RCU Review: Century Swift
Transcription
RCU Review: Century Swift
RCU Review: Century Swift More On This Product Show user ratings Check for Retailers Contributed by: Eric Balay | Published: April 2006 | Views: 92546 | Email this Article | PDF Review by: Eric Balay, Photos by Michael Kranitz & Eric Balay Specifications Assembly Flight Report Summary Manufacturer Info Century Swift 16 Manufactured by: Century Helicopter Products Are you looking for the perfect electric helicopter? Then look no further as the new Century Swift 16 delivers all the 3D snap that you crave. The helicopter is available as a kit, or for only $30 extra as a 90% assembled ARF (or ARH - Almost Ready to Hover). Since the early 1990's, Century Helicopters has been producing cutting-edge model helicopter kits, scale fuselages and upgrade parts. The Swift 16 is their newest offering, a 30-sized electric aerobat that is inexpensive, yet full of 3D excitement! 1740-C Junction Ave. San Jose, CA 95112 U.S.A Phone: (408) 451-1155 Website Email Swift Video CLICK HERE to Watch Part Quality Performance Ease of Assembly Kit Name: Century Swift Price: $249.99 USD (ARF), $229.99 USD (kit) Rotor Blades: 515 to 550mm Length: 41.3 " (105cm) Height: 13.5" (34.4cm) Flying Weight (as tested): 5.4 pounds Motor: Century 600 outrunner brushless motor Speed Controller: Castle Creations Phoenix 80 ESC Battery: Tanic Packs 6s 3650mah Li-poly battery pack Radio Used: Futaba 14MZHP w/ R5014 DPS receiver Gyro Used: Futaba GY401 w/ 9253 tail servo Servos Used: JR DS811 Digital (3) Price (typical): $1,189.86 USD Price (as tested): $3,144.74 USD Aerobatic ability Durability Price Manual Awesome performance Smooth hovering Inexpensive Kit & Parts Also available for the Century Swift: Century RotorTech 515mm Carbon Blades ($89.99) Astro Flight 109 Li-po charger ($129.99) NEU 1907 1.5Y brushless motor ($193.00) Century Electron 55/70 ESC ($79.95) Century Swift Carbon Gyro Plate ($4.95) Century Swift Painted Glass Canopy ($89.95) Century Swift Yellow Canopy ($13.95) Century 600 Outrunner ($109.95) Tanic Packs 6s 3650mah Li-poly ($229.99) Castle Creations Phoenix 80 ESC ($139.99) Anti-rotation link binds Landing gear weak Mast collar too tall Sharp Box Art Inside the Box Stickers Century 600 Outrunner NEU 1907 1.5Y Motor Tanic Packs 6s Li-po Our review model is the extensively pre-assembled ARF version, which arrives carefully packaged in a colorful box. My first reaction when unpacking the model was, "Wow, it's already put together!" It took me about an additional 30 minutes to finish the mechanical assembly, and about 4 hours to complete the electronics installation. I tried two different motors in the Swift. Century has released a new out-runner style brushless motor specifically designed for the Swift, the Century 600. I compared its performance with a NEU 1907 1.5Y brushless in-runner style brushless, named ORK (Out-Runner Killer). The TanicPacks 6s1p lithium-polymer battery delivers 3650mah at 22.2v, while weighing a scant 700 grams. This battery is a good choice for maximum performance. Beginners might opt for a 4s battery for reasons of economy. You'll also need to purchase a pinion for the motor, as well as motor mounting hardware and electrical connectors, as none of these items are included in the kit. With the Century 600, I used a 15 tooth pinion. The NEU motor worked best with an 11 tooth pinion. Pre-assembled Tail Section Main Gear & Auto Hub Rotor Head CCPM Bellcranks Horizontal 3D Fin Nice Swashplate Lightweight Mainshaft Tail Drive Pinion File Flats for Security Dremel O-ring Hooks Protect O-rings The well designed rotor head and linkages are pre-assembled, saving the modeler lots of time. The supplied ball linkages fit very well without needing any link fitting adjustments - not too tight, and without slop. A hollow 10mm main shaft saves valuable weight, and is mated to a large main gear complete with an autorotation hub. In inspecting the tail drive pinion that drives the tail belt, I filed two flats on the bearing pin to add security to the set screw connections. Be sure to Dremel the o-ring hooks edges on the carbon baseplate to prevent any sharp edges from slicing the o-rings that retain the battery. Don't forget to do this outside to avoid breathing in or touching the loose carbon fibers. Anti-Rotation Normal