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Century Hawk - Falcon - Raven - Predator > DONT BUY A HAWK!!! Read my story
 
 
PluckinPheasant
Heliman
Location: Crawley, West Sussex, United Kingdom

Well guys you can check the topic I started as a relative Newby!
'PluckinPheasant' is me.
Purchased the Hawk to replace my Kyosho Concept DX. Taught myself to hover with training gear.(flown planks for years I am 47)
Asked for help on the forum got loads of it and thanks.

This is the reply from CenturyUK boss (7 x british national champion)

Gutted!! Absolutely Gutted!!

Well readers I am in shock!!

After contacting Mark Tilbury of Century UK helicopters to discuss a way forward. I sent the parts to Mark to inspect and I wrongly assumed it was obvious loctite had been used during assembly at the factory. The comments I received from the 7 x British National champion knocked me for six:

Quote
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Richard

I have examined the parts you have sent me.

I am not willing to replace these items as there is no way the story
given adds up,the parts that are damaged are never thread locked by
Century Helicopter products.

I believe they have been disassembled and then reassembled using thread lock where it should not be used, these parts are pre assembled in the kit and at no time is thread lock used on this part of the production line.

The parts you require cost;

HI3146B X £34.99
HI3184 X £ 9.99

I am happy to send these post free with your damaged items or I can
return your damaged items for a post cost of £5 which consists of post,packing and taking to the post office.

I do not want to enter into an argument over this as the facts are clear to see.

Please let me know what you wish to do, I will be away from the office from 4.30 today until Monday the 18th.

Thanks
Mark Tilbury
www.centuryuk.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I think I am being called a liar.
I'm 47 years old, been flying 20+ years, Helis just recently.
Thought I had bought into a good helicopter company!!
Still shaking with anger

I shall certainly let him know what I'm going to do. I hope he has a good lawyer!!!!!!!!!!. Should have bought a Raptor!
02-08-2008 12:13 AM
 
 
Silvashadow
Senior Heliman
Location: Bexley, Kent, UK

Hi Pluckin, did something happen for the parts to get damaged? I'm not sure from your post, you seem to be saying they were damaged when you got the your Hawk.
02-08-2008 12:20 AM
 
 
macsgrafs
Senior Heliman
Location: Barnstaple, Devon, UK

Hi Richard, can you shed more light on this story. I would love a forum where it shows photos of the parts & the dealers concerned, this could prevent a lot of unhappiness from less than professional outlets. It's about time these companies started losing business from shoddy after sales & bad production, it would certainly make them think twice, no company wants to end up on a S**T list.
I was thinking of a century heli myself, but even if what you say is true or false, I certainly will not be giving them my £1000.

Regards
Ross

Seems to me that ALL heli's beat the air into submission
02-08-2008 12:37 AM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
SuperSixTwo
Senior Heliman
Location: Lockwood, NV

I am not sure about Century UK, but the Century in California is top notch!
Fill us in with a little more detail. Also, lots of us have spare parts, let us know what you need maybe we can help you out.
sst
02-08-2008 12:43 AM
 
 
the Wasp
rrProfessor
Location: Vt

well it's nice to know a 7 x British National champion likes Century

Jim

Jim
the wife wont let me get a Monkey !!,,, damm, can't have anything
02-08-2008 12:45 AM
 
 
Mutt
Veteran
Location: t ca usa

I have no complaints with my hawks and centurys service either.
02-08-2008 12:47 AM
 
 
PluckinPheasant
Heliman
Location: Crawley, West Sussex, United Kingdom

Well I built the heli of which most was pre-assembled. I joined the forum to discuss many subjects, as I am newish into helis. I soon discovered I should totally re-build the heli and not rely on the factory using the correct loctite or CA etc.

I did this and discovered that thread lock had been used on everything which made plastic parts brittle, so I decided to ask CEnturyUK; then my journey starts.............
02-08-2008 12:48 AM
 
 
PluckinPheasant
Heliman
Location: Crawley, West Sussex, United Kingdom

To The Wasp

You may have missed a piece of the info.

Mark is the MD of CenturyUK and sponsored by them

hope this helps
02-08-2008 12:50 AM
 
 
Mutt
Veteran
Location: t ca usa

Dont matter what brand of heli it is you need to tear down any preassemled assemblys and check them out. It dont take that long to do and this way you can also make sure everything is up to specs.
02-08-2008 12:51 AM
 
 
Mighty Mouse
Heliman
Location: Picayune, MS

Was the Hawk a Pro version and did you buy it new from a dealer? Something sounds strange. It is likely that if one was assembled on an assmebly line, there should 2 or 3 or 100. Wonder if this maybe a future issue. Guess I need to check mine, but I dont remember seeing any locktite anywhere. Do they use it on any parts of the Hawk Pro?
02-08-2008 01:03 AM
 
 
PluckinPheasant
Heliman
Location: Crawley, West Sussex, United Kingdom

Hawk Pro 30 bought from Midland Helicopters (UK) sept 07. Got for xmas 07.
Recommended a rebuild by forum members. Found loctite on the aileron bellcrank assembly to the point I had to use heat to take apart. Bought new bearing and allen cap screw to replace.

