HobbyKing H-King F6F Hellcat Little Nugget Reno Racer Maiden Flight Review

This is my HobbyKing F6F H-King Hellcat Little Nugget Reno Racer Maiden Flight Review. This is in the same spirit as the H-King Galloping Ghost P-51 Mustang Reno Racer and is just as fun to fly!

Reno Aces RC Plane Accessories:

H-King Little Nugget Radio Setup:
- Aileron: 70% D/R, 30% Expo
- Elevator: 70% D/R, 30% Expo
- Rudder: 70% D/R, 30% Expo

Review Notes:

Pros:
- It is a great flying RC Plane
- Very easy two bolt Assembly/Build
- 4S power system
- Magnetic cowl for easy motor access
- Skid plates & servo protectors for smooth belly landings
- Ball links on the ailerons

Cons:
- Tail section quirks
- Had to sand off a small amount of foam for full range of motion

This is how HobbyKing describes this Sports Scale Grumman F6F Hellcat Hot Rod:

"The H-King F6F Hellcat "Little Nugget" is the second in the "Reno Aces" mini-series from H-King, they are WW2 fighters dressed to impress at the air races. The F6F Hellcat "Little Nugget" with the included stock 3108-1070KV brushless motor offers a really hot-rod performance straight out of the box, speeds approaching 100mph are possible when using the recommended 2200mAh 4S LiPo. However, if you are an experienced hand and are looking for 100+ mph speeds then there is the optional drop-in fit 3108-1170KV 'Pro' brushless motor. This will give your great-looking Reno Ace a really ballistic performance on the same prop, ESC, and 4S battery. This is only for those that can handle the extra speed and the extra rotational torque on hand-launching.

The F6F Hellcat was a beast of a plane that was primarily designed as a rugged, high-performance carrier-based fighter. Powered by a 2000HP Pratt & Whitney engine, it was able to outperform the A6M Zero to gain air superiority in the Pacific Theater. This powerful combination made the F6F the perfect contender for a racing machine, and so "Little Nugget" was born. It was operated by Alaska Airlines in the 1970s and had an even more powerful 2800HP supercharged engine fitted. It became a firm favorite and frequent winner at the air races during that period.

The tough EPO airframe is reinforced with plywood and carbon for strength, this, in particular, is around where you hold it for hand-launching, the motor mount, and around the tail area. Plastic skid plates are fitted to all the underside contact areas for protection when landing, and you are supplied with the option of both a clear, or a silver canopy to add the finishing touch to your "Little Nugget". The kit comes "Plug N Fly" which means it has the motor, ESC, and servos pre-installed. The very smooth finish of the EPO foam is left the natural white color with the gold scheme of N4965V "Little Nugget" trimmed with a red coach-line. Assembly is very quick and easy with its one-piece wing and simple screw-on horizontal stabilizer (no gluing required). The one-piece cowl with scale red cowl flaps is held in place with very strong magnets, all very simple.

So, to summarize, the H-King Reno Aces Grumman F6F Hellcat "Little Nugget" is fast with the pre-installed motor setup, with the optional 'Pro' motor that is available it is even faster. It has fantastic flying qualities with good fast, and slow speed handling (the stall is very benign), and with unlimited vertical performance on the stock setup, big loops are a dream. At all speeds, it has that solid, locked-in feel that you usually only get with much bigger models. Then we mustn't forget what racers are designed for, "Banking and Yanking", the "Little Nugget" excels at this, it really grooves and carves up the sky. Add to that a fast, simple build, and a super-strong airframe, then the "Little Nugget" is a winner all round in more ways than one.

It is also a great contender for use at club pylon racing events due to its strength and maneuverability. It is a great-looking, fun airplane that is brilliant to fly, looks fantastic in the air, and will have you smiling from ear to ear the whole time you are flying it.

It is also a great contender for use at club pylon racing events due to its strength and maneuverability. It is a great-looking, fun airplane that is brilliant to fly, looks fantastic in the air, and will have you smiling from ear to ear the whole time you are flying it."

[GBLynden]

Reno Aces RC Plane Accessories:

H-King Little Nugget Radio Setup:
- Aileron: 70% D/R, 30% Expo
- Elevator: 70% D/R, 30% Expo
- Rudder: 70% D/R, 30% Expo

[stuartwarnerc]

Hey GB, thanks for posting this up and great to see you getting some stick time on this sweet bird ;)

[Cadillacstsv]

Sweet GB! Great flight, maneuvers and landing of the cool HK Hellcat racer! Looks and sounds great as well! Very nice camerawork by John also! Thumbs up! Cheers!

[davidsnyder]

What a fun little plane! Looks and sounds great in the air! Definitely gets up and goes!

[JohnHill-jmtm]

This Old Man glad to see you getting some flying in. To cold and windy here in Washington NC. Gives me plenty of time to work on the Storch. Say hi to Darci for me. ✈️🧔💝

[mikenowland]

Looks like a good little flyer GB 👍 They didn’t waste any imagination on the paint scheme 🙂

[normleonard]

Hey job flying and filming as always. That being said I just can't bring myself to get interested in hand launched belly landers with the exception of actual gliders. I now that's just a personal preference and like I said you guys always rock. By the way....finally got a couple nice days to fly after a long hiatus and now their talking about snow Wed. and Thurs. at the least.

[reckemroysrc]

Another great plane from the KING 🤴 NICE JOB GUY'S 👊 👍

[rcaviationcrawling]

Excellent video, that's a low key but very cool looking plane IMO, clear canopy and cool trim scheme; and looks like a gas to fly, thanks for sharing, Bro. 👍👍

[jettechdonatkins]

Great maiden flight with the cool Hellcat! Looks like a fun one for sure! Great job recording this fast "Little Nugget", John! Hope all is wellGB! Been missing you, and now missing Kenny! Thanks John and GB!!

[alangentry]

GB good flying nice little bird oh yeah

[airhammer]

What?? No chugga chugga wide open throttle??🤣 Great landing GB. Shows up nicely with the day's lighting. AirHammer out!!

[jcb]

great flight...like the white ! have a good one...

[JeffinLowerAlabama]

Wow that flies great. Love the Helcat, well done HK, fantastic flying GB, enjoyed the video John, Jeff in LA USA

[chksix]

Nice maiden.👍 Comparing it to the Wildcat says a lot.

[DadsRCHangar]

Great flight GB, I do like this plane, think I would have to add some more visibility marks to her thou 😎

[jonoedwards]

BAAAM!
Great review.
Westpac paint, Pappa Dots an operational Filth will make this Sexy Boom Boom long Time!
Beauty GB, Stoked how this habit just keeps dealing Us Da good

[redwineisfine]

Glad to see you're still flying...

You've been quiet 🤫

🍷🍷🍷

[free-birdrocker]

The Beautiful and Sexy HobbyKing Hellcat Little Nugget ready to fly to the other side for the pleasure. Ohhhh yeah! Big Salute!

[mrhilma]

Nice! Also hyper-expensive in England unfortunately.