Binding at Extremes Stock Anti-Rotation Grind Away Grind Away No More Binding Century Mast Collar Century L, Quick UK R Quick UK Mast Collar With the servo arms lengths set as described in the setup section below, I found that the swashplate anti-rotation bracket restricted movement of the aft swash pushrod. The ball link end attached to the servo horn hits the bracket during extreme swashplate deflections, causing the anti-rotation bracket to bend. With a few minutes of carving with my trusty Dremel tool, I was able to remove enough material to allow the linkage to move smoothly. I believe this part should be redesigned to eliminate the problem. Century advised me that with the rear servo horn ball placed at 20.5mm, there is adequate clearance. They also indicate that if there is binding, that a longer servo horn should be used, with adjustments in radio settings to fine tune and eliminate CCPM interaction. I found that the pushrod contacts the anti-rotation bracket when the ball is placed at the optimum 20.5mm position, thus the need for the dremel work, as I wanted all three output balls to be equally spaced to prevent any possibility of CCPM interaction. The Swift manual does not cover these details of servo horn ball placement. I also discovered that the Century mast collar limits the lower swashplate movements. Although not necessary, I replaced it with a low profile mast collar manufactured by Quick UK. This change allowed me to extend the cyclic pitch range at the lower extreme collective pitch position. Century claims that during their testing, plus and minus 11.5 degrees of collective pitch are available without binding. I found that the Century mast collar restricted full cyclic movement at plus and minus 11.0 degrees of collective pitch. Switching to the Quick UK collar resolved this issue on the RCU Swift. Stock Wooden Blades Epoxy Root Fittings Clamp While Curing Belt Drive Pushrod Support Can't Tail Section The stock wooden main rotor blades require attachment of the root reinforcing fittings. Use 30 minute epoxy to glue on the root ends, affix the bolts, and securely clamp and allow to cure overnight. This will ensure that the blade roots are adequately reinforced to prevent blade failure. The stock wooden rotor blade roots in my kit did not fit the blade grips without using a shim, which was not provided in the kit. The blade root thickness is 11mm, while the grip is designed to accept 12mm blades. Century advises the modeler to clamp down on the blade holders rather than expanding them which allows you to adjust the tightness of your blades. Century also states that if the blade root and grips are the same exact size, then you would have to force the blade into the blade holders causing the blades to be too tight. I opted to add a 1mm shim to avoid undue stress on the blade grips while still allowing the blades to be properly tightened. I also found that the blade bolt hole in the shock wooden blades was 4mm, while the blade fixing bolt measures 3mm. (Editor's Note: Century has resolved the blade bolt hole issue, and all Swift kits now include bushings to fit the 3mm bolts.) The belt driven tail assembly can be removed from the main frames as a unit, thanks to the integral front pinion drive. Belt tension can be adjusted with the position of the pinion drive housing on the tail boom. Tail control is accomplished through a carbon tail rotor pushrod and a boom mounted tail rotor servo. This affords the modeler freedom to align the servo and output arm for optimal pushrod movement. Included in the kit is a support for the carbon pushrod, although I did not use it since it was not the right length and caused the pushrod to bind. By altering the servo mount and servo output horn position it is possible to make the pushrod support work properly, although the servo mounting brackets must be reversed from the factory installed position. Perhaps an adjustable support would be better suited for this task. The unsupported length of pushrod was short enough to allow the support to be abandoned without undue vibration. Century recommends the modeler adjust the servo position and horn configuration to allow use of the pushrod support as the guide reduces lateral stress on the servo, thus prolonging its life. Cut Out Windscreen Cooling Hole Canopy Assembled Grease Thrust