Hi Lee,
I have a sort of jig that I put the motor and ESC on to check them before installation. Also use it to balance motors. I try to hide everything in the arms so they are hard to get at later. Testing one the other day and out popped the 'magic smoke'. Seemed to be a lot of it. Anyway tried a new ESC and nothing. The wires from the battery to ESC had shorted and burnt out, that's why so much smoke. The wires were insulated so had me stumped. May have got too hot and melted together... Glad the ESC was OK... Hope yours arrives soon, seems to have been a long time getting it together...
Listen.... is that the postie I hear...