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Ron’s HeliProz South . Century Helicopter . MTA Hobbies

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Beginners Corner > ok ive decided
 
 
Darkstar
Senior Heliman
Location: USA

I have a Falcon SE and Falcon. Getting access to the engine is NOT easy.

The Falcon was designed this way to begin with to make it modular so it could be modified for a four stoke engine. It's really NOT a good design. You have to struggle with the whole assembly to get it apart and back together. Also, the lower metal side frames are too thin.

The plastic molding is not up to standard. Esp. the finish on it. Both of mine are this way. And no, it's not the latest Falcon SE II, but the design still sucks. The engineering is just uninspired.

The original tail rotor assembly on the Falcon SE would come apart if built correctly. Century replaced it with a new updated assembly, and it flew apart too. This has been a known problem on the Falcon SE. This is was MAJOR problem.

The clutch bell (plastic at the time) melted easily, the start cone wore out quickly, the start shaft metal was too soft, I dislike the whole starting system.

The wire drive is not nearly as good as a belt driven tail, I don't like the servo mounting location, the plastic link that connects the two piece tail rotor pushrod may strip out, and many others.

I know some of this does not apply to the newest model, but it shows you the poor engineering that went into it.

Also, saying that the model has gone thru many versions in so little time should tell you something.

The Raptor surely has its problems as well, but overall the Raptor is a much better designed bird., and it would not take four versions to get it right.

As far as parts, my LHS stocks almost all of the Hawk/Falcon parts, that's the main reason I bought mine. I think this has to do with the shop owner making the effort to maintain inventory.

The only thing I really like about the Hawk/Falcon is the rotor head assembly, that is copied from the X-Cell.

It's really a Frankenstein’s monster of a heli--part Shuttle, X-Cell and Futura.

There is a reason that MANY more Raptors have been sold and for its popularity, and its not because people are jumping on the bandwagon.

It's simply a much better model overall.

With that said, you may be happy with it...it's still a capable heli, and is a good value.

Tim.
05-02-2002 Over year old.
 
 
arcpilot
Heliman
Location: So. Cal.

I just got done reading a post above that says you can not always trust what you read on the internet. That is excellent advice.

Have you considered that the "good folks" at Heli World (also know as Century) have been reading the many, many negative posts about the Hawk helicopter here on Run Ryder? I would bet money that they have created a ton of "phantom members" here on Run Ryder. By having 20 or 30 different member accounts here on Run Ryder, they can fire back at any negative post and make it look like there are a bunch of "real" heli pilots out there who really like their Hawks and have had nothing but wonderful things to say about the customer service.

I know if I had a business I would do everthing to squash neagative stories. And, I would do everything I could to make my business look good. It would not surprise me if Heli World is having a few of their employees log on several times throughout the day and post glowing reports about the Hawk and thier "great customer service".

Now consider this... Would an owner even think about posting something negative about their own product? Of course not. So you can be sure that when you see something neagative it is from someone who really has had a bad experience.

And if Hawks are sooooo good, how come I dont see a ton of them at every flying field? Yet, I find a bunch of Raptors and Hirobos (Shuttles and Sceadus)?

Food for thought.
05-03-2002 Over year old.
 
 
heliman41
Key Veteran
Location: Valparaiso IN. USA

Ive got both helis a Hawk SE and a Rappy. Both would make good "starter" helis anytime. The wire drive isnt an issue until one wants to install a GY401 or some other hi-end HH type gyro combined with an ultra fast servo, then yes an upgrade is necessary. The3 Hawk series does have a no brainer building manual but the Rappys isnt that hard either just on one page it gets confusing as the pics arent very well thought out showing the parts arrangement. They both have proven airframes and the canopys are easy off and fast which is nice for beginners especially if its hot and humid outside, dont wanna bend over too long! Id recammend either and there is several places besides Heliworld to get parts for both helis so the service dept. really isnt an issue. If a mainshaft BB goes out on either heli the frames must be split so whats the difference really? I admit I like my SE a lot more than a regular hawk but im not a beginner and they wouldnt know the diff anyway. My.02
05-03-2002 Over year old.
 
 
HeliCool
Senior Heliman
Location: Florida

Just bought a used HawkII

I just bought a usd hawk II off the boards here. As far as the Heli-World/Century thing goes, Ive never had an issue with the service or shipping. I bought the raptor kit from them and love it. There are many ways to get parts for century helis. I just dont think that just because heli-world has some bad reports about it that I would stop buying from them. If your pissed at em, dont buy from them. Buy from Ron, or toyman or your LHS if you can.

I keep Coral reef tanks, and customer service and shipping are really important in that hobby. If it doesnt get there on time IT DIES!!!! Ive had stuff show up on my doorstep dead. Had the store I bought from give me the third degree about it too. It didnt stop keeping reef tanks or buying certain corals or fish. I would just not deal with them anymore.

A perfect example of not to badmouth online stores is one from my reef hobby. A couple of guys on www.reefs.org got bad service from a mail order place on Long Island here. Well, they started to bad mouth this business. This business got wind of it and filed a lawsuit against these individuals.

Trust me Im not on anyones side here. Thats just a word of warning about what can happen when stuff like this is posted.

I should be getting my Hawk II here in a few days. What should I look for as far as issues with the thing? Are there any design flaws that should be addressed? Ive already had the clutch on the Raptor go once and I did have to split the frames to get it out too. Thanks to that little burr of metal the set screw put there.

And now, I leave my soapbox!

Rich Macys
richmacys@gmail.com
05-03-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
heliman41
Key Veteran
Location: Valparaiso IN. USA

Rich,
Since its used id check the drive wire carefully, the plans state to file a flat on it for the hex grub but if its filed too much it will break in flight. That is the weakest point on the Hawks. The LG is a bit wimpy too but Min Air XL30 LG fits perfectly without drilling. The tail drive wire slides into a squashed tail output housing, squeeze it slightly tighter if the tailblades have excessive slop thats where it will be at. Also the flybar tilting assembly in the head is notorious for bending did it on all but my SE Hawks so sometime ya might wanna inspect there too.
05-03-2002 Over year old.
 
 
HeliCool
Senior Heliman
Location: Florida

Thanks.

I new they had some issues. I just figure for the price I got it for I couldnt go wrong. So, how is Valpo? I think I talked to you before about Pet and Hobby. I miss it there a little. A lot easier living than in NY. At least when I was there. I used to work at Midwest like 25% of NWI people. The only thing not bringing me back there are the winters. Brrrrr. That was the most miserable place in the winter. Especially after spending 5-6 years down south. Ive been here in NY for a year and Im still not used to the cold.

Rich Macys
richmacys@gmail.com
05-03-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
heliman41
Key Veteran
Location: Valparaiso IN. USA

Come to think of it I think we have chatted before. Yea, winters SUCK here! Lucky to get 4months good weather if that anymore........Valpo has over 150,000 people here now and most are from Chicago. The traffic is now like Merriville. Id like to move south myself with my wify but the pay here is too good to leave just yet but someday Im FL bound and saltwater fishing every day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well its my dream anyway and if you fail to plan you plan to fail. If your Hawk has a plastic starter cone can it stat and get a metal 1 or a hex start like the Rappy. Ive owned a bunch of Hawks of different flavors so email me anytime if you have any Qs..........later Dave
05-03-2002 Over year old.
 
 
vapor
Heliman
Location: wi

Century Hawk heli

Good first ship for getting through the crash and burn stage of the learing curve. Dont go cheap in the gyro department ( Go with a 401 ) or equivent. Also go for good quality, faster stronger servos as used in a 60 sized helis. Get some help on final set up !!! If properly set up, The hawk is a smooth flyer and vary stable to hover. Go for it, get help from
other heli people. Burn fuel , Burn fuel , and more fuel. Have fun.
>>>Vapor<<<
05-03-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
sreuss
Senior Heliman
Location: Ontario, Canada

Hawk and Gy401

For what its worth, there was a recent post about the gy401 and the Hawk having a bit of a waggle after hard rudder stops. This was resolved by varying both the gain AND the lag/delay pots. The latter is the important one, since it lets you optimize the gyro/servo performance for the wire drive.

With that in mind, the Gy401 would be an ideal gyro to put on this heli. Indeed, I've been using it on my Falcon SE (also w. wire drive) and have been experimenting with sideways and backward flight in this stock configuration. I am quite impressed by the range of flying that can be done with the VERY inexpensive tail drive setup. The wire drive does not provide the same 'stop on a dime' tail feel that a shaft drive does. However, it is a good compromise of cost, durability (it will absorb more of a whack on the tail rotors while spinning), and performance.

I do have the upgrade tube drive in my spare parts inventory, but I'll wait to install it until I really see the limits of the wire drive - I havent yet.

Steve 'still lov'in the bang for the buck' Reuss
05-03-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Helinuts
Senior Heliman
Location: Knoxville

dont do it

please please dont buy that choper talk to someone who flys these guys are very right ..get what people fly as a newbe it will be easy for people to help you better ......and a Raptor kit with motor and muffler 49bb from heliproz is like $360 thats the arf if thats too much you may realy look for a new hobby and i mean that with all the respect in the world ...after you get a gyro and a TX starter flight box power panal fuel pump tools pitch gage charger and all the stuff i forgot ..glow driver ...your in for a min 900 dollers no matter how you twist and turn it you will spend $1000 to start this hobby all will agree ...and if you try to buy a cheap Tx in 6 months when you need a 5 point pitch curve and some mixing you will hate life and need a new one buy somthing you can grow into not out of..
05-04-2002 Over year old.
 
 
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Model Rectifier Corp . PowerHelis . Heli Wholesaler

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Beginners Corner > ok ive decided
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