Avios/Hobby King 1600mm C-130 Hercules

[xviper]

I guess all 12 of them are spoken for. LOL

[BRGT350]

No emails for me either. I think the price is pretty decent and it will do well. Not sure if I will end up with one in the future or not. Early reports saying the gear doors don't play well in the grass, which is to be expected. I would rather have a B-24 or B-29 if I am going to spending north of the $300 amount. Although there is no doubt an AC-130 would look awfully good.

[crxmanpat]

No email for me yet.

[F106DeltaDart]

More than me which got the opportunity to pre order today? -about 300 usd so quite fair price

Yep, got a chance and put in an order for the Gray. Will be converting to an AC-130 at some point

[dkalwishky]

None of the three e-mail addresses I used won. :(

[ATR42]

More than me which got the opportunity to pre order today? -about 300 usd so quite fair price

[dkalwishky]

This coming Sunday RC Afterhours will have a podcast with HK and the C-130 at 9am EST.

[icepirate3]

Well I got a quick response on RCG when I laid out this issues with HK. It was your typical response probably from a 15 dollar an hour guy in NY. Hobbyking has many issues, but we don’t want to see them fail. We want them to COMPETE. That’s what is better for the industry. Better products, better service and customer first always. Infrastructure is already there, but without proper management it’s an empty bag. Let’s see what the next 18 months bring. Foresee some big changes.

Good point! If they put out a nice flying and reliable plane that people are already standing in line to buy (not many Herc options) it will only be better for the hobby and in turn, us. MRC didn't become the company we all respect by just trying to keep up with their competitors. If HK and Avios put out another dud with little to no support behind it then let them continue to fail. IMO this will be a HUGE aircraft for HK on the upside or downside. There are Spitfires elsewhere so whatever they do with that project is a moot point now I think. Or you can spend $1500+ on the Maxford before batteries.

As a previous herc mechanic (LC-130F/R Operation Deep Freeze) I truly hope they do the right thing with this. I want this plane but also want the support, advice, and options that should already be in place in their company behind ALL of their main products.

[lmramos44]

Well I got a quick response on RCG when I laid out this issues with HK. It was your typical response probably from a 15 dollar an hour guy in NY. Hobbyking has many issues, but we don’t want to see them fail. We want them to COMPETE. That’s what is better for the industry. Better products, better service and customer first always. Infrastructure is already there, but without proper management it’s an empty bag. Let’s see what the next 18 months bring. Foresee some big changes.

[xviper]

I am sure there are reps from Hobbyking that read these threads, how about one stepping forward and commenting on the issues. That would be a start. I know If I had an issue with MRC they would be on it immediately. HK show your customers that you are listening.....:Not-Talking:

Let's put it this way. They were posting on the RCG thread so of course, they read them. But after they embarrassed themselves so badly, they've all dummied up. They aren't going to "start" anything now because what they started already has backfired terribly. Unlike MRC reps, HobbyKing reps have a habit of putting feet firmly in mouth. Papa HobbyKing has likely revoked all their speaking engagements.

[lmramos44]

I am sure there are reps from Hobbyking that read these threads, how about one stepping forward and commenting on the issues. That would be a start. I know If I had an issue with MRC they would be on it immediately. HK show your customers that you are listening.....:Not-Talking:

[BRGT350]

As much as I want the C-130, the terrible product roll-out and questionable quality has me rethinking it. I spent a good deal of money on the HK B-17's, and both have needed more tinkering to get them right than I am used to. Waiting 6 months for spare parts and some parts always being on backorder is rather annoying. It isn't that I need the parts due to a crash, but rather the parts have been identified as potential failures or weak link that would ground the plane. I expect the C-130 would have similar issues. If I only have so much to spend on a large RC plane, I would rather put it towards the B-24. Higher quality, better service, and spare part availability. Plus, how MotionRC handles themselves online and rolls out products shows how much more of a professional organization it is compare to HobbyKing. The rollout of the C-130 is a textbook example how not to launch a product. If the C-130 was from Freewing/Flightline or Horizon, I wouldn't be as hesitant. As room for big planes, and the funding for them, is limited, I am being very selective on what I buy next.

The look of the C-130 is very impressive, but if only want the look, I can build a scale model and hang it from the ceiling for a lot less money.

[Seahawk One]

Did they ever list the AUW? I'm sure the answer is no... or not yet.

[xviper]

Avios is just the larger Durafly. Durafly is 1100mm or less - Avios is 1200mm or more. The Bush Mule would have probably stayed as Durafly had Avios not come about between the 2 versions. Like the Durafly Spit is 1100mm, but now the Avios Spit is 1450mm. Somewhere they decided to have 2 brands denote between 2 sizes, similar to Freewing creating FlightLine to differentiate between EDF and Prop.

That may have been their original intention but it didn't stay that way. The SkyMule was a Durafly and it's the same size as the Avios BushMule. Also, the Durafly Excalibur is 1600mm.

[thisguy65]

Would love to get one and convert it tin to a AC-130 Gunship.

[James]

One can "hope" but I doubt very much this will be the case unless you lower your expectations. I've owned a lot of Durafly models and Avios models. One can almost say that Avios is the natural derivation of Durafly. For example, the Durafly SkyMule morphed into the Avios BushMule. From my perspective, the BushMule is not better or worse than the SkyMule and the quality was never even close to Freewing. However, the bang for the buck is excellent. For the money, almost all Durafly and Avios products are terrific.
You may get superlative foam and a beautiful finish, but something else will be lacking. You get great internals like motor/ESC but then something else is lacking. In most instances, there are a LOT of "something elses". Then you say to yourself, "Ahhhh, CRAP!" but you think back to what you actually paid for the thing and you say, "Hmmmm, yeah, well, OK."

Avios is just the larger Durafly. Durafly is 1100mm or less - Avios is 1200mm or more. The Bush Mule would have probably stayed as Durafly had Avios not come about between the 2 versions. Like the Durafly Spit is 1100mm, but now the Avios Spit is 1450mm. Somewhere they decided to have 2 brands denote between 2 sizes, similar to Freewing creating FlightLine to differentiate between EDF and Prop.

[JamesonC]

PS. Someone hinted at $320.00 but that could just be a rumor or wishful thinking. If it is, then at least it's "reasonable".

That was from HK on their Facebook post.

[rifleman_btx]

Yeah freewing quality from HK brands is definitely asking alot

[xviper]

I hope for a FW quality plane.

One can "hope" but I doubt very much this will be the case unless you lower your expectations. I've owned a lot of Durafly models and Avios models. One can almost say that Avios is the natural derivation of Durafly. For example, the Durafly SkyMule morphed into the Avios BushMule. From my perspective, the BushMule is not better or worse than the SkyMule and the quality was never even close to Freewing. However, the bang for the buck is excellent. For the money, almost all Durafly and Avios products are terrific.
You may get superlative foam and a beautiful finish, but something else will be lacking. You get great internals like motor/ESC but then something else is lacking. In most instances, there are a LOT of "something elses". Then you say to yourself, "Ahhhh, CRAP!" but you think back to what you actually paid for the thing and you say, "Hmmmm, yeah, well, OK."

[lmramos44]

My concern is the quality. Avios planes have component issues. Let’s see where this one falls. I hope for a FW quality plane. I sure would feel a lot better if Motion was offering this plane. HK has a clunky website and awful customer service. Hard to spend 400$+ there. Unless it’s on batteries.