Then took apart swashplate and blade grips and found the metal to plastic parts; ball to swashplate and bellcrank to blade grip screws had red loctite showing. The bellcrank cap screw threads were covered in plastic following removal and once replaced would not tighten.
02-08-2008 01:12 AM
 
 
PluckinPheasant
Heliman
Location: Crawley, West Sussex, United Kingdom

Ross

I agree after sales should be top notch. Particularly when RotorWorld magazine described the HAWK as a beginners dream! and I am a virtual beginner to RC helis.

I will willingly supply photos once I get my parts back.

I offered to take the heli to Marks office/shop to show and demonstrate my findings, but he declined and prefered postage of damaged goods. the rest is history.

regards

Dick Milton
02-08-2008 01:18 AM
 
 
Mighty Mouse
Heliman
Location: Picayune, MS

I guess someone could have purchase the heli put lock tite on and then decided they didn't want it and take it back to store. Or we should be seeing others with same issues. Only time will tell I suppose.
02-08-2008 01:34 AM
 
 
Dilbeck
Veteran
Location: Springdale Arkansas

Something aint right, Red loctite? Someone else owned this heli or something. Might check back with the dealer for answers.

If it doesn't fly sell it!
02-08-2008 02:53 AM
 
 
Blade_Master1
Veteran
Location: Canada

I agree with Mighty Mouse

The only possible explanation would be preownership,
Take it up with the place of purchase if they refuse to help come back here and post


.

JM2C's :)
02-08-2008 03:08 AM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Mighty Mouse
Heliman
Location: Picayune, MS

I personally dont like the idea of helicopters coming partially assembled. I think everyone ought to know how his bird is put together. It just make good sense. Also I would think the manufacturer is taking on too much libility with the assembly. If the owner puts his own bird together wrong, it is not the manufacturers problem. I guess it could be a market thing. Us buyers wanting it all together now and not have to totally assemble it from a box of parts.
02-08-2008 03:32 AM
 
 
the Wasp
rrProfessor
Location: Vt

I would be talking to Midland Helicopters

Jim

Jim
the wife wont let me get a Monkey !!,,, damm, can't have anything
02-08-2008 06:49 AM
 
 
PluckinPheasant
Heliman
Location: Crawley, West Sussex, United Kingdom

The helicopter came in an opened box and this was because a replacement counter shaft (inside its package with instructions on repacling with pre-built) had been placed in the box.

All major components were in bags except lower side frame and canopy. I cant remember if the upper side frame (where the problems are) was sealed but it was definatley in a clear bag.
02-08-2008 10:09 AM
 
 
coolice
Key Veteran
Location: Northamptonshire, England

Hey All,

First of all let me start my post by clearing up something which is very true and straight to the point.

Mark Tilbury is the owner of CenturyUK and runs a chain of model stores so will do everything in his power to keep his customers (that means you) happy with your considerable investment in your RC heli.

Now Mark & Dean (the General Manager of CenturyUK) aren't going to refuse exchanges lightly, on the contary he will have sat down and made the right decision on the information he knows with the items in front of him.
This I know to be true for the simple reason that said buyer will then pop onto the nearest forum and try to bad mouth a very good product & service.

You say red loctite was found to have been used on the parts you returned, however having a Hawk myself and having seen many of them I cant see it either. I also cannot see why you would remove the control balls which are screwed into the plastic part of the swashplate, the inner ones yes it is wise to check them for Loctite but not the outer ones.
Hence one of the reasons why Mark probably refused the exchange.

The support & service from CenturyUK is top notch, I should know as I am part of that support!

Bottom line we have many Hawks flying all around the world and this problem has never been seen before, another reason to doubt.
.

Ian Contessa
UK Century Sponsored Flier
Why Go For The Spare, When You Can Go For The CENTURY!
02-08-2008 10:33 AM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
PluckinPheasant
Heliman
Location: Crawley, West Sussex, United Kingdom

I would like to have agreed with your comments. That's why a bought a Hawk in the first place.

They had a good write up.
The Maidstone shop is not far from me and I was only in there yesterday checking with Steve on the collective levers see - my other post.
Spares were reasonable and available.

I have also known of Mark and his achievements for many years when he first started out. He demonstarted heli flying indoors and at night at my old club the NDMFC. Constantly used his chain of shops 'Model World'.
So to bad mouth an individual is not my forte. To stand up and believe in what you know to the best of your knowledge and ability both Mark and myself are doing exactly that!

But I feel I have been called a fraud in Marks e-mail and that I certainly am not!

The reason for stripping down everything was advice from Hawk flyers across the world ie this forum. Check the thread.

My Hawk had been virtually complete short of which Gyro to buy - Check thread - and receiver. I was not over keen to start the build again but I did, and they said everything must be re-built and this started with the collective levers and aileron bellcranks, which were stiff so I replaced the bearing and screw as too much loctite hade been applied. I even checked which loctite and I bought Blue Green and Yellow but No RED!

The rest you can work out for yourself!
02-08-2008 11:21 AM
 
 
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Century Hawk - Falcon - Raven - Predator > DONT BUY A HAWK!!! Read my story
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