RunRyder - Century Hawk IV or Falcon III??

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Century Hawk - Falcon - Raven - Predator > Century Hawk IV or Falcon III??

rckid
Heliman
Location: Livermore, CA

Hi,
I have been flying rc planes for 5 years and would like to try something different. Which would you guys reccomend for a beginer? There is 1 other guy at the field that has been trying to fly a heli and it is a Hawk II. Would it be better to get a Hawk so the helis are similar??

Thanks,
Clay G.
Livermore, CA

09-13-2001 Over year old.

CCoker
Senior Heliman
Location: Atlanta,GA

Century helis

This is just MY opinion but I would skip the Century helis and go for something like a raptor ,shuttle,or even a nexus I say this because the centuries I have seen and flown were a little flimsy and so lightweight they were almost hard to hover.
the parts start to develop sloop before you finish the first gal. of fuel.
Century is the only place to get parts,and the kits aren't much cheaper than the other entry level helis.
If money is your main concern look around for a used heli I've seen used helis, ready to fly go for half of what a new one would cost. good luck and welcome to the worlds coolest hobby.

09-13-2001 Over year old.

falcon46se
Heliman
Location: Toulouse, FRANCE

Century, sloppy heli???

For what it worth (but I own, build and flown a Century heli!)

My Falcon 46Se is as new as the first day and I have something like 10 or 15 gallons threw it.
I've absolutely no slop, thanks to the 51 bearings standard.
Hovering is really easy, It can stay hands off for 6 to 7 seconds.

I would go directly for a SE version, prices are not so different and the equipment is really better and over other "cheap" heli (Raptor...).

Century is releasing a new heli in october, the Raven (CCPM, 30 and 50 version).

Regarding the spare parts, I'm sure you can find other dealers than Heli World. But I have to say I order one time from them (I'm living in France) and everything went well.

Eric

09-13-2001 Over year old.

rckid
Heliman
Location: Livermore, CA

Thanks!

Thanks for the replies. I live about 40 min away from Century, so parts isn't a problem. Is it really worth the extra $100 to go for the SE?? What servos are you runing?

Thanks,
Clay G.

09-13-2001 Over year old.

Maxx
Key Veteran
Location: Shreveport Louisana

Clay; IMO Century/Helicopter World would be the second to the last place I would get a Heli from...Hobbies and Helis Inc. would be the last! I have dealt with (or tried to deal with...) Century in the past and came away with the feeling that Customer Service is not in their vocabulary. As a new heli pilot you will need all the parts and moral support (not to mention set up assistance) you can find...better to get a Shuttle, Ergo or Raptor (I can't believe i just typed that...sigh...) that thousands of people have learned on and have vast experience with. You could search the other forums for "Century/Helicopter World" and see more responses, this is just my personal opinion. Maxx

09-13-2001 Over year old.

oldfart
Elite Veteran
Location: Vancouver, Canada

Falcon/Hawk

You will find the new HAWK IV a far improved heli over your friends old Hawk II (like the difference between a 1980 Chev and a 2001 Chev. Both are Chevies, but the improvements technological advancements that are incorporated over time make a big difference).

The Hawk III was a real Raptor killer and the new Hawk IV even more so. Very dependable (no clutch problems, woof and poof problems, muffler problems etc. no sloppy swashplate problem like my Raptor has - that is why it is now relagated to the shelf), easy to build, long lasting (specially with the addition of the $22.00 Ball bearing upgrade). I find dealing with Heli-World very good. They always seem to have the parts needed and a good prices. Mind you my local hobby shop also stocks them now along with a full complement of parts so that is also a big plus. He also stocks Hirobo and TT, but prefers now the Century himself.

Check into their HAWK IV ARF that comes with the time proven top quality OS32SXH installed (not the questionable TT36H) for only $340.00. A real bargain. As for the SE. If you can afford the SE, go for it, as it is a true "top spec" long lasting unit that comes with fiberglass blades, fullmetal swashplate, 50 plus bearings, cool new canopy, top FAI class three bearing/grip tail rotor etc.etc. Well worth the bit extra. Even at its' price it is far less then most competitors and a far better heli.

The only people that would consider anything else as better are those who have never owned the Hawk SE. Check out what people have to say about it in the "showdown" area at: www.rchelicopters.org.
Take special note of what the more knowledgeable and experienced owners (those with experience over time on many models and brands) have to say about it.

12-06-2001 Over year old.

2stroke
Heliman
Location: Pottstown, Pa.

