00, Tower has them and Horizon does too. The GWS motor is about the same price. ...These motors last way longer than the stock motors so you actually will save money in the long run.....After you get past the minor hassle of modding your HB to run these, you won't be sorry.:)

I got one here and shipping was cheap and fast! http://www.rcslot.com/mm5/merchant.mvc? It was $11.00 shipped total. I also bought the e-flight 10t pinion from them. Fitting the pinion is easy, just support only the shaft on the opposite side by placing it on something like a pair of pliers and press the pinion on.

[Broken Blade]

Cool thanks. I'm ordering one now.

[Tatonka]

Xheli has 2.4 Honeybees with lipo batt. on sale for 99.00 bucks, I have a code for free shipping if anyone is interested.

[Tatonka]

I actually ordered a 2.4g HB and took the 4-in-1 off of it and put it on one of my modded HBs.....I must say I was impressed with how much smoother the radio conrols the heli compared to the older 72.m radio...controls were more precise....it just flew better, plus the 2.4 4-in-1 is 8 grams lighter than the old 4-in-1 with antenea wire...Nice to not have antenea on Tx or all that wire to deal with on heli...I'm just going to take my old 4-in-1 and radio, put it on the HB I just bought and sell it.:D

[Tatonka]

Wow, I almost forgot I started this thread, anybody still viewing this site?

[1320Fastback]

I've read it a few times :D

[Broken Blade]

Does anyone know if the DD tail can be used with 2 cell Lipo's and or can a stock Esky 4 in1 with a Slomax main motor be used with a 3 cell Lipo. Mine flys good in lower elevation with stock motors and all but in Colorado at 7000 I need the Slomax but it's hard to control with the stock tail. Thanks