Miniature Aircraft USA Stratus Seller:naeder Details:
$1,600.00
| 7/9/2008
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Posts: 87
Joined: 1/16/2008 From: Alpharetta,
GA, USA Status: offline
I'm researching the market for all-metal 450 birds, and I just stumbled across this new line of birds this week, and thought I'd post what I found, and give owners a place to talk about it, and researchers a place to find info on it.
What it is: A 450 heli kit (85% assembled) with metal head and tail for reasonable money (currently in the $170-$180 price range with $10 delivery).
The guy in the US (North Carolina) that is selling it is named Steve, and he's a good guy, we've spoken and emailed a few times. Here is his website: http://www.classicflyingmachines.com/index.html
Classic Flying Machines is planning on carrying three of the six versions: HF-002 (fiberglass frame), HF-003 (aluminum frame) and HF-005 (aluminum frame with a different servo layout altogether). The HF-003 frame is very similar to the CopterX, but it and the other Hones have two good advantages that I've seen:
1: All Hones use hex screws, versus the CopterX's Phillips head screws.
2: All Hones have designed-in some sort of gyro protection. The HF-003 has a gyro mounting plate on the BOTTOM of the boom block. Some of the frames (like the HF-002) have a gyro mounting plate on top, but it is not out on top of the boom block, where it would be directly exposed to getting whacked by the flybar; rather, they are tucked in nice and tight behind the auto-rotation bracket for better protection.
The PDF manual is available, and it is a really nice 26 page manual, in perfect English. I was amazed. I tried attaching the PDF manual that Steve sent to me, but we can't upload PDF's to the forum. Oh well, maybe Steve will have it up on his website before long...
Check these helis out if you're interested in this type of bird, it might be a good product for us in this price segment of the market (looks good from here). Appears to be great airframe for the money, and should compete well against the HDX 450SE V3, CopterX 450SE/AE V2 and Black Hawk 450SE.
The T-rex 450SE V2 and the RC-Tek 450 Diablo / Sky Shark I would put in the premium segment above this one, so I'm not even going there (down, clone-haters, I'm not comparing it to your favorite lady).
Pictures are attached, red canopy is the HF-002, White canopy is the HF-003, and yellow canopy is the HF-005.
Note that I am just sharing information that I've found, and pointing out things that seem attractive. I hope to have a Hone soon, and I'll share how it goes, and others will hopefully share their experiences on here as well.
L8R
< Message edited by Demo Up -- 3/20/2008 9:14:32 PM >
Posts: 87
Joined: 1/16/2008 From: Alpharetta,
GA, USA Status: offline
From those pics, you can't see the differences, other than color. The best way to see the difference is to go to the mfg. website and look at the detailed pics of the two.
The HF-005 has a different frame, especially the servo layout, it doesn't have the T-rex style stacked servos. It uses a servo layout seen on something like Rc-Tek's RCT-450 Diablo / Sky Shark.
The HF-003 is layed out exactly like the T-rex 450, CopterX, etc. The lower price is that it carries is probably due to its aluminum frame (the other Hones use a fiberglass). The '03 is the one that I've ordered, it should be here next week, around Feb. 27. I spoke to Steve earlier today, and he said he has five of the '03 in stock (well, four after he ships mine)...
< Message edited by Demo Up -- 3/3/2008 2:16:19 AM >
Posts: 650
Joined: 11/17/2007 From: , AZ, USA Status: offline
I searched the net for hone helicopter with every engine I could find and came up with nothing. I don't think I'd want to buy a heli that one dealer in the world.
_____________________________
I don't fly em, I just build em, saves me a lot of money in repairs that way.
Posts: 87
Joined: 1/16/2008 From: Alpharetta,
GA, USA Status: offline
Not yet, I was thinking it would be here yesterday, but it wasn't, so it should be here today. My Shark 450 is supposed to be here by Monday as well. I plan on first comparing the Shark and the Hone part for part, because I know that Rusty at castlerockhobbies will stock Shark parts, so that may be a good source. I've asked Steve Harbin (emailed him today) to give me the status of the Hone parts, and I will report his answer. As much as I can figure T-rex compatibility, I'll share it, but I don't currently have a T-rex, so that may be a slow process.
I'll take it to my LHS (www.atlantahobby.com) once it gets in, and let Cliff look it over and help me determine if he thinks his T-rex parts will work on it...
< Message edited by Demo Up -- 3/1/2008 2:52:32 AM >
Posts: 353
Joined: 12/6/2005 From: Kingston,
GA, USA Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: Demo Up
Congrats on making the front page recently with your fancy Black Hawk! I just about bought me one of those one time...
thanks.. I was shocked that one of my pics made it to the front page here.. ya should have gotten a Black Hawk.. I'm loving mine let me know how the Hone works for ya.. might have to look into one at some point down the road...although I REALLY want a Hurricane 550 next
Posts: 87
Joined: 1/16/2008 From: Alpharetta,
GA, USA Status: offline
Aw, heck, Kaelan, we're only 68 miles apart (I'm in north Alpharetta)! What are the odds? We gotta get together!
The Hone came today, I've gotta get some loc-tite tomorrow so I can start on it.
So you like the BH, eh? I thought about getting the Black Hawk 450SE as well, but I got the Shark 450 instead, it was the same exact price as the BH450SE, but about $20 less delivered, and I liked the looks of the Shark as well. My Shark should be here Saturday or Monday, maybe we can hook up and compare the birds some time.
< Message edited by Demo Up -- 3/1/2008 5:00:12 AM >
Posts: 87
Joined: 1/16/2008 From: Alpharetta,
GA, USA Status: offline
Well, boys, all I can say is that the Hone 450 is very nice! I don't have any metric hex drivers or loctite (newbie alert), so I can't progress with the build tonight. I'll post some pics as I go along. I'm not opening the individual bags until I'm ready, so I don't lose anything.
Initial observations:
Individual bags of parts. But they aren't labeled, so I'm trying to figure out what goes where. One bag appears to be just a lot of extras, and if that's so, then this will be no problem, because the rest don't have much in them.
One bag appears to have a motor pinion in it. Interesting...
Fully assembled head (just insert flybar), fully assembled tail, fully assembled frame (minus the canopy mounting shafts, for some reason). Just have to assemble the major sub-assemblies.
White fiberglass canopy comes in a velvet (move over, Elvis) drawstring bag, very effective.
Landing gear struts are traditional springy stuff, so that'll have to be replaced (don't want any bungee action during hard landings).
Not really that much to do (once you have the right tools), not as intimidating now as it was when I first opened the box.
< Message edited by Demo Up -- 3/2/2008 5:03:14 AM >
Posts: 1205
Joined: 3/31/2004 From: Port Washington,
WI, USA Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: Demo Up Well, boys, all I can say is that the Hone 450 is very nice! I don't have any metric hex drivers or loctite (newbie alert), so I can't progress with the build tonight. I'll post some pics as I go along. I'm not opening the individual bags until I'm ready, so I don't lose anything.
Printable Version
All Forums >> RC Helicopters >> Electric RC Helis >> Hone 450 (or "325" blade size) heli 
Hone 450 (or "325" blade size) heli - 
the market for all-metal 450 birds, and I just stumbled across this new line of birds this week, and thought I'd post what I found, and give owners a place to talk about it, and researchers a place to find info on it. 
let me know how the Hone works for ya.. might have to look into one at some point down the road...although I REALLY want a 
