Hobbyking Warranty Claim

...it works but

I recently lodged my first warranty claim against Hobbyking and, seeing as the correct way of doing it is not obvious (no, it's not through the "Contact Us" link, even if you check the "Warranty" box), I thought I'd share this "how-to" guide from Hobbyking with anyone who needs this info.

Access to RMA 2 Other Returns.

1. Once logged in, click the username
2. Then click Check;
3. Once the Check is clicked, the page will be directed to the customer's order list, then click Apply/View;
**Apply/View option only appears for posted orders or orders that have been shipped.
4. Once Apply/View has been clicked, the page will be directed to RMA List for Order Page for No Fuss Returns and Other Returns options.

Other Returns: Wrong Items Received and Faulty/Broken Items

1. Select the reason or type of return;
2. Then fill in the required field, click the box if the statement is related and appropriate with the claim;
3. Continue to select the required information: 2 confirmations must be checked, the item related to the warranty claim, quantity and reason for return must be selected or specified;
4. Select the Action Requested. Repacking Fee may only be applied once the parcel is not in a good condition when received;
5. Also indicate the Action In Case Invalid or in case the claim is valid;

While the process does work, don't expect a quick turnaround. I submitted a claim over a month ago and Hobbyking's still waiting for a replacement part to be sent to them...

I Love Mist

morning mist

earth’s delicate breath

captured for a moment

between night and day

suspended silent and motionless

until vanished by the golden rays of dawn

Tip Tossing

...and high aspirations

Yesterday I had a rush of blood to the head and decided to try tip tossing the Radjet in the hope of finding a better, and more consistent, way of launching the little beast. The result was miserable yet epic failures captured on camera for your light entertainment.

Subsequently I've seen bungee mechanisms for launching aircraft off small ramps. However I'm not sure that the effort of setting this mechanism up and pegging the bungee cord etc is worth it. I think it may just be best just fine-tuning the low-powered hand launches instead.

And, when I eventually succeeded in getting it into the air, the flight ended in a crash when a high-speed banking turn over my head ended up, well, in the bank behind me...

In the Mist

...along with the kangaroos

This morning dawned perfectly cloudless, but clear skies had cooled things down sufficiently overnight that the paddocks were blanketed in an expansive sheet of mist, even extending to the field which hitherto has always remained clear.

This was an opportunity to get the Phoenix into the mists - I'd wanted to try this before to see if the passage of the plane would leave indicators of wing-tip vortices, which would be really cool.

The reason the Radjet doesn't get a mention is that it's still on the desk awaiting repairs following yesterday's crash from a low banking sweep being a little lower than I anticipated. I spent some time compiling a video of launch crashes so didn't get around to fixing the Radjet , but that will be sorted tonight.

Anyway, my aspirations for engaging in tip flow visualisation were stymied by the appearance of kangaroos inside the field. I don't like to scare them as they may get tangled in the fence trying to get into the paddock, so I waited for them to make their way out.

Unfortunately by this time the light mist across the field had dissipated with the approaching dawn so, in between looping and spinning at full power, I turned my attention to sending the Phoenix on sorties skimming low above the tips of the reedy paddock grass, shrouded in the mist...

Spectacular Cloudshow

...a stunning morning display

With rain forecast later in the day, the sky was studded with an amazing selection of cumulus and stratus.

The northeast was already tinged in orange when I arrived as the remainder still slumbered in hues of blue and grey...

The views were so spectacular and rapidly changing that I interrupted the Phoenix's morning exercise to capture the moment...

A flock of black and white Ibis wheeled across the field as they arrived for their morning feed...

The first rays of the morning ignite the head of a cumulus in vivid explosion of light...

Gliding in Autumn

...and the beautiful cool sunrises

Summer has gone, almost, the mornings are darker and the sunrises are returning to their spectacular best of the colder seasons.

I am already having to don my jacket against the chill, and have resorted to the mits as well although just precautionary at this stage; in a few months it will be a matter of maintaining the feeling in my fingers for a few minutes more flying!

I have been flying the Phoenix 1600 regularly and find it a remarkably versatile plane to fly. It is more of a sport glider than anything, yet the agility it exhibits is quite remarkable for a relatively large plane (1.6m span). I must admit that I fly it at 100% travel, something I'd never even contemplated with the Walrus.

Yet the  Phoenix seems to relish the opportunity to exercise it's capabilities at every opportunity, although it can be flown super-slow, especially with flaps down and will virtually land itself in this mode. The only difficulty, in common with most gliders, is trying to guess when it will actually touch down, with the combination of increasing ground effect and reducing headwind as it approaches the deck!

The Turnigy 2217 1050kv motor is doing well, although it does have a little buzz when flipped straight up to full power. Nevertheless it is performing well with the 11x6 carbon prop, which also looks nice as well...

