mash
Heliman
Location: Stratford-on-Avon, UK
| There are at least three Sceadus in the Stratford-on-Avon area, two flying, one in gestation. All OS50 powered.
Mine has done most flying - about 20 flights so far - and I haven't really tried to throw it about much (not that I could anyway!). I'm very happy with it, but like you I find some of the postings re stripped gears alarming, so I've ordered the bottom bearing.
Mine is fitted with a CSM400 which I've managed, by the use of thinner-than-recommended foam tape, to squeeze onto the front mount. This does not seem to have affected the performance of the gyro, and it makes the wiring much more sensible. Whether Colin Mill would approve is another matter....
I had a few small problems in construction and operation; you will have read about the tedious canopy mounts and the slipping top-start adapter. All I can add is that in my kit the ball joint on top of one of the triangular pitch linkage arms (step 1 in the assembly instructions I think!) required only gentle finger pressure to pop out, so I waited for a (free) replacement before risking it.
The only vaguely interesting thing on it is a Mainlink "Black Box" signal monitor which tells me whether there have been any radio glitches during the flight.
The Skeadu was bought out of an insurance payout following the theft of my venerable Shuttle ZX complete with all flight gear (and many of my garden and DIY power tools). I find it much more comfortable to fly, partly 'cause it's bigger and partly 'cause it has so much power in hand. |
