Eury
rrProfessor
Location: Ankeny, IA, USA.
| Going to bed now, I know I was just going to do the head, but I also finished Bag 2 and 3, so the left frame is all done, as well as the mainshaft, auto assembly, and tail drive.
OK, I'm a big enough man to admit when I am wrong. Previously, I've said that the Pred was the way to go on a gasser because of cost, and MA's tendency to load on unnecessary complexity based on my experience with other MAs. I was wrong on both counts. First, cost. I never realized that the price on MA's website isn't what people pay, and the $1500 or so that they have for the price of the kit I bought is ridiculous. At the $1140 I paid, this thing is a deal. Parts are more expensive, but it's not night and day.
On the complexity, this is not like the older MA helis. The build has been dead simple, it all makes sense, it's very stout and solid feeling, everything has fit perfectly first try. The way MA bags each step individually, and the clear diagrams (with the exception of the left frame diagram showing both engine mount possibilities), great text and parts lists make this simple. I love how simple setting the crown gear mesh is, and the way it's held in place with bearing blocks supporting both sides, and tying it into the mainshaft really makes a solid assembly, and it doesn't have play issues like the Pred that have to be solved with o-rings and aftermarket parts. Having the PEM nuts built into the frames is also awesome, and makes building (and future maintenance) much simpler. Like I said above, I've built (and rebuilt, recently) Predator Carbon gassers, and a Quick Gasser, and so far, this is BY FAR the easiest to build. Things are not preassembled for you like some of the parts of the Pred, but they go together so easily, and the instructions are so good that it doesn't really bother me. This thing is falling together very easily and quickly. It's taken me about 2.5 hours to get to the point I'm at, and I'm pretty far into the build. At this rate, I'll have it flying on Sunday or Monday.
Of course, I still haven't gotten to that damn uniball clutch and engine alignment. I've never liked that setup on previous MAs, but even so, it does work well, it's just a matter of getting things aligned.
Basically, I'm VERY impressed. And that baseplate is really cool, you could use it as a weapon.
Nick Crego
Still wanted by the government, I survive as a soldier of fortune. |
