Just joined and a question

My review links to the "improved" manual which I created for it after having some of the same problems that you did!
I will say this. The second time I built it and the many times after, it took me about 30 minutes or less!

They need to update many parts of the manual, fix the colors of the wiring, upgrade the flight controller, etc. - as it stands, it's not a good quad for beginners (or many people even who are not!). See my review.

 

Here is the basic review:
https://www.droneflyers.com/2013/04/dualsky-hornet-quadcopter-first-look-and-review/

Here is my notated manual link:
https://www.droneflyers.com/talk/threads/dualsky-hornet-quadcopter-first-look-and-review.79/#post-174

I can't say I had the same problem with screws - they all went in without too much effort and, in fact, came out and went back in again a number of time as I fixed my mistakes and fixed the craft after crashes.

Fair warning - unless you are a fairly accomplished R/C heli and other pilot, you are going to want to upgrade to the newer flight controller they (now) have. The existing FC has almost no stabilization and the slightest mistake will send you crashing to the ground. It's almost impossible to crash a hornet and not need parts (probably true with many larger and heavier quads, but most do have self-leveling etc. to avoid it).

Tell me if my manual helps you!