Swift AP

[aramsdell]

Any front mount cams on the Swift 16? Got Pix? Got suggestions? Got underslung? Pix? suggestons? I got the basic ARF package. Hacker A30 - 8 XL and FP 4S 3700. What's this giving for flight times if you have it? Has anyone used 550's with this motor? What pinion?

[AZ ChopperCam]

550's with that motor probably not the best setup. I used one with 500's on my Logo for a while and then stretched it with 550's and tried to run the same motor. it flew but it was a dog.

[aramsdell]

The Swift flys nice. This ARF would make a good scale platform. I'm sure it will make a decent AP ship. I may end up changing motor and definately increasing bat size over the 4s 3700 that it came with. The ARF comes with an 11 T pinion on the A30-8xl. I bought spare parts and got a 9 T and 10 T. My thinking is that with a 9 or 10 I can unload the motor a little and still swing the 550's. We'll see. It's just a balancing job away. I flew her this afternoon after work in 25 degrees and 5 mph wind. This is no huge 3 D machine out of the box ARF. Other Versions were available for that. I chose this motor because I thought I might get some endurance out of it. I did manage a loop on low rates with no problem though. Have you seen Maxamps huge lipos? http://www.maxamps.com/index.html?lmd=39058.624850

[askman]

I used to make lightweight nose mount for swift last year. it was designed for lighter camera. I have discontinued it in favor of leg type setup, as it is easier to keep in stock.

[aramsdell]

I may buy another canopy and modify the front of the Swift 16 for a tilt mount. The combo ARF that I got (there are 4 or 5) had the less powerful motor and smallish 4S 3700 FP bat. This ends up tail-heavy even with the FP bat pushed all the way forwrd and a 4cell nimh flight bat up front. My plan was for a 3-5 amp SBEC at 5 v because of my JR 500T gyro requires that but for now until all equip is installed it keeps the flight bat. Front mount cam setup will balance her nicely and a larger pack will center out under the C.G.

[aramsdell]

DJ Veigh, on your Logo did you drop pinion size? I'm hoping to lower the pinion and wind it up with the 550's on it.

[staplegun]

I have a Swift with the front Askman mount. Will post a pic shortly.

[AZ ChopperCam]

dropping down a tooth on the pinion is not likely to make much of a difference with that Hacker. You'll be better of getting a more powerful motor in my opinion.

[AeroMattics]

I have a Swift, setup for AP, swinging 550s and lovin it. I have the Century 600 plus and a 9t pinion powered with 5s or 6s lipos.

I am currently using a HCS underslung mount, which I prefer over the front mounts only because it's a no brainer when isolating vibes and I can fly the Swift without the AP gear at any time.

I would take a look at the Z-Power motors, the 30A series 800kv or 1100kv and a 9t pinion. Perfect for the Swift swinging 550s. Gary of www.tppacks.com is the dealer.

Matt

[aramsdell]

Aeromatics, Is the 1100 kv motor for 4S packs? I have a 4S 4000 showing up from Maxamps shortly. I will have 2 then. I was on their site last night. They have 10,000 mah lipos packs now about 29 oz I think for a 4S 10K. Only a little larger than my 3700.

[AeroMattics]

You can run 4s, but you'd be better off with 5s or 6s. I use 5s 5000mah packs for AP and get about 8-9 minutes out of them. The Century 600 plus is about an 1100kv motor as well.

I'd be a little worried about working a 4s pack to hard.
With the 5s and 6s you wouldn't need to worry about changing the pinion, you could leave the 9t on and have a great AP setup on 5s and a great 3D setup on 6s.
Just my 2...

[aramsdell]

AeroMattics, Swift 4S combo with that hacker hass 11T pinion, the Flight Power bat I.m not worried about working too hard as it is a New Formulation 20/30/50c pack. I'm not running down to cutoff. It gets stronger and longer(according to what goes back in) each flight.
I'm a little concerned about the tail rotor setup. The split plastic case design looks a little weak. it was actually moving as I twisted it a little so I wicked a tiny amt of thin ca into the crack just to help fix it in place. The belt tension (like almost anything important) isn't spelled out in the instructions that came with the ARF. Is there a good manual online that gives a good clue as to proper set-up? The manal def. sucks.

Here is the suggested tracking procedure. A picture of 2 blades with one much higher than the other and a quote "very bad". Next picture of the blades with one tracking one thickness higher than the other with the quote "better" Yep we're all tracked-in now huh?
The manual doesn't describe the position of the mixing arms at any collective setting let alone 0 deg pitch. Exact lengths are given for control rods but they aren't quite right when you acually get everything installed.
I shortened some by 1/4 " Washout base was topping out . Are bell mixing arms supposed to be at 90 deg to main shaft at 0 deg pitch?

The manual left out a lot. Good thing I can build a TREX wtithout a manual. The knowledge gained in the shop really helped me out.
BTW. It flies great as I set it up. I haven't tried any hard 3D yet . It's only been up 5 times due to work and weather. Today loops, rolls, back-flips.

[AeroMattics]

You can find some tail mods as well as other mods and building tips at www.swift-tuning.com

The manual does have it's issues.

Concerning your motor/battery combo... If you plan to add AP gear (weight), you'll want the extra lift from 550mm blades but the Hacker on 4s will not cut it.
One of the other motors would probably provide more power and run cooler.

[aramsdell]

Century has two 600 size motors. 715 kv and 1110 kv. Has anyone used the Century 600 1110 kv motor on 4 or 5 series lipos? What was the amp draw at hover/max?

[aramsdell]

Just got my upgrade parts. Installed 600+ motor and used 11T pinion from Hacker A30. Both motors are 1100'ish kv. I only got to fly for about 3 minutes. It was dark,windy and cold! This motor and the 4S FP3700 bat. are outstanding. Like I said....didn't even get a whole battery through it but WOW!. The Hacker is going to go into something much smaller so it isn't overloaded. It always landed very hot even in 30 degree F temps.

[AeroMattics]

Your getting 1700ish on the head then, wait till you try 5s with that gearing and then you'll be hoppin! :wink:

[aramsdell]

Matt, I took her to the club field this AM. I was having so much fun I tried a couple of missed approach autos. This thing just floats down! The last one The speed ctrl didn't ramp up fast enough and...... parts.
Luckily I have almost everything to get back up and they were upgrades just waiting for an excuse.
Crash assesment by NTSB :

Pilot error and cold temperatures combined to cloud the pilots mind.
A state of euphoria resulting from large amounts of adrenaline and probalby endorphins caused the man to overlook the obviously approaching ground for too long resulting in spare parts.

I'll be flying real soon .

Boom/main shaft/blades/flybar/tail blades.