Bearings Aluminum Spindle Oil Please One of the few parts not pre-assembled in the Swift ARF kit is the canopy. Cut out the windscreen, drill, and screw it to the blow-molded plastic canopy with the tiny Philips head screws that usually find their way out of my grasp and onto the floor. Add the rubber mounting grommets, and the canopy is ready for the included stickers. I chose to paint my canopy in a hi-visibility white/neon pink/gold scheme. An inspection of the thrust bearings in the pre-assembled rotor head revealed that they are assembled without grease. Remove the bearings and apply a liberal amount of grease to the bearings and both races. Make sure that you re-assemble the thrust bearings correctly - the race with the larger ID is placed inboard. Always remember to lock-tite the hardware. Now is also a good time to apply a bit of oil to the moving linkages. I usually omit this step with my nitro helis as they receive a good dousing of oil while 3D'ing through the exhaust smoke. With the electric models, I periodically check the moving parts and oil as necessary. With Century Motor ESC & RX Mounting Gyro on Bottom With NEU Motor RotorTech 515's Ready To Go 5.4 Pounds w/ Batt Hi-vis Paint New Skids & Paddles The Swift uses electronic 120-degree CCPM swashplate mixing. With Cyclic Collective Pitch Mixing setups, it's critical to use three matching servos and identical length servo arms. I used three JR DS811 digital servos and heavy-duty JR servo arms. Some CCPM designs feature short linkages directly from each servo to the swashplate balls, which dictate the use of 3 identical length servo arms. The Swift control configuration also features a single pushrod from the rear mounted servo directly to the swashplate. Because of servo placement, the two side servos move an intermediate bellcrank, which in turn transfers the motion to the swashplate balls. The center-to-ball distance of the vertical swash linkage on the intermediate bellcrank determines the required servo horn output ball placement length on the rear mounted servo (20.5mm). The servo horn ball placement on the two side mounted servos must match the ball placement lengths on the intermediate bellcranks, which is 12.5mm. Confused? Then trust the RCUniverse heli gurus and follow these directions. Place the output ball on the rear servo horn at 20.5mm. The dual output balls on the two side mounted servos should be placed at 12.5mm each, from the center of the servo horn. I was left to figure this out on my own, as ball placement on the servo horns is not covered in the manual. The elevator servo should be installed first as its installed facing inside the chassis. This servo, as mounted, placed the output horn out of alignment (left of centerline). The output ball needs to be inline with the helicopter mainshaft to eliminate control interaction. To remedy this situation, I added two spacers which are included in the kit. The instructions did not explain why they are required, or how they should be installed. Add the spacers under the servo mounting tabs to move the servo horn farther inward. The two roll servos are then mounted, and servo horns attached. Once all three servos are mounted and links prepared, plug all three into the receiver and center the throttle/collective stick. Be sure that your transmitter is set to three-servo 120-degree mixing. Now install the servo arms making sure that they are exactly horizontal. It's acceptable to use small amounts of sub trim to achieve proper centering. Attach the pushrods to the servo arms and swashplate and check the operation of the swashplate. It should rise and fall with the throttle/collective stick without any interaction. Also check that left is left, right is right, etc. When all is working correctly, install the rudder servo and attach the tail rotor pitch pushrod. Adjustment of the tail rotor pushrod follows the gyro installation. I mounted the Futaba GY401 gyro to the under side of the front platform, using double stick foam tape. Century offers an upgrade gyro mounting plate, which allows you to place the gyro aft of the mainshaft, above the tail drive pinion housing. I chose to mount the gyro up front. After making the necessary endpoint adjustments with the gyro potentiometer, I added a few wraps of electrical tape to the unit to further secure it