Customer Service is not in their vocabulary

Just finished building a Hawk IV, and as a beginner, I bought it with a little hesitation, due to some of the info concerning Century's support etc. that I'd read in a few places. I did read the excellent reviews it got at rchelicopters.org and thanks to the mech. at the LHS, decided to give it a run anyway with an Os32sxh.
I ran into a rod length problem trying to set it up, and very hesitatingly, emailed Century support. Imagine my surprise when I got a reply in less than 12 hours (emailed them in the middle of the night) with the solution to my problem.
Got the training wheels on it Tuesday, and have 2 tanks of fuel thru it already. Thanks to 4 hours of serious sim time, and a really stable bird, I'm hovering fairly well while trying to get the trim and engine all set right.
I think Century's support was excellent, and to be able to setup and fly a heli this easily as a beginner says alot about the quality of this unit as a starter heli.
Would I buy this particular heli if I had some experience, and was 3d capable? Don't know....ask me around August of '02.

Bottom line, don't believe all the negative crap you read. There's two sides to everything. Look for some actual reviews. I'm glad I did.

12-06-2001 Over year old.

vetrider
Elite Veteran
Location: Daleville, AL (Ft.Rucker)

I bought my Falcon 46 SE used on Ebay (yes getting screwed is possible if you don't watch the details) and I'm very happy with the (Mostly Metal) heli. It came with the ThunderTiger 46 pro engine and It is finiky to tune but the power is pretty good.

My local teacher took it up for a check out before I even tried to hover it.
After he got thru doing flips, loops, rolls, and multiple inverted hoverings. I new what it was more capable than I'll be for a while.

I have pretty much gone thru the heli and it's rock solid in the wear department. During a teardown (from a Hovering Auto Brain Fade

) I noticed that whoever had the heli before me had the head apart and left the ball race out of the thrust bearing assemble on one side only! (these are in the blade grips for you real newbies) It's been like this since before I got the machine! I've got a 1/2 gallon thru it and It didn't seem to fly too bad even!

All aftermarket parts I've ordered from Century thru Helicopter World have been of great quality and delivery and handling has been great from them. If they don't have a part I ordered,by the internet, they call me to see what I might want to do. That's nothing to complain about

There are lot's of heli that will be great learner to 3D these days so it's mainly about personal tast and the support you can get in your area.

They all can go up and they all can fall down. It's you that makes the difference!

Magnum Fuel

12-06-2001 Over year old.

moose
Senior Heliman
Location: Somerset UK

Century - Lightweight ??

I am still flying a five year old Hawk 1. Only now, after all these years, am I starting to replace parts because they are wearing out - mainly a new swash is needed and I will also replace the links at the same time. I also replaced the clutch a few weeks back (the first one in 5 years can't be bad !!). I try to fly a minimum of 4 tanks of fuel a weekend in the Winter and a considerable amount more during the summer - at least one third to a half of my time will be flying the Hawk.

As far as being light and difficult to hover, my findings are EXACTLY the opposite !! Two weeks ago I was flying in gusty 15 - 20mph winds. My new Sceadu 30 was like a cat on a hot tin roof and after half a tank I landed before I crashed. I then flew my Hawk and it was far more stable than the Sceadu. I put this down to the Hawks weight - please remember I am talking about a mk 1 Hawk not the later versions. In no wind conditions my Hawk will hover with virtually no input at all.

I let a newbie fly my Hawk last week (he flies a Raptor and has just got rid of his training gear) and he found it easier to hover than the Raptor - his Raptor was set up by a professional and I have also flown it so I know it is set up OK, so the difference has to be the actual heli.

I got my Sceadu to replace/retire the Hawk, but because the Hawk flies so well I am tempted to get one of the mk 4's and retire my mk 1 to the museum only to come out on special occasions !!

As far as parts are concerned, I can't comment about the US as I am in the UK. Here the Century line is imported by Mark Tilbury of Modelworld in Kent and his service is excellent. Other dealers also stock the kits and parts so there is never a problem.

If you have somebody who is flying a Hawk at your field and Century is close by then I would suggest you go with the Hawk. The SE is supposed to be excellent and I have noticed that there is an SE 2 out now. If you get a standard Hawk get the full Ball Bearing upgrade - it is well worth the money.

I almost forgot - servos !! Believe this or not, mine has Futaba 9001's all round - no problems at all and these are all old servos !! I use a CSM 360 heading hold gyro and the OS32 engine has never been touched. If you are just starting out do not bother with digital servos for the tail - you will have enough problems with everything else !!
On my XCell 60 I have a 9253 digital. A while back I stripped the gears on it and replaced it with a 9202 while I repaired the gears. Could I tell the difference - no !! For my level of flying - I would class myself as a good sports flyer - I could probably live without digital servos and probably will if the 9253 gives up totally.

Hope this helps.

