New 550 on the way!

[warpspeed]

The wife decided she was tired of hearing me debating the virtues of various 500 sized machines and settled the issue for me-should have the new 550CF here in a few days!
I was hoping you guys would chime in with your opinions about setting up for duration. This will be strictly a scale bird (I'm thinkin Apache fuse at the moment, but that may change) so naturally my main goal is looong flight times.

Here's my initial thought:
Century 550+/CC 45 running an 11th pinion and 515mm blades. 4s/10000ma Maxamps pack.

I'd really like to run a 4s setup to avoid the typical lipo extortion, and from what I've found out so far either the Century 550+ or the Z30A 1100 are the motors of choice for that particular battery. Thing is I don't want to limit myself in case I change my mind and decide to do a little 3/4D (Not capable of full 3D :roll: ) so I'm wondering if maybe the 600+ would be a better choice.

Couple of questions. If I choose the 600, am I looking for trouble running it on 4 cells? I'm thinking it may not be very efficient at that voltage. Along those same lines the CC45 probably wouldn't work for the 600 right?
I thought I might run the CC85 even if it's overkill just to give me some flexibility, but from what I understand ESC's work best at 100%-Am I looking at performance issues if I use that particular speedo with the 550 on 4s?

I'd really appreciate your opinons!

[Greybird]

warpspeed, the Z30100 is the same as the 600+. It can be run on 4-6S. The 550 is just for 4S. Look at TPpacks. The Z motors have better cooling. With my long flights, 19 minutes on the 4S 10,000, (I still returned less than 8000, it might get 20 minutes) the motor and ESC are only warm.My ESC is the CC45HV. For scale, you go even lower on the headspeed. Mine is about 1750. Keep in mind, I can fly back and forth, and circles, Some sloppy stall turns, is about it. If you do a lot of climbouts, things may be hotter.

[Greybird]

Did you order the remaining aluminum parts? Like the tailbox, grips, boom mount, control arms,etc? If I order the 550, it will need ALL the bling.

[warpspeed]

Thanks Greybird, that's good to know. Haven't ordered anything yet-I was going to wait until the kit got here to see if it needed additional bling, but if you know of certain problem areas I'd be grateful for your advice. (I've never owned a Century product before) Of course, I said the same thing about the T600 and somehow it managed to get blinged before it ever left the ground! BTW, I don't think the kit comes with blades-are the 520 woodies considered the "stock" size? The price sure is right. Have you had any experience with them?

[Greybird]

I use the woodies,they work fine. Mine are balanced with no tape. You are 180 dollars away from ALL the bling. If it was me, I could not resist.

[aramsdell]

If you are going to use the 550+ and 4S you will want a larger speed controller. I have my newest creation on 4S and 550+. See Swift Driven tail posts. I haven't posted any finished pictures yet but it's got 5 flights on it now. This will eat a 4S bat. faster than the 600+ will on the same blades. I only run a 55/70 Century Electron in my bird with the 600+ motor. In the 550+ bird I have the Century 80/100. If you are going to do scale then you want to hide the ESC. May as well have overkill so it doesn't get hot in there !

[warpspeed]

^^^ Exactly! ^^^ I was thinking it over and decided in case I wanted more power it would be nice to not have to buy ANOTHER speedo and motor, so the 600+ and CC HV85 are on the way! Just hope that combo does well on a 4s lipo-I'm following Greybird's lead and will be using the Maxamps 10000mah pack, probably 11th pinion to start with.

BTW, what do you guys think of the 620SE canopy? Kinda futuristic looking.....

[Rodan]

Are you looking at the Approach Apache for this?

I'm looking at their e-Cobra for a conversion to AH-1W, and am just starting to research the project (don't know much about the Century helis).

How 'bout a build thread when you get started... :wink:

[warpspeed]

I was thinking about converting Century's Airwolf fuse, but I'll have to check into the Approach version-I'm a fair scratch builder but if I can get one pre-molded I'd rather go that route.

As far as a build thread I suppose I could post my progress here but it may be a little slow going as this is my busy season at work. However, if it doesn't bore you guys too much I'd be willing to give it a go.

