HobbyKing Marketing.

[GrumpyGnome]

Fingers crossed they'll build up some more stock over time... increases choice so can only be a good thing in my view.

[Paul De Tourtoulon]

29 minutes ago, GrumpyGnome said:

Fingers crossed they'll build up some more stock over time... increases choice so can only be a good thing in my view.

I won't hold my breath, I did get one battery from CNHL, all the rest I buy in French online reputable shops.

[GrumpyGnome]

We get the message - you don't like Hobbyking........

[Paul De Tourtoulon]

6 minutes ago, GrumpyGnome said:

We get the message - you don't like Hobbyking........

One of the first to kill off model shops and the demise of the hobby,,,

[Masher]

Under starters orders, eyes down, here we go ......... also don't forget radio brand, castor oil ...... gets very predicatable and boring 😉

[Cuban8]

On 13/12/2023 at 16:37, GrumpyGnome said:

I have some HK LiPos that have performed far better, and lasted far longer than those bought for more money from "...better and more reputable outlets...". Maybe I've just been lucky. The expensive ones in question were incapable of flying my little Arrows Hawk, whereas the cheapy old HK ones let it zip around happily.

 

In my experience, HK stuff is as you'd expect - not highest quality but absolutely fit for purpose.

 

There are lots of horror stories about their customer service...... 🙂

I've bought loads of stuff from HK when they were in their heyday and with the exception of only a couple of items that I was disappointed with (only a few pounds) the vast savings that I made on batteries, ESCs, motors, electric helicopters and one or two fixed wing models along with other general paraphernalia, outweighed many times over, the loss of a few pounds on the odd faulty or poor item. I'll certainly use them again if they can get their act together in terms of variety and availability of stock and reasonable postage.

I know full well that you shouldn't have to, but the mindset that you need when dealing with HK is to spend as much as you can afford to lose. HK landed a tiger in the laps of the established modelling industry, both retail and distributors and put many products within the reach of those who otherwise would never have been able to afford the expensive branded makes. A sort of Lidl and Aldi effect if you see what I mean.

[Cuban8]

1 hour ago, Paul De Tourtoulon said:

One of the first to kill off model shops and the demise of the hobby,,,

No, a far more complex situation re bricks and mortar shops, and as far as I'm aware, the hobby is still far from moribund let alone dead.

[GrumpyGnome]

1 hour ago, Paul De Tourtoulon said:

One of the first to kill off model shops and the demise of the hobby,,,

WE did that - nobody was forced to use them.....

[Paul De Tourtoulon]

4 minutes ago, Cuban8 said:

and put many products within the reach of those who otherwise would never have been able to afford the expensive branded makes.

Yes this opened up an new market especially for Epp, and electrics, the prices in the model shops was sky high with too many middle men for these products,

IE, multiplex Futaba etc,,,

But it didn't change the old established modellers.

[leccyflyer]

15 minutes ago, Paul De Tourtoulon said:

Yes this opened up an new market especially for Epp, and electrics, the prices in the model shops was sky high with too many middle men for these products,

IE, multiplex Futaba etc,,,

But it didn't change the old established modellers.

Maybe in your neck of the woods, but the changes that the availability of inexpensive electric power trains which brought electric flight within the budget of all model flyers seems to have made a huge difference in the switch from IC to electric at a heck of a lot of club fields - and that includes modellers who had only dabbled, if that, in electric flight before that availability of affordable brushless motors and Lipos.

[Frank Day]

Same old Hobby King con artists.

 

I nearly bought two Gloster Gladiators when they were released, one plus an airframe at around £197 each, the two with P+P as a single order was nearly £1000. I found out later that placing the two items separately was cheaper though was bigger and heavier in total. Worldwide warehouse.

 

I nearly fell for their latest con and was again  tempted by the Gladiator but suspected a UK rip off and held off. Quick check showed virtually no spares available. Now heard that it falls over when used on grass so they can keep it.

 

Big current con the Durafly Me163 komet, availability dates started slipping as soon as the con made it into the public domain,  optional magnet dolly release is simply not an option, it needs it, likewise the Turnigy rocket servo switch, you've guessed it no ETA they simply wont get any produced I suspect.

