HK Mini-3D GeeBee Laser Cut Kit 600mm (KIT)

 Justin 6 points

I did this exact same thing, I have the servos on the upper side of my recent build because of it.

 Is40:31 1463 points

***mer, I was able to cut it clean and correct it before I got too far along.

 Is40:31 1463 points

Just maidened mine this afternoon and everything went perfect. We have an indoor area the size of a basketball court, this will be a handful, I think a little tail heavy and I might be ok. My setup from today is too fast for our indoor area.

 Electric Power 466 points

thanks for the answer. Want some cheap indoor fun google RC groups 500 plans. You can use depron or foam board from Wal mart. Just click through till you see something you like then find where it say PDF Tile and print it off. Tape the plan together and rearange to fit the board you use

 Electric Power 466 points

I have a copy of a Citabria out of Depron I also use a nutball but put a working rudder along with FlyZone super cub ( 18 inch wing) The guys are getting into the 3D end of it big time with true 3D indoor planes

 Hobbyisity 204 points

haha has to hang and fly with the plane!

 Johnsere 11 points

lol has to go with the wind!

 tommy2toes 2086 points

velcro works very good

 Kellyann 16223 points

N Name she is back go for it NOW

 Colt1873 166 points

Buy 1 kit, use it as templates and make a backup. Break a wing or body then for next to nothing you can put it back together.

 dottydot 1 points

There is really not much you can do about your postage since your cheapest postal option cost three times the cost of your aeroplane. I guess the only way is to make a few duplicates of your balsa template and sell it to your nearby fellow hobbyists to recover the postal charges.

 nemoskull 49 points

is not the balsa they are charging for, its the 100 watt laser and design time. its not as easy as you think, to make a kit like this. i'm doing the same thing.

 boingk 257 points

Just noticed it asterisked out my typing of s-c-r-a-p in point number 3. Not sure why as it wasn't a comment toward the actual product.

 kyrre 301 points

Is there a motormount included? I cant see it in any of the pictures or in the manual.

 boingk 257 points

Hi kyrre, there is no motor mount included with the kit itself, but you do get one that is suitable with the recommended C20 motor. It is made of fibreglass and has to be cut to size. I recommend cutting at the inner edge of the large outer holes as this has worked for me.

 Colt1873 166 points

Thanks for taking the time to post. I was wondering what the heck the long thin balsa strips were for.

 chriswebuk 27 points

Sorry I assume it is 100% balsa, but what thickness wood is used?

 boingk 257 points

Common thicknesses for models this size range include 1/32, 1/16, 1/8 & 3/16". It all depends on the part you are making and the type of model.

 p51p51 44 points

I just received this kit 4/9. This kit is made of several thickness of balsa only. Fuse is 5mm, rudder and aile. are 3mm, ribs are 2mm, leading edge and rib covering are 1.5. These are approx., but it gives you an idea of the range of thickness. It is a simple kit to build. You really don't need instructions it's so easy to build due to it's low parts count and tabbed & notched construction. I dry fit all the parts in less than 5 min! Hope this helps

 dieterza 45 points

Thanks, I just purchased one a day or so ago and was wondering about the thickness. Plan on building a spare one first and keeping the original as is just in case of a crash.

 Elvis RC 39 points

if you work at the warehouse :)

 tommy2toes 2086 points

yes but there is a charge

 Turbobeaver 1336 points

Yes,the shipping costs don't make much sense here at all.Five or 6 lite weight sheets of flat balsa wood cost just as much to ship as the entirely built up and covered version?Just on volume alone,there should be a significant difference in these costs.Anthony should have a closer look at making these shipping costs cheaper as he no doubt has a winner here if he decides to expand his "BIY" laser cut kit line.There is obviously still a strong market and demand for affordable old fashioned airplane kits after viewing some of the responses here.I for one,would like to see more kits offered for the "build it yourself" type modelers that are out there in the market place.Not all of us are into "ARF's" and actually enjoy the building of a model.It allows us to have better control of how a model comes together and what goes into it.You would also sell a whole lot more accessories than you do now as everyone would be looking to buy them to go along with their kit purchases.Just something to think about.

 BELADOG 1083 points

You are so correct TB. If everybody built just one of their planes the hobby would be soo much stronger. These new laser cut tabbed kits are really easy and fast to build as well. Soo much fun!

 *MoNSteR* 841 points

Bella, you couldnt be more wrong. The strength of the hobby today is because of the availability of ARF's, and as they continue to make more ARF's and PNP's and the like, it will get even stronger. Replace all the ARF's on the market today with kits like this and you will see the hobby destroyed overnight. You, myself, and some others like to build, however, we are only maybe 5% of the entire customer base. Most people do not want kits like this. 9 out of 10 buyers will buy an ARF over a kit like this any day. If I have to settle for ARF's to drive the availability of a plethora of different aircraft, so be it. 95% of people want to fly, not build, and maybe 5% of that 95% have the patience to actually build a kit to completion.

 BELADOG 1083 points

Haha. I never said "Replace all the ARF's on the market today with kits". What I said was "if everybody built just one". I was simply saying that the appreciation and satisfaction one gains from building a kit will make a hobbyist for life!

