Latest & Greatest

[hornblower]

hi, newbe here in the UK, I re-opened a closed topic on another forum with the question "what is the latest and greatest dam turbine out there" and it got closed again. :? :? :?
Lets try it here and see the response on a proper forum, so will everybody blow their own trumpet as to why you might think your turbine is the best, or not? I`d like to know whats available and where to buy one from? I`m looking initially to fly pod and boom and be able to do extreme aerobatics. and can we please stick to the open forum and avoid pm :glasses2:

[1275mini]

Century Airframe Wren power plant you will not go wrong :lol:
but there is lots of different combinations about

[hornblower]

ok, thats the predator and wren, a good combination by the sound of it, but I believe although quite popular, it`s only an entry level turbine kit, I`ve been reading on another forum that everyone is having to upgrade it to make it bigger and stiffer, so why not be bigger and stiffer at the beginning? how much does it cost to start with and then add all the up-grades, is everyone happy with it after up-grading it? I`ve been told twice now about this combination so it`s going into my wish list at the top, I like the zealous also but I don`t think it`s aerobatic enough, keep em cummin :smokin:

[WillJames]

I have flown Greg Alderman's Zealous and also his Bergen a few times each and the Bergen is WAY more aerobatic of the two. There is really no comparison.

I go to a lot of events, (approx 20+ a year) and from what I am seeing, the Bergen is by far the most aerobatic Turbine flying today period, and the one I would buy. It is based on the Gasser EB Airframe which I have owned and it is a VERY tough and time proven airframe.

[Dr.Tim]

Lets not forget about the LM Odyssey .. the same helicopter Alan Szabo did the 3d routine at IRCHA 2004!! I own that helicopter now and after all that flying Alan did the helicopter is still as solid a performer as it was when Alan received it 2 years ago!!! The Helicopter is sold at www.starwoodmodels.com .. Have a look! I love it!

Dr.Tim

[chopper jockey]

I`d like to pitch in here please gentlemen, I had my hands tied on the other site...
If you check out www.hobbyparts.com you may well find just what you are looking for. You have available the fantastic vario acrobat (metal head, 810 blades,12mm shaft, 25mm boom, 3 or 4 eccpm, choice of up to 1600 headspeed+, over 20 mins flying time and a choice of the latest two stage turbines with kero start on each). take a look in my gallery. :cool: :cool: and If you already have an acrobat then that`s even less to buy, work it out, you will find it`s a top level piece of kit for your money. :)

[Sara]

There are several helicopter conversions available for the Wren helicopter engine in the UK. The Predator has been mentioned, and the Vario Acrobat from Hobbyparts. There is also a Robbe Cuatro conversion available from Wren or from Skyline models. Skyline's Bob Johnson, one of the UK's top 3D pilots, has been flying the Wren/Cuatro since last July and is very happy with it.

Sara Parish
Wren Turbines

[richie1967_uk]

i am half way through a wren/cuatro build. The cuatro kit is an extremely nice kit. I was flying the predator/wren and it was a great heli, however as mentioned there is some stretching and mods to do before it is at its best. The cuatro is big enough for my 810 blades from the box. I didnt change from predator to cuatro because i was unhappy with it (someone made me an offer i couldnt refuse) However having built both kits i do think that the cuatro is more suited for turbine conversion. I will post some pics of the cuatro build as soon as i get organised!!

[Heli_jack]

Lesseeee, for helicopters there are systems/mechanics made by

PAHL=mechanics and turbine
PJW = turbine
Wren=turbine
SSM= mechanics
Len Mount=mechanics for Jaka
JetCat=mechanics and turbine unit
HotCat = mechanics and turbine unit
HobbyParts= conversion kits for wren to Predator, Vario, Cuatro

I do like the mfg's being able to speak freely over here.

Manufacturers and resellers. I am not clear on all the issues on this site, but it would be nice if you helped support the site for Will's pocketbook and for the rest of us to learn. We all would appreciate it.

Jack

[WillJames]

Manufacturers and resellers. I am not clear on all the issues on this site, but it would be nice if you helped support the site for Will's pocketbook and for the rest of us to learn. We all would appreciate it.



Thank you Jack

Thanks also to everyone for sharing good and honest information!!

[Donovan Dow]

[quote="Heli_jack"]Lesseeee, for helicopters there are systems/mechanics made by

PAHL=mechanics and turbine
PJW = turbine
Wren=turbine
SSM= mechanics
Len Mount=mechanics for Jaka
JetCat=mechanics and turbine unit
HotCat = mechanics and turbine unit
HobbyParts= conversion kits for wren to Predator, Vario, Cuatro

Morning All

Let me throw in another Cat:

Power Cat=MoBB's JetCat with Vario stuff.

cheers
don dow

[hornblower]

well I just got home from work and look at all these replies :D
ok, remember I`m after the latest and greatest, so for me that means looking at the two stage turbine.in pod and boom form. Right now I have been on the web sites and price wise starting from the cheapest I can see the best price is the wren Predator at £3,409 in total, then the next up in price is the Wren Cuatro at £3,568.35 It sounds like the Cuatro is