 

If you want a Komet PNP or kit have a look at Aliexpress, sold under the AF brand, 100% Durafly, I have some and the PNP comes with the magnet all for less than HK. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000463995115.html

[Cuban8]

1 hour ago, leccyflyer said:

Maybe in your neck of the woods, but the changes that the availability of inexpensive electric power trains which brought electric flight within the budget of all model flyers seems to have made a huge difference in the switch from IC to electric at a heck of a lot of club fields - and that includes modellers who had only dabbled, if that, in electric flight before that availability of affordable brushless motors and Lipos.

I think many of us forget just how unaffordable a lot of our equipment was to very many folks thirty or forty years ago. Take a bog standard servo back in the 1980s.......I seem to recall paying a tenner or so (old style Futaba with the exposed pins on the plugs) for what was a very inferior item in terms of performance compared to what is available for the same price in 2023. I still have a couple of Futaba coreless, so called mini servos that I got from Harry Brooks IIRC, that cost me THIRTY POUNDS each......I still haven't really recovered from the distress of parting with such a huge sum (1980s pounds don't forget) to enable me to fly a scale model (Jack Headly Cub) with electric power and needed every single gramme of weight shaved off. Model was very successful BTW, but nothing to what we can do now for a fraction of the cost and effort. Swapped the gear over into a Galaxy Aerojet that just about had the power to maintain itself for a couple of minutes on a buggy motor and nicads.

 

Those who have been in this hobby for a while will remember 'Mole Technology' who specialised in electric flight power and models. Brushed Cobalt motors were all the thing and MT demonstrated their wares at Sandown on several occasions, but they were  very expensive with their motors being, IIRC something around the one hundred pounds mark. Good motors but battery technology was still lagging way behind. Not really for the average modeller on a modest budget.

 

Re the Komet from Ali Express mention in the previous post - just took a look and they say unavailable to ship to my address!

Edited December 17, 2023 by Cuban8

[Erfolg]

I totally agree with you Cuban.

 

HK, Giant Cod, all helped make aeromodelling affordable, to many modellers and would be modellers. The sad thing was and is, that some of the very relatively expensive bits of kit, have on occasionally been less reliably than HK. Those who wax lyrical about the service of the LMS and or wholesalers, in my experience wear rose tinted glasses, I have received some very poor service from high price UK based business.

 

The price of Brushless motors and Lipos did plummet from the competition that the likes of HK introduced. 

 

Perhaps a major change that seems to be overlooked, was the vast range of product that came with HK and GC. Not the limited range, that you made do with from the majority of LMS. A problem that the LMS has tended to struggle with, is that so much stock stayed on the shelf, unsold, label fading.

 

If and when HK start suppling from International Warehouse, VAT paid, often I am more than willing to wait.

Edited December 17, 2023 by Erfolg

[GrumpyGnome]

3 hours ago, Frank Day said:

Same old Hobby King con artists.

 

I nearly bought two Gloster Gladiators when they were released, one plus an airframe at around £197 each, the two with P+P as a single order was nearly £1000. I found out later that placing the two items separately was cheaper though was bigger and heavier in total. Worldwide warehouse.

 

I nearly fell for their latest con and was again  tempted by the Gladiator but suspected a UK rip off and held off. Quick check showed virtually no spares available. Now heard that it falls over when used on grass so they can keep it.

 

Big current con the Durafly Me163 komet, availability dates started slipping as soon as the con made it into the public domain,  optional magnet dolly release is simply not an option, it needs it, likewise the Turnigy rocket servo switch, you've guessed it no ETA they simply wont get any produced I suspect.

 

If you want a Komet PNP or kit have a look at Aliexpress, sold under the AF brand, 100% Durafly, I have some and the PNP comes with the magnet all for less than HK. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000463995115.html

What in all if this is a 'con'?

 

Finding spares for most makes of plane is always a challenge..... e.g. Ripmax (previously), Hangar 9, EFlite, Hookl (Durafly direct from AliExpress/Banggood).  

