rrTV-PHOTO   New HD TV
HOME   rrTV-PHOTO   GALLERIES   MY GALLERY   HELP-FAQ
myHOME PM pmRR MEMBERS 681 ONLINE 74 EVENTS SEARCH REGISTER  START HERE
 
3 pages [ <<    <     1     ( 2 )     3     NEXT    >> ]2107 viewsPOST REPLY
HeliHobby . HeliProz . Ron’s HeliProz South

.
.
e-Century Hummingbird - Swift > New Swift early first flights
 
 
djtilko
Senior Heliman
Location: United Kingdom Leeds

Need some decent weather and time with this heli, when I can get some will then decide what to do its a bummer at the moment with this English weather

Yep thought of that Helijohn havent decided the best way yet.

djt
03-24-2006 Over year old.
 
 
helijohn
Senior Heliman
Location: UK - Birmingham

I have attached my boom supports at a really tough spot on the undercarriage so while the skids may be doing a dance, the top of each strut is less affected though it is still not perfect by any means. Don't know if you can make it out in the pic.

I took another look at the standard undercarriage and in my humble opinion it is a disgrace. Someone suggested cross bracing as is often done with the Eolo. I think if I ever used the standard undercarriage I would definitely put some strengthening in.
Since taking that pic there have been a number of changes, the aerial runs on the other side. I have put 1/2" plastic spacers between the frame and undercarriage to get some more height, the ESC is slightly repositioned. I'll edit this post on Monday after uploading some pics.
Talking of the ESC, I am quite inpressed with it even if it it a fairly low tech job - suits me, never give a monkey a gun!
Bursting to try the bird now I have skimmed the feathering spindle's ball.
03-24-2006 Over year old.
 
 
djtilko
Senior Heliman
Location: United Kingdom Leeds

Managed to get out for three good flights this afternoon in a very strong wind!! which the Swift handled really well!

Mainly needed to find out if the glitches I was having were any better after moving things around and they are indeed much better today. Ive got the receiver between the frames at the rear above the boom gyro underneath the boom but the aerial wire coming out of the side frames through a hole in the rear landing gear strut then on through the front landing gear strut finally back to the rear strut through a trex aerial straw exiting at the front of the heli. This is a big improvement compared to having attatched to the rear fin trailing around, didnt like all the carbon fibre rods in the same parallel plane.


Fitted with a low voltage lipo device now working great, but the only real thing now is the actual receiver pack is dropping into the red too much with the drain from the 9254 servo! Need to double up this pack to cope with the voltage drop.

Shakes were not too bad and I am starting to get used to it like this, in fact on spool up there was hardly any shakes mainly its just on spool down but even then I dont think its too severe so maybe I will just live with it until a proper fix becomes available.

Also tested it using a cheapo lipo pack from RCM Direct and it did surprisingly well cost only 65 quid, and I got 11 mins out of it doing steady circuits no fast climb outs but decent enough for general sports flying i.e no mad 3d moves! So now have 2 Flightpower 3700 4s packs and this HI-Model pack 3600 I think its a 4s2p may get another cheapo at least its more flying time, was not much less power than the Flightpower Evo to be honest just got a little warmer after the flight and perhaps not quite the same punch but not bad really. The flightpower ones gave 13 mins on one pack and I got 12 on the other and they are barely warm after use, the same cannot be said of the sport duration motor though it gets pretty hot, and needs the 5 mins cooling between flights.

Noticed it making a different noise today and when I got home and checked it over one of the motor holding screws had worked loose, so Ive re-done it with locktite. Lucky it didnt drop out though.

Enjoying each flight more and more and starting to get more adventurous with it now no 3 d its beyond me, but a little nose in and fast circuits.

Handles the wind very well indeed today it was 12 - 14 mph and no problems at all.

Great machine

djt
03-25-2006 Over year old.
 
 
SRH990
Key Veteran
Location: Birmingham, UK

Wow, 14 minutes, I'm down to 8 with the Axi . Century UK stock a slip on heatsink for the stock motor which should help a bit with temperatures but the duration & 3D motors run pretty hot.