Phoenix 1600 with Carbon Prop

...and it really flies well

This morning I flew the Phoenix for the first time fitted with a 11x6 carbon prop, and it flew really well. This was also in conjunction with the removal of the battery tray ballast. The result was very impressive climb performance from the big glider.

This flight was conducted against the backdrop of a gorgeous morning's golden rays illuminating scattered fluffy cumulous in a still sky, and the Phoenix's effortless performance had it climbing, swooping and hanging inverted in the sky off the top of big loops...

Phoenix 1600 in Hot Conditions

...feeling the heat

This afternoon was my first flight with the Phoenix 1600 in hot weather (32C). I expected flying as usual but the loss of lift was huge, with me having to keep feeding in up-elevator. Just like flying a Radjet and a little nerve wracking.

I was wondering whether something had gone wrong with the Phoenix, but inspection after landing showed everything was OK - it was just the heat causing it to fly like a brick...

Phoenix 1600 Ballast Removal

...hoping it should improve climbing performance

Whilst stripping down the interior of the Phoenix 1600 in order to swap the motor, I noticed that the Phoenix 1600 now has ballast added into the front of the battery tray.




The Phoenix 2000 didn't have this feature, unfortunately, as this would have avoided the initial crashes I experienced due to the glider going into steep climb which invariably ended with me panicking and cutting power, followed by the glider burrowing it's spinner into the turf.

Now, however, I know better and I fly these with a larger 2200mAh battery, whose extra mass takes care of the light nose. 

While the  Phoenix flies well as it is, I think I could do without the additional mass, the ballast plug weighing in at 41g. I've removed it and will give it a test fly in the next couple of days. If necessary I can adjust the battery position to provide additional compensation, but I think it should work well...

New Motor for the Phoenix

...installed and tested!

The Turnigy 2217 motor has been installed and test flown and all's well, having failed to make a note of it in my excitement to get the Phoenix 1600 up and running.



The Turnigy 2217 motor is the same size (28mm) and has the same shaft diameter (3.175mm) so installation is easy, except for two mounting holes in the Phoenix fuselage requiring slotting to match the motor mounting plate.

The motor mount is just a cross-piece without any backing plates, unlike the plywood mounts provided on the Phoenix's stock setup. Also, the mounting screws were tiny - undersized even for mounting only through the  Phoenix's moulded fuselage, so I used some slightly longer screws to ensure sufficient engagement - I really don't want the motor coming loose during a flight...

Apart from that the motor works well - it pulls strongly and is quiet even at full throttle which is nice for a glider...

Above Expectations

...a great morning's flying

Yesterday's weather was a remnant of summer; a hot day extending into a hot evening. Things, however, were to change, with the northerly bringing the annoying desert flies to be replaced by a cooling breeze off the southern ocean. Such events are portended by wild and unstable weather, as confirmed by forecasts of winds followed by rain. As such the plan was simple - get into the air as early as possible, wind permitting.

The morning turned out quite promising; a steady northerly was still blowing although now cooler. Unsure about flying the Phoenix 1600 in these unsettled conditions while still in its underpowered state, I opted for unpacking the Radjet. Having blasted the little jet around the field until the battery faded I glided in into the breeze for landing. It's flying a neutrally and stably as ever, exemplified by it's steady approach evening in the breezy conditions.

Determined not to risk damaging the Phoenix, I was nevertheless deeply tempted to try it out in these conditions; the breeze was still there, but steady and not too fast... Throwing caution to the wind I hauled out the big glider and lobbed it up on full power and left the throttle there for the duration, just to be on the safe side.

The flight was most entertaining, the Phoenix showing off it's exemplary flight characteristics and agility. It's also surprisingly fast - I am so anticipating the new motor, expected tomorrow or the next day at the latest!

Radical Radjet Repair

...with a classy nosejob

Yesterday the Radjet took a bit of a tumble when I mistook it's orientation whilst diving down for a low flyover. The damage wasn't anything I hadn't repaired before, however a package awaiting my arrival at home afforded the opportunity of turning routine maintenance (crash repairs) into a radical transformation.

The mystic makeover took the form of a custom nose-job, compliments of a replacement nosecone for that lost during it's second coming-together with Mother Earth's formidable presence. This little piece of magic is the replacement nose cone for a Stinger 64 and, despite this being a foam plane, the nosecone is actually moulded plastic. And it fits onto the Radjet with little effort, especially if you take the route of least resistance and sticky-tape in on like I did.

The result is actually pretty good; it doesn't look quite as pretty as the original, in fact the plastic proboscis does make it look a little creepy, however it's a big improvement on the rather bluffly trimmed nose-job I had effected with a Stanley knife...