[leccyflyer]

4 hours ago, Cuban8 said:

I think many of us forget just how unaffordable a lot of our equipment was to very many folks thirty or forty years ago. Take a bog standard servo back in the 1980s.......I seem to recall paying a tenner or so (old style Futaba with the exposed pins on the plugs) for what was a very inferior item in terms of performance compared to what is available for the same price in 2023. I still have a couple of Futaba coreless, so called mini servos that I got from Harry Brooks IIRC, that cost me THIRTY POUNDS each......I still haven't really recovered from the distress of parting with such a huge sum (1980s pounds don't forget) to enable me to fly a scale model (Jack Headly Cub) with electric power and needed every single gramme of weight shaved off. Model was very successful BTW, but nothing to what we can do now for a fraction of the cost and effort. Swapped the gear over into a Galaxy Aerojet that just about had the power to maintain itself for a couple of minutes on a buggy motor and nicads.

 

Those who have been in this hobby for a while will remember 'Mole Technology' who specialised in electric flight power and models. Brushed Cobalt motors were all the thing and MT demonstrated their wares at Sandown on several occasions, but they were  very expensive with their motors being, IIRC something around the one hundred pounds mark. Good motors but battery technology was still lagging way behind. Not really for the average modeller on a modest budget.

 

Re the Komet from Ali Express mention in the previous post - just took a look and they say unavailable to ship to my address!

Are you sure that you are not falling foul of the default Afghanistan shipping glitch?  The Komet is showing as available to ship to here.

[Frank Day]

 A con, as in talk up the UK warehouse, 100% I dont believe it exists.  Encourage you to buy and fail to supply parts that may reasonably be required either as spares or parts to finish it ie the dolly magnet, servo switch etc etc  for the Komet.  Take payments and keep bumping the ETA.

 

My Aliexpress experience is either pnp or as a kit, ie parts. Eflite have a few models and have always been able to source spares either UK, EU or USA.

 

Komet,  last look was unavailable, dolly release and Turnigy switch still no ETA. So still selling items without essential parts available. Anyone who has tried taking off from grass without  the dolly release  will need the foamtac to be handy.

 

Afghanistan glitch is avoided and pretty certain pop up appears stating they cant ship there if its missed. The Gloster Gladiator and spares were quoted at £600 P+P.  I contacted them as I thought it was an error and was told to place two separate orders as two single parcels are smaller than one !!!

Edited December 17, 2023 by Frank Day

[leccyflyer]

 

Komet available to ship to the UK from Ali Express -like I said.

[Andy Stephenson]

2 hours ago, Frank Day said:

A con, as in talk up the UK warehouse, 100% I dont believe it exists.

Only a few weeks ago I ordered 2 LiPos stated as in stock in UK and they arrived in about 3 days. There's no way they came from China in that time.

[Frank Day]

12 hours ago, leccyflyer said:

 

Komet available to ship to the UK from Ali Express -like I said.

Hi,

 

I'm aware of these from Aliexpress. I've had about ten from them as pnp and some as a kit/spares. I was referring to HK as a problem and that I've not had an issue with Aliexpress. I think the two got mixed up slightly. The pnp comes with the dolly release, have always had the wider axle etc that HK keep claiming as new or an option that they never stock. Two pictures below, of one of my Aliexpress Komets with the included magnetic release pic 1 and the wider axle that HK like to mention pic2 had this for about three years

[Outrunner]

1 hour ago, Frank Day said:

Hi,

 

I'm aware of these from Aliexpress. I've had about ten from them as pnp and some as a kit/spares. I was referring to HK as a problem and that I've not had an issue with Aliexpress. I think the two got mixed up slightly. The pnp comes with the dolly release, have always had the wider axle etc that HK keep claiming as new or an option that they never stock. Two pictures below, of one of my Aliexpress Komets with the included magnetic release pic 1 and the wider axle that HK like to mention pic2 had this for about three years

You've had about 10 if them! The mind boggles! What are you doing with them?

[Fly Boy 3]

Aliexpress, this may be off topic. Read article which said, if prices are ridiculously low it “could “be a scam.   3 off 3s 2000mah Lipos for around £4. Cannot get my head around this one lol, but not checked postage yet. Mods please remove if off topic.

[FlyinFlynn]

21 hours ago, Frank Day said:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000463995115.html

Apparently we, on the continent, are not allowed to own such a model, perhaps HK think we are too sensitive?  It automagically changes to this when you change the delivery address from the UK...but the item is shipped from China ..... WTF?