The RCM Direct packs are only rated 10C and I think the Axi might push them too hard. When I checked my duration motor with my Watts Up meter used onboard the max current drawn was 38A, I've not checked the Axi yet but I would think it's certainly over the 44A continuous.

Steve -Trex 600, Swift, Raptor 550E, 450SE, Mini Titan, Hurricane 550, Logo 5003D
03-25-2006 Over year old.
 
 
djtilko
Senior Heliman
Location: United Kingdom Leeds

SRH990

12-13 mins on the flightpower 3700 and 11mins with the HiModel 4s2p 3600 pack not 14 mins!!

This I stress is just normal knocking around in circuits etc a couple of stiff power ups to see the response, but remember not hard use! I am not up to that standard yet!

They seem good value though for 65 quid.

djt
03-25-2006 Over year old.
 
 
litespeed600
Senior Heliman
Location: St. Charles, Missouri

I too have the Axi but still haven't got a whole pack used. I'm still triming but if I can get 10 mins I would be jumping for joy!!!

Tom

I'm married so you know I am no stranger to pain!
03-25-2006 Over year old.
 
 
helijohn
Senior Heliman
Location: UK - Birmingham

Quote 
got the receiver between the frames at the rear above the boom gyro underneath the boom


I have the reverse with the Rx slung under the boom mount and the 401 above.

03-26-2006 Over year old.
 
 
djtilko
Senior Heliman
Location: United Kingdom Leeds

Helijohn

Yes thats right mine is opposite to yours! its working very well now along with my Multiplex synth receiver. Just one 10 min flight today in the gale force wind! but no glitches whatsoever, I took it out a long way and no problems.

Its getting there now! bring on some decent weather!
djt
03-26-2006 Over year old.
 
 
helijohn
Senior Heliman
Location: UK - Birmingham

Er, gales for the day and God knows what for Tuesday.
03-26-2006 Over year old.
 
 
djtilko
Senior Heliman
Location: United Kingdom Leeds

Helijohn

Weather looks a lot better today I cant get out of work how about you?

Have you had any joy from Century U.K? They havent even replied to my email so far so Ive just sent them another, not too pleased about that at the moment.

djt
03-29-2006 Over year old.
 
 
SRH990
Key Veteran
Location: Birmingham, UK

I've had no reply from Century yet, maybe connected with the Charmouth Heli event this weekend? I know Century UK will have a strong prescence. It was a little irritating to see that Ozace has already had his upgrade parts from Century in the US delivered to his home in Australia

Steve -Trex 600, Swift, Raptor 550E, 450SE, Mini Titan, Hurricane 550, Logo 5003D
03-29-2006 Over year old.
 
 
djtilko
Senior Heliman
Location: United Kingdom Leeds

Agreed yes, maybe we should just contact Century U.S.A the parts are only cheap really so maybe they are waiting for us to naturally replace them in the usual course of nature i.e smashing em. But I would like to know simply if I did need to replace these parts from a crash etc are they going to have the newer upgraded parts in stock or dont we have any over here at Century U.K yet?

No point in replacing them with the same faulty parts.


djt
03-29-2006 Over year old.
 
 
helijohn
Senior Heliman
Location: UK - Birmingham

djt.
I am thinking of getting my feet muddy right now. Just charging the main battery.
I haven't heard from Centuryuk - I was about to ask if you had. As well as contacting Dean I filled in the form for Century US and then got the cr*p about contacting the UK division. Will see what happens. I really would like the improved undercarriage.
03-29-2006 Over year old.
 
 
helijohn
Senior Heliman
Location: UK - Birmingham

Quote 
Century in the US delivered to his home in Australia


SRH
There seems to be a closer link between the Australians and the Americans.
03-29-2006 Over year old.
 
 
SRH990
Key Veteran
Location: Birmingham, UK

It could be that there isn't a sole distributor in Australia as there is in the UK? I do know I had to go through a real palaver to try to get parts from the US just after Christmas as Century UK had non available as the first two deliveries got stolen! Century US made it very clear thay will not sell to the UK, they only agreed due to the problems & then made the most stringent demands before they would even consider it.