On that note, here's a parts update-The CC85 and 401 combo showed up today, 9451's should be here Monday or Tuesday, and yes Greybird, all the bling (except grips, apparently they have issues) will be here about the same time. Still trying to decide if I want to run a separate RX battery or not so no movement on that front.

It's tough leaving this thing sitting in the box when I'm DYING to start building but I guess wallet torture will have to do for now!

[warpspeed]

RE: CCHV85
W....T.....F??? This thing is MONSTROUS! I had no idea they were so huge and it has got to tip the scales at over a pound. Geez talk about serious overkill. I may have to run a 6s setup just to carry the weight of the speedo!

[warpspeed]

Ok, I've got a quick question for you Swift owners. I was looking thru the manual and it appears that all electronics get mounted on the top of the battery tray, and the lipo hangs from the bottom. As mentioned above the CC85 is big-is there enough space to mount it with the bec and rx lipo? Or should I just ditch the extra weight and go with a true battery eliminator?

[RAV50]

Make sure that you check a few items. Mine is one of the first production kits out their door two weeks ago. I found a couple of niggles.

a) received the wrong mainshaft. It needs the longer one from the triple bearing mainshaft upgrade kit for the standard Swift, it came with the standard shorter mainshaft

b) it was missing the 3.5mm spacers that go between the side cyclic bellcranks

c) it came with M4x10 for the flybar carrier instead of the M3 x 10 required

d) it had 4mm ID spacers that go between the flybar paddles and the seesaw instead of the required 3mm ones.

e) two of the control rods did not have the threads spiral threaded on om end. They loked threaded but were really only grooved circles!! (never saw that before) So if you have trouble getting a link to thread on a rod, check for this.

When I notified the shop I bought them from, he was quickly sent the proper replacements, so I received them all before having completed the build - so they did not cause me any delays. But if you check these items out before starting to build, and find any need replacement, you might as well get them ASAP.

I use the RT560 mains, the 600+ motor with the 9T pinion, the 80 Amp speed control, seperate RX battery pack, 5151 servos, 401/9254 gyro combo, 6 cell 5000 mah EVO battery packs.

Flight report GREAT!!! This thing ROX!!

Be sure you thread the flybar paddles all the way into the paddles (about 22 turns) and then apply some thin CA to lock them on....don't ask me how I know :oops:

[warpspeed]

Now I'm worried! I haven't even opened the box other than lifting the lid and taking a quick peek-figured there was no point until all the bling got here. Mine came from Tower and it doesn't look like they stock any of the parts you mentioned yet, so I guess I'll have to contact Century directly if I have the same troubles.

That's going to really slow down the build! :bomb:

Just in case, anyone ever had any experience w/Century customer service?

Edit-after checking it looks like I may be missing the same items. The bellcrank spacers are definitely not included. I have no idea how long the main shaft should be so don't know if it's the right one or not. Rav50, have you got part numbers? Looks like the bellcrank spacer is CNE588 and the flybar spacer is CNE525 but not sure about what you mean on the flybar carriers-are you referring to the bearings, part # CNBB1030?

[hopntod]

I am missing CNE558 also.Without them,the bell-crank to swash linkage will hit the frame at full -.Other than that,I got everything.todd

[Philie]

I am missing CNE558 also.Without them,the bell-crank to swash linkage will hit the frame at full -.Other than that,I got everything.todd

I have the new kit and also missing bell crank spacers! not only that the notch in the boom is not perpendicular to the holes on the other end..makes the tail sit on a bad angle when put in place! and also was missing the upper shaft collar!
Parts are on the way from the place I ordered it from :lol: in my case It sucks because I have to wait :(

[hopntod]

My tailboom was the same as yours.I widened the slot at the front but if you have to wait for parts that is not much help. todd

[Philie]

Ok got my parts that were missing. Finished the build go to set up electronics place the swash and what the f@#$ ....I got the wrong main shaft!!! :arggg: :arggg: :arggg: :bomb: Looks like I got the swift 16 shaft :!: More waiting for parts that should have been double check when packaged!!!! Now I have to wait even longer :bomb: