See the Constant Drive for Swift 16 !

[aramsdell]

Can the S-16 be upgraded to constant drive tail with the new 550 parts from Century?

[Coolice]

Hey,

No, I dont think it possible as the 550 frames are so different and so the parts to fit that machine will not retro-fit onto the Swift16.

Good idea, but I dont think it will work.

Best option is to hold out for perhaps a 550 upgrade if it comes out, but I do not know of one and so we shall have to see.
.

[Chris DeSain]

No,
Unfortunatly there are so many changes to the 550 that a upgrade or conversion kit will just not $$ make sense for Century to bring to market.

On a good note ! I know many cheat on the swift16
It is very simple to drive the tail on the swift16 for autos. In the throttle hold setting just keep a little throttle on. It is enough to power the tail in the auto. So when doing a push over your tail will not blow out. If you watch the Century videos that is what they did to keep the tail on thier low low pushover autos.

[aramsdell]

By the looks, A quick redesign of the plastic main frames that drops the tail boom mount lower to accomodate the new 550 carbon's extra gear/ hub and raises the motor mount plate a tad should just about do it.
Chris, when can I get the lower gear hub from a 550 carbon to try this. It's been out of stock Heli-World? I have some CF plate for a 1st go at it.

[Chris DeSain]

The New Auto bearing is showing in stock again on the web

[aramsdell]

Chris, I'm looking for the lower hub that holds the lower gear locked to the main shaft. http://www.heli-world.com/detail.aspx?ID=8734

[Chris DeSain]

Got ya I missed that as the pic is not showing yet

[aramsdell]

Chris , Any idea when alot of these out of stock parts will wash up on our side of the big lake? I'm waiting to see the purple bell mixer arms myself.

[aramsdell]

Looks like my part is coming. Gear flange for a Logo 10 will work I believe. I'll have to make CF plates to lower the tail boom to hit the new lower gear.I'll probably have to carry the plates forward and pick up the 3rd brg block . Stay tuned. The flange shipped today. Century website has nice exploded view of the parts you can't get. I wonder(read conspiracy theory) if they won't be available until X-number of Carbon 550's have shipped?
Even if parts were avail. now, the rework still has to happen. Maybe someone more clever than myself will also do this and offer new sideframes and cut Century out of the deal? Hey Century give us the frames or we'll do it!

[Chris DeSain]

No unfortunatly the reps do not know till they show up on line as in stock same as the customers most times. In fact untill they open the container the sales staff does not know for sure.

[aramsdell]

Logo 10 gear flange arrived. Swift is going tp get a driven tail if it kills you. This part must be made by same guys. This is plastic but it fits the Century main gear perfectly, bolt holes shaft size and hole where flange goes through gear ! Just add screws!

[aramsdell]

This is going to happen. My current plan is to lower the boom. I will grind out the inside of the frames where the transmission bolts in and add carbon fiber plates and redrill lower.
If any one would like to join me in this venture and say make a new cnc sideframe set let's do it. Whoever makes new frames can probably sell a bunch. The solid 3 brg shaft works for my current design. New sideframes and another shaft I have used will, I believe allow using the 3rd brg block too.

[nitrohuffer]

Nice work! I'm just getting my swift together, but this is going to be put on the "to do" list.

[aramsdell]

Stay tuned here. Short delay. I had to steal both main gears ,this weekend, to repair Autorot. damage twice. I seem to get 10 - 13 in then I change something and whap!
Driven tail will resume shortly. Pony express has parts in their saddle bags and ridin' this way.

[aramsdell]

Work continues! I had a few minutes tonight to rough cut the remaining CF parts. The 4 small pieces go between the doublers where there isn't any frame material. The holes in one pair (Left) are from trial mounting with 2mm screws.

I would like to remind everyone that these are the original style weak frames not the upgraded frames now available. Construction would be similar.

[aramsdell]

Swift Driven Tail continues. Life's ups and here (downs) take a toll. The work has resumed yet again. Tonight I have hung the tail boom on with 2 3mm cap screws through the CF doublers. I'll get the rest installed tomorrow. Pictures tomorrow, it's late now. The plastic Logo 10 flange that holds the gear looks flimsy. Hey any Logo 10 owners break this piece? It's expensive enough (over $10) someone's making bucks on it.
This is looking really good now. I imagine this ship will need the 550's to auto or a really good pilot. Finless , trip to Maine?

[aramsdell]

Did a little work on the driven tail. PIX !

[Wheelhaus]

Got the PM.. Nice Work!

[aramsdell]

My tinker time is short right now as the great outdoors is once again available to us. The driven-tail-Swift is SLOWLY being finished. The mechanical construction is nearly complete. All the mechanical for the driven tail is done, I am just finishing up with adding a custom brace between the legs of the rear landing gear strut. I've shown this on another thread. It stiffens the rear strut and eliminates many of the shakes. Servos are going in now.
This is going to be my primary camera ship. It'll get tested for functionality but then I'm going back to my sport ship to do autos.
I did four autos this weekend in fairly high wind. That wasn't a problem. Luckily I had no problem because I was using my last set of blades... Rotortech 515 carbons. Unscathed thank goodness.

[aramsdell]

The work goes on..... CCPM servos now all in. Linkages next.

[aramsdell]

Radio going slow. I'm slowly planning my radio layout. I'm shortening the servo leads so I have no coiled wires on this bird. This is not only a test bed/ 1 of a kind hack, it is also to be my new camera-ship. This also makes it a showcase for me and it must look professional. I'm going on the assumption that my New Royal Evo 9 ch. Is going to be upgraded to 2.4ghz with the XPS module. XPS says no problem for their system with a 1 watt 2.4 downlink tx at 8 inches away ! I'm not going to use 1 watt by any means but they say no prob!
Component layout for the radio is under way. I have to make a little mount for the receiver and the AP2000i IR flight stabiliser. This is determining the length of the servo cables etc.......
Then there is the landing gear for a camera carrying bird..... I may do a chop on the front radio tray and design a front mount camera.

[aramsdell]

Things are going slow. The new constant drive is only waiting for the radio to be finished. This is supposed to be test bed and camera ship with my AP2000. I may break down and just fly it with the constant tail to finish off this thread then continue on to build it into my newest camera ship.
EDIT: Not enough time to build but plenty to fly.... I'll have to pray for rain.

[aramsdell]

OK ! It flys !!!
It's not finished yet. Proof of concept flight an hour ago in a fair wind, 5-15, Flies great. She's not pretty yet being covered in tyewraps and velcro and no canopy but I love her like only Dr Frankenstein can. I'll keep posting here for a while. I have a plastic hub from a Logo 10 driving the tail gear. That is of a little concern as it looks pretty cheezy. Century still says out-of-stock for the metal part for 550/600. They probalby will still after they see this one flies !

Hey Genovia. I want the real deal part for this. It is a SWIFT !
I love it just like my first(and current) Swift.

[aramsdell]

Yes it flies ! Did an auto last night and turned with rudder on way down. She's flying on 520mm blades. They are smallish for a Swift in an auto let alone drawing energy for the tail rotor. Good landing none the less. I will be trying some 500mm blades on this as I have the 550+ in this bird and 2- 4S packs to use with it. That should really liven it up.
Century beat me with the Driven tail but hey it was /is fun.
Century how about chopped and dropped? Shorter tail boom and 500mm blades or less. I may beat you.

[aramsdell]

Swapped to Rotortech 515 carbons. I can consistantly auto with these small blades BUT there isn't much hang time !!! Smooth and quiet !