Alien Copter Bee frame kit

[mtnmanfpv]

Just wondering if anyone in this forum has had any experience with the AC Bee 450? Received the carbon fiber kit Friday, and it went together very well. The PDB shipped was similar to ones I've seen on u-toob build blogs, but I only got the ring, and none of the other boards and pins and leds that I've seen. I'm still awaiting delivery of motors, ESC's, FCB w/gps, and some other goodies. The minor problem I'm dealing with at the moment is the placement of the PDB. Rationally, it should be centrally located, however, no mounting provisions in the frame, and nothing I've been able to find on-line offering a clue. Perhaps I'm the first on this forum to build this kit, I've searched for some reference to it, without any luck. I'll get a jpg of the assembled frame and figure out how to upload it here for your guys amazement, or amusement. If you like, I'll try to post regular updates on the project.

Hold on here!! I just spotted a button to " upload a file "!! How about that s**t? Ask and ye shall receive, I guess. You guys just hang on for 'alf a mo', and I'll grab my old camera and try to "create" a file. Here ya go.

 

[Jackson]

Can't exactly see what you got.

These look like mounting holes.

 

[RENOV8R]

Good eye Jackson. Looks like the holes in the PDB line up with these, just mount it with some short nylon standoffs. Depending on what FCB you have it could possibly sit on top of the PDB

 

[mtnmanfpv]

Jackson, thanks for the reply. That hole pattern looks like it'd be a perfect match for the PDB I received. I'll have to create my own. Please forgive the quality of some of these photos, my cam don't DO closeups. This is the belly of the kit I received. The 3 screw heads right across the middle are right in the center, theoretical CG. Please notice in these photos that the 4 plates that make up the body of this craft do not resemble any I've seen except for the incomplete manual at the mfg.s site. The whole shape of the body has been modified. The engineers must have forgotten about that 4 hole pattern. As well as other things, but more on that later.


.

A shot where I'd LIKE to mount the PDB.


The PDB has a series of 10 blue LEDs around the perim. on one side.



Worth placing where they can be seen when powered.


Trying to show the orientation of the 4 CF plates that make up the body in a side view. The 2 bottom plates sandwich the motor arms, enough room between the two to get a nut on a mounting screw coming up through the PDB below. I'll have to fabricate 4 spacers to hold the PDB slightly away from the bottom board.


Now, about that "Folding" feature. The Engineers who re-designed the plates screwed up again, They re-located the vibration dampening mounts for the electronics, so that at either end of the craft, the legs can only fold towards the center. The vibration dampening bolts between the base and the electronics mounting board interfere with the swing of the motor arms.
This is as much "folding" as you can get.


Another note. The kit provided 4 knurled thumb screws for the folding function. The 4 special nuts provided for the screws had a knurled/spline shoulder designed to pull into the carbon fiber board and wedge into place. Carbon fiber doesn't lend itself well to that kind of application. Though really strong, it's also a brittle substance, and that knurled press will weaken soon. "IF" I decide to keep at least 2 of the arms foldable, I'll be sure to superglue those nuts into the CF board. Chances are really good that I'll just forgo the folding option and hard mount all 4 motor arms with secured screws and nuts. For what it's worth, a regular screw will weigh considerably less than these thumb screws, and every little bit helps. (Watch those grams, and the ounces will take care of themselves!)

More deliveries expected this week. I'm chomping at the bit. Next update on the build will follow asap.

 

[Jackson]

Who didya get it from?

 

[mtnmanfpv]

Now you've touched on a sore point. The kit was from Hobbyking, but I had to go through Amazon (and pay a pricey markup) to get it. I've been going around and around with Hobbyking. They won't accept my credit card payment because they say my card isn't 3-D Enabled, whatever that means. I've never even heard of 3D enabled cards. It's a newly updated credit card with the chip embedded, and to my knowledge, that's as good as they get here in the good ol' US of A. So for Hobbyking to refuse my business is really insulting. I got the definite impression that Hobbyking is just a bitch for Paypal, and I won't deal with Paypal again. Did once, they got hacked, my bank account compromised, I had to clean up after. Not again. Ok, my rant is over. (you had to ask)

 

[Jackson]

card isn't 3-D Enabled

https://www.mastercard.com/gateway/implementation_guides/3D-Secure.html

and I won't deal with Paypal again.

Couldn't live without PayPal (never had a problem, knock on wood), that's the only way I'd buy from China companies (which for me is a must). My regular Chase CC has been compromised 3 times in the past.

FWIW looks like folks are installing the PDB on the bottom.

When you mentioned the quad this was the first place I saw.

http://rctimer.com/product-1141.html

An older vid.

 

[mtnmanfpv]

Yeah, thanks for the link to that video. I've watched it at least twice, some relevant info there, but my version is different enough to cause issues. That kit had carbon landing legs mounted to the motor arms. I got 4 more of the aluminum standoffs (identical to the ones that separate the electronics platform from the battery tray) to use as legs. And all that business with the pcb's that were inside the PDB has been eliminated.

HOWEVER

The PDB got mounted today. Well, not permanently, but a test fit up. I think it's going to be fine. I just had to locate and drill that 4 bolt hole pattern in the bottom of the bird. Done deal!