Steve -Trex 600, Swift, Raptor 550E, 450SE, Mini Titan, Hurricane 550, Logo 5003D
03-29-2006 Over year old.
 
 
djtilko
Senior Heliman
Location: United Kingdom Leeds

Hmm so we cant order from Century USA? Was looking forward to getting some of the new bling bits but suppose will have to wait till Century U.K Get them now

Could be long time, if stuff keeps going missing.

djt
03-29-2006 Over year old.
 
 
SRH990
Key Veteran
Location: Birmingham, UK

IF they agree to accept your order then YOU will have to provide copies of the front & back of your credit card plus a copy of your last statement clearly showing the billing address - the only way you can do that is to scan them & attach to an email - gave me sleepless nights

Steve -Trex 600, Swift, Raptor 550E, 450SE, Mini Titan, Hurricane 550, Logo 5003D
03-29-2006 Over year old.
 
 
helijohn
Senior Heliman
Location: UK - Birmingham

djt.
Been out there - winds at around 4mph. Got there and got some stick time - at last. Ran the Swift 'til battery needed charging. Have a Sainsbury kitchen timer. Set it for 5 mins this time but next time it'll be 7 mins, it bleeps for 30 secs and saves the time so goes back to 5 mins. Wasted a fair bit of time setting the pitch/throttle and then went into a second 5 mins but I only got about 3 mins so I guess overall 8 mins is about right. When I got the curves the way I wanted it was a smooth lift-off and it was like silk and so well behaved in the air. I will be getting rid of my Eco 8 - there's no comparison. Is a bit tail heavy, didn't like that and I have an Rx battery up front already. Had some mild shakes on spool up but definitely all gone on landing.
Have to confess though, I really miss the sound of the IC engine. Had to take cover for about 10 mins as it rained, I braved it out at first but it came down a bit heavy so I took shelter.
Put the Rappy in the air and was in heaven again - there's something about the "power" or "weight" of the glow heli that I miss with electric.
Came back then the sun came out but it was getting windy with it.
03-29-2006 Over year old.
 
 
Pistol_Pete
Elite Veteran
Location: Tampa Bay non-Buccaneer

Quote 
IF they agree to accept your order then YOU will have to provide copies of the front & back of your credit card plus a copy of your last statement clearly showing the billing address - the only way you can do that is to scan them & attach to an email - gave me sleepless nights


No DNA? consider yourself lucky then

Too many stolen ID's, credit cards, etc...somewhat understandable.

How about a direct wire transfer from bank to bank? I have done it in the past (not with them)...after all it's all 0's and 1's.

<><>...the lunatic is in my head...<><>
03-29-2006 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
SRH990
Key Veteran
Location: Birmingham, UK

Quote 
No DNA? consider yourself lucky then

Too many stolen ID's, credit cards, etc...somewhat understandable.

How about a direct wire transfer from bank to bank? I have done it in the past (not with them)...after all it's all 0's and 1's.



Pete, I can understand the paranoia these days with the huge amount of credit card fraud. Regarding wire transfers I think UK banks like to charge large amounts for the priveledge, if at all.

Helijohn, I don't miss the sound of IC when flying the Swift but I do miss the performance, after an R50 with a Hyper & 30% nitro the Swift is a little sedate - I can see the attraction of higher cell count setups but the cost gets a little too high . With fixed wing I've gone totally over to electric now, performance is as good or better, duration is better and I don't have to spend time cleaning oily cr*p of afterwards

Steve -Trex 600, Swift, Raptor 550E, 450SE, Mini Titan, Hurricane 550, Logo 5003D
03-29-2006 Over year old.
 
 
3 pages [ <<    <     1     ( 2 )     3     NEXT    >> ]2107 viewsPOST REPLY
Century Helicopter . RC-Direct . MTA Hobbies

.
.
e-Century Hummingbird - Swift > New Swift early first flights
  UPDATE SCREEN   PRINT TOPIC Advertisers 

Subscribe to This Topic

Saturday, May 17 - 4:20 am - Copyright © 2000 - 2008 runryder.com | email | link to rr | runryder needs cookie