Bob

12-07-2001 Over year old.

pkcc
Heliman
Location: CA USA

Falcon

What can I say. I find my Falcon SE in the same class as my X-Cell SE!! It holds together that well without developing slop - both are high time. My next will be the V2. My Hawk SE has proven to be a much better heli then my Raptor (finally sold it), Schuttle ZXX or my Baron 30. And I won't even compare my Falcon SE to the Sceado 30, as for the same price I have a 46 machine that satys tight, came with FRP blades has the poer to weight ratio as good as the XL and autos as well if not better! Coker should try one.....and feel the difference!

12-10-2001 Over year old.

CCoker
Senior Heliman
Location: Atlanta,GA

I've got too many helis now!!! but I would like to see another one because what you guys are describing is nothing like what I had " Hawk III" It was almost flimsy ,the frame was flexible , the starter cone gizmo was very delicate and kept coming apart. The tail control rod would not even work if you ran it like the instructions said, the "one" tail boom support was plastic and kept trying to come apart, and I don't even know where to start on the rotor head, of course it was bone stock with wood blades but it was so light weight it did not hover very stable. I did like the landing gear and quite muffler that came with it.

I have never owned X-Cell ,but Ive seen quite a few and I saw no relation between the two. but this was a stock HawkIII I have not seen any other Century stuff. but if you have a friend with Hawk that can help you go for it.

12-11-2001 Over year old.

JPBIII
Senior Heliman
Location: Birmingham,Al

Oldfart

Oldfart you need to check out your link to rchelicopters. It is not very amusing.

12-11-2001 Over year old.

Tailhook2k
Heliman
Location: Arlington Hts Il.

HEli reviews

Owned a raptor.... One solid piece of ****.
Have a Hawk III in a 222 fuse and a Hawk III SE V2 in an Agusta Fuse.
Both very solid flyers.
Very good power to weight ratio ,,, even withe fuses added.
I love them. Dont beleive me ... go to RC Helicopters.org and check out the reveiws.

I dont want to hear that I was doing any thing wrong with the raptor
I own a Vario gasser and a tricked out Freya as well and, I have been in helis for the better part of ten years .

IMHO thunder tiger quality control SUCKS.

My 2 cents

Jason G Rigney

12-12-2001 Over year old.

oldfart
Elite Veteran
Location: Vancouver, Canada

Hawk and rchelicopters.org site

JPB....I don't know why the site I suggested now gives me a site"site under construction" message, when I try to access it from here. But when I try outside of the runryder screen, I get the site I refer to...the same site suggested by Tailhook .....hmmmm...cyberquirk :-))

12-16-2001 Over year old.

JPBIII
Senior Heliman
Location: Birmingham,Al

Oldfart , when I clicked on your link a few days ago it was a site totally unrelated to rc helies , (a filthy comment about the US government ) I tried it again and now it comes back with the same thing you are getting.
John

12-16-2001 Over year old.

oldfart
Elite Veteran
Location: Vancouver, Canada

Site for Info

Hi JPBill, I just tried it again:

www.rchelicopters.org

And the proper site came up. This site has a "showdown" section that has comments frommany on the heli's , motors, radios, gyros etc, that they own & fly.

Hope it works for you.

12-16-2001 Over year old.

JPBIII
Senior Heliman
Location: Birmingham,Al

Thanks,
I tried it again and it works fine,found the info I wanted.

12-17-2001 Over year old.

oldfart
Elite Veteran
Location: Vancouver, Canada

JPBill
Have you had a chance to check on what people are reporting re: the Hawk IV and other Century Helicopters on www.rchelicopters.org
?

I just checked the site of someone in Las Vegas who reported that he liked it so much that immediately ordered the ARF Bell 222. Check it out at:
www.homanns.com/handihomann/bell222.htm

This also is a great flying scale version of the Hawk.

12-22-2001 Over year old.

JPBIII
Senior Heliman
Location: Birmingham,Al

OldFart
Yes, I did get a chance to read the reports, and also I downloaded a review of the older model Falcon from Rotory.com . It sounds like it is a great machine. I will probably order one in the near future. I was also trying to compare it the new Sceadu , it seems to me that the Falcon SE2 is a better value for the money, especially since it comes with a good set of blades.
JPBIII

12-22-2001 Over year old.

vetrider
Elite Veteran
Location: Daleville, AL (Ft.Rucker)

A local guy has had his Falcon SE V2 flying for 2 weekends now and really likes it. My instructor buddy helped trim it at the field and really liked it and the new blades (hurricanes 600mm) a lot!
New skids are much improved over the old sets. Wide and low.

Magnum Fuel

12-22-2001 Over year old.

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Century Hawk - Falcon - Raven - Predator > Century Hawk IV or Falcon III??

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