 Turbobeaver 1336 points

There is no doubt that ARF's are popular and that probably has more to do with todays society and its need for instant gratification with no investment of time or effort on their part.Maybe that is the reality of todays world but it is sad to see building skills going down the toilet as a direct result of the surge of ARF's into the market place.I have been involved with aero modeling now for many many years and I have seen people and trends in the hobby come and go many times.In my own club,as an example,I have seen many of the newer ARF type members show up with a ready to go trainer type plane and I got to admit,economically sometimes,it is just plain cheaper to buy a plane ready built and covered than buying the kit version and then having to buy all the aditional accessories as well.What has to be kept in mind though is the quality differences that exist sometimes between components.ARF's are not particularily well known for having high quality components sometimes and given the choice,many modelers will change out or upgrade these components to something of known higher quality.The biggest problem with ARF's and this is particularily true of newer modelers especially,is that they don't have any idea as to how their model is constructed nor do they have any idea as to how to go about repairing it when it gets damaged.I've always said,"if you can build it,you can repair it" ,and I am a big advocate of promoting that mind set to all new comers to the hobby.People have to at least know the most basic aspects of modeling if they are to succeed in it and knowing "how to build" is just one of them.Unfortunately,many skills that used to exist as common place just years ago seem to be going the way of the Doh Doh bird.I've long admired the building skills and accomplishments of those modelers that acquire the "master builder" acknowledgement from their peers such as those exhibited at events like Top Gun etc,and it has always been the driving force to make me want to learn more and become better than I am.As my Grandpa used to say,"never turn down the opportunity to learn new things".From every kit I've ever built or plane I've ever scratch built,I can honestly say,the learning is in the doing.Hands on experience is eveything,and that unfortunately is what is being denied to many new modelers coming into the hobby through the ARF route.People who are naturally talented with their hands and accell at building or who have previous modeling experience,this obviously is of no concern to them.There is definitely room in the hobby for both but I would definitely hate to see the hobby just become another extension of the"Toys'R'Us" mind set with nothing but ready to fly models available.It has been my experience that people who kit or scratch build and fly their own models,are typically the most knowledgeable modelers at any given flying field.It takes time and patience to build a good flying model and maybe that's the real issue here at hand,people seem to be sadly lacking both these days.Times are sure a changing.

 BELADOG 1083 points

That was absolutely beautiful!You summed up my feelings perfectly and it simply could not be expressed better. This should have its own forum! Thank you!!!

 jbcoos 39 points

As anthony says the shipping there is crazy. also he also says for good customer support it cost alot. guess thats why he has lazy ones because there cheep. took over 2 weeks just for someone to repond to my email on def receiver. and now they took it off my ordering page history. a joke. i ordered 4 fly bars and they were back order so i did credit my account. so i could buy something diff. they credit me less than half of what i payed with paypal. email them and they gave me the rest. they have great stuff cheep but there service sucks. i know on my end there chat button dont come up to chat. like they block out the usa on chat now.

 Malfamartin 940 points

Please read the specs
Requires:
Your own 4 Channel RX/TX
1500kv Micro Outrunner
10A ESC
3 x 5g Micro Servo
2s 800mAh Lipoly
Lightweight Covering Film of your choice
Hardware

 Mr&MrsNifty 115 points

If you mean the covering, negative, no covering in package.

 Colt1873 166 points

It doesn't even come with control horns! Order those extra if you want them.

 Kmoozee 7 points

The shipping cost in the checkout are $29.56. I think is too expensive

 shaneroo 43 points

The whole point of adding lazer cut only kits should logically be that they ship cheaper. This kit ships at the exacte same weight class as the pre-assembled model.

 Mr&MrsNifty 115 points

Yes but now ALL mail services are standardizing to volumetric weight and thats something HobbyKing doesn't have control over.

 Son of Paleface 768 points

Shipping costs make this prohibitve to purchase
Mr Hand please send these to the OZZY warehouse
Thank you

 shaneroo 43 points

I am simply questioning if the kits could be set up to take advantage of the volume calculations in such a way as to reduce the freight cost. A flat pack by itself should be cheap, when having to combine these in a box is when the volume calculation should kick in. They could sell significantly more kits this way!!! Either that or make it a 3-pack deal with a slightly higher or similar ship weight.

 boingk 257 points

Yeah, they should be much cheaper to ship... but if you're smart you'll just buy one and option it up with esc, rx, servos, motor, film etc to save on shipping.

But you know what? Theres nothing stopping you from tracing the laser-cut boards and making your own copies after you buy the original *D

 Jonis 203 points

Agree!!!

 DrEvil 129 points

yes !! Nice option for old-scool building :-)

 Tomislav 13 points

Finally balsa kit. Very, very happy. I want to see some Cubs and gliders also in kit forms !

 roboforcerX2000 167 points

1 for big kits:)

 kotlec 61 points

I'd like to see kits with all hardware included, like hinges, clevis, wheels,etc. I'd buy it for my son to start modeling disease and keep him bussy :-)

 Ujjwaana 162 points

Wow****. .Wow****.. Woww****.. I have been waiting for These Short Kits!!! HK Rocks!!!

 Lajos 22 points

Good job HK! Please more balsa kits, not only foamies!

 avlisogeid 116 points

yes, more traditional balsa kits please!

 BELADOG 1083 points

more more more Yea!

 Rangarid 275 points

Yeah please more balsakits. But why 550g??

 MegaTesla 576 points

Dimensional weight...

 clive45 67 points

This is just wahat you want to use all those bits laying around the workshop. Well done HK, now please ship some to the OZ wharehouse. Other build up kits are great for winter building.