New to scale questions

[tad]

Getting back into flying after long downtime. Building x-cell Razor. Once I get flying up to speed I would like to get into scale but don't know which direction to go. I know I want nothing to do with t-rex stuff. Really want to build Hughes 500D. Should I go with complete kit from Vario or in another direction? I need a lot of help with this one

[Salamander]

Vario demands a big pocket book. Try CENTURY 30 or 50 size first. viz, Century Agusta 109 with HAWK mechanics kit. Plenty of scope there. You could also buy the HIROBO Lama 30 size now reduced in price. Needs a bit of work to make it scale (or semi scale) such as imitation fuel tank behind the cockpit bubble. Plenty of gen on doing this on forums.:thumbup:

[Rodan]

When you say you want nothing to do with "t-rex stuff", what do you mean?

The 600E is a pretty good platform for a scale ship, and even the 600Ns are starting to show up in scale fuselages. Also, parts and technical support are widespread.

Vario makes some very nice stuff. They are expensive, and will be challenging for a first build, although you will face many of the same challenges with a Century/Funkey fuselage, as they don't usually include woodwork. The Thunder Tiger fuselages for the Raptors are inexpensive, and a good value. The kits go together very easily (on the intended mechanics), and look good in the air. If you treat them to paint and a little scale detail they can turn out very nicely.

It all depends on what you want to do...

[RAV50]

Rodan What do you mean when you said "although you will face many of the same challenges with a Century/Funkey fuselage, as they don't usually include woodwork." ?

I have built a number of scale Century fuselages over the years and they all included the woodwork?

For really easy intro into scale flying try the Century 30 size S-300 or their 50 size Bell 47GII.

[Rodan]

I just bought a 60 sized Century Jet Ranger, and it came with nothing other than the fuse and "glass". No skids, no woodwork, and virtually no instructions. I've seen several other threads to that effect on other forums... Maybe things have changed? Did you order kits that came with mechanics, as opposed to just a fuselage?

Just going from what I have seen lately, and my recent personal experience....

[Heli8ight]

I just ordered a Century Bell 222 for my T-rex 600E the description says it comes with pre-cut plywood???? I guess i better call!!!

Neil

[Rodan]

Well, I just took another look at their website, and the Ranger page (the one I have) says:

"This Bell Jet Ranger® is equipped with the necessary hardware, pre-cut installed plywood, and top quality polished fiberglass."

The pictures don't show any woodwork, and I figured I would have to make my own (using TRex 600E mechs) anyway. I didn't really read the description...

I guess I'll be giving them a call tomorrow. FWIW, a friend just got a Century Predator Gasser, and it's been a disaster. Instruction pages printed out of order, missing parts, wrong hardware, etc...

[RAV50]

Rodan,

I have a Predator Gasser that I found as easy to build as my MinAir one. Then again I have a friend who has both also and had a number of problems assembling both.

But I think that is because he came from "plastic phantastic" 30 and 50 helis to the far more complex gassers that require far more assembly and understanding, specially about dial indicating for minimum run-out and the increased importance of precision alignment in areas of the clutch and clutch bell.

Fortunately some of us in the club, who are more experienced in the assembly of these more complex machines, had them both assembled properly and running well is short order for him.

As for scale fuselages mated to mechanics, the easiest ones I have found to get in the air quickly, are the ones from Century, that come with Century's own scale mechanics, such as their CN10... series (e.g. CN1082A or the CN1081ABK)). They come with the bulkheads already glued in place and fit in position, such that the mechanics they come with slip right in and bolt right on.

I had started one on a Wednesday evening and had it flying by Sunday morning. Can't get much easier then that.

[Rodan]

The friend building the Predator Gasser is a highly experienced builder (~40 years in RC), and the predator will be his 5th fuel heli, so he's no tyro.

My Ranger is going to be a complex build because of the mechanics I have chosen, so it's really no loss to me that it came without woodwork. I'm just surprised considering their website indicates it should have. I'm sure installing the intended mechanics is easy enough. My MD530 (Thunder Tiger) went together on the intended Raptor 50 mechanics in about 6 hours. It's only when you start changing things up that it gets interesting...

My comments above were intended to reflect my experience with Century's customer service, which I have found to be less than satisfying...