to the helicopter should the foam tape fail. As the punchline goes, "It is disconcerting to the passengers to see parts of the aircraft lost in flight." Trust me, it's similarly disconcerting to the rc pilot, should the gyro come loose in flight. To control the motor, I used a Castle Creations Phoenix 80 brushless controller. Several options for parameter adjustment can be made, either through a sequence of blinking lights and tones where selections are made with the throttle stick position, or by using the handy USB interface and a computer. Although a little confusing at first, I was able to configure the Phoenix 80 using the throttle stick. Make certain that you DO NOT HAVE THE MAIN BLADES ATTACHED TO THE ROTOR HEAD when programming the speed controller. Also be sure to restrain the airframe as it's possible for the motor to spool up unexpectedly, which can cause serious injury. If you are at all unsure of how to do this safely, PLEASE seek the help of an experienced modeler. I set the governor mode & throttle curves to give approximately 2000 rpm headspeed. Due to the constraints of the Phoenix 80 when used with the 6s battery pack (beyond the BEC rating), I needed to add a small battery to power the servos, gyro and receiver. Install the receiver, battery and switch. As you route the servo leads through the chassis and around the main shaft, make sure that they do not rub against any moving parts (like the out-runner motor) or sharp edges (use an exacto to dull the edges of the plastic frames where wires might touch). Ideally, a BEC should be used to further eliminate weight. In my case, I also needed a switch for the 600mah receiver battery. The switch mounting position on the electronics tray does not allow for convenient access when the canopy is on. I had to make a wire extension to actuate this switch. The Futaba 14MZ radio has many options for adjusting the control of CCPM swashplates. I made a few adjustments to these settings as needed to resolve any control interaction. The 14MZ transmits servo signals in groups (as opposed to the standard sequential channel signal transmission), commanding each servo in that group simultaneously to a desired position. I grouped the three swashplate servos together to eliminate any possibility of control delay during a swashplate command. I chose to set the pitch ranges to suit my flying preferences as follows: Flight Mode Low Stick Half Stick High Stick Normal -5.5 degrees 2.5 degrees 11 degrees 3D -11 degrees 0 degrees 11 degrees -5.5 degrees 2.5 degrees 11 degrees Autorotation The final assembly step is a check of the center-of-gravity balance point. Our Swift balanced right on the money. The ready-to-fly weight (including the battery) is 5.4 pounds. From the first time I flew it, I was really impressed with the ease of hovering the Swift. It's smooth and yet quite responsive. Tracking the main blades was easy, needing hardly any tweaking. As equipped, the Swift will leap off the ground like a bottle rocket and scream across the sky with headspeeds above 2000rpm. Expect to put on a 6-7 minute of jaw-dropping 3D airshow that will make you the envy of your flying buddies. Air Time Flying the Swift really gets my adrenaline going the instantaneous torque from the electric motor gives maneuvers plenty of pop. The Century 600 outrunner has monster torque, and flew the Swift with authority. The performance with the NEU motor was also fantastic - plenty of power for all those nasty 3D maneuvers that would leave a nitro engine begging for mercy. I added 30% expo to the cyclic, finding a good balance between responsiveness and control. The 120 degree CCPM response is instantaneous, and ultra-precise. Rolling maneuvers are quick. Collective response is powerful, given the available torque of three DS811 servos, and super-fast response of the electric powerplant. Fast pirouettes, asymmetrical loops, tick-tocks, funnels, hurricanes, piro-flips, backward rolls, and death spirals are typical stunts during a Swift flight. The stock flybar paddles are quick, but not as stable as I prefer. Tracking in forward flight was imprecise, resulting from the thin, "pitchy" paddles. I swapped them for a pair of Thunder Tiger "greenies", which really focused the tracking, yet retained the super quick cyclic rates that make the Swift so snappy. Charging a 6s li-po is no easy task. I used an Astro Flight 109 Lithium charger to refuel the TanicPacks battery, with flawless results. Simply connect the battery and adjust the current level and the 109 automatically determines the number of cells in the pack and corresponding charge parameters. The charger "times out" after 1 hour of charge as a safety precaution. The stock landing gear is weak, and will break if you're not very careful to land the Swift softly. We snapped a skid off by landing with a bit of forward speed. However, even this damage was not enough to turn RCU Michael Kranitz's smile upside down. (Editor's Note: Century has addressed this concern. The Swift kits currently being shipped have revised landing gear parts that have been beefed up in the critical areas. All new kits currently shipping have the revised parts.) The flexibility of the landing gear exhibits some ground resonance vibration on spool-down, but it wasn't a major problem. Everyone who has had a turn at the sticks of the Swift has been impressed with its smoothness and performance! See the Century Swift in action! Small Video ------- Large Video The mostly pre-assembled $249 Swift is inexpensive, and delivers lots of 3D excitement. Part quality is good, although some parts would benefit from redesign. Assembly of the ARF kit is quick, and the instruction manual is fair - lacking in some important details, although the pictures are quite helpful. I found a few design issues in building the Swift - the anti-rotation link that binds against the linkage, and the tall mast collar that limits swashplate travel. The stock flybar paddles are responsive, but pitchy in forward flight. The landing gear is flimsy, and won't withstand abuse. These are relatively minor issues. Overall, the helicopter is designed well and the performance of the review model is absolutely sparkling. Maneuvers are stunningly crisp, thanks to the compact 120 degree CCPM controls. 3D maneuvers are well within the Swifts capability, and autos are predictable. Loops and rolls have the authority of a 50 sized nitro model. The rock solid tail control from the well designed tail pitch mechanism makes even the most fledgling pilots confident. The Swift is a bargain electric in this size, and its fantastic performance won't disappoint! Century Swift 16 Helicopter, 600 Outrunner Motor Manufactured by: Century Helicopter Products 1740-C Junction Ave. San Jose, CA 95112 U.S.A Phone:(408) 451-1155 Fax:(408) 451-1156 Website: www.centuryheli.com email: [email protected] Tanic Packs 6s 3650mah Lithium-Polymer Battery Pack Manufactured by: Tanic Packs 4609 West 75th St. Prairie Village, KS 66208 U.S.A Phone:(800) RCTOYS-6 Website: www.tanicpacks.com email: [email protected] Castle Creations Phoenix 80 Brushless Speed Control Manufactured by: Castle Creations 235 S. Kansas Ave. Olathe, KS 66061 U.S.A Phone:(913) 390-6939, Fax: (913) 390-6164 Website: www.castlecreations.com email: sales@castlecreations com Futaba Electronics (14MZHP radio, GY401 gyro, S9253 servo) Distributed by: Great Planes Model Distributors P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61820 U.S.A Phone:(217) 398-6300 Website: www.futaba-rc.com email: [email protected] JR Electronics (DS811 servos) Distributed by: Horizon Hobby 4105 Fieldstone Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 Support Phone: (877) 504-0233 Sales Phone: (800) 338-4639 Website: www.horizonhobby.com email: [email protected] Quick UK Mast Collar Manufactured by: Quick UK Unit 2, Threshold Way West Entrance Fairoaks Airport Chobham, Woking, Surrey GU24 8HX, England Support Phone: (979) 828-4269 Fax: (979) 828-4269 Website: www.quickuk.co.uk/acatalog/r_index.htm email: [email protected] NEU 1907 1.5Y Brushless Motor Distributed by: TPpacks.com Coto de Caza, CA U.S.A Website: www.tppacks.com email: [email protected] Comments on RCU Review: Century Swift Posted by: Phily on 10/07/2008 Profile Page: 1 The comments, observations and conclusions made in this review are solely with respect to the particular item the editor reviewed and may not apply generally to similar products by the manufacturer. We cannot be responsible for any manufacturer defects in workmanship or other deficiencies in products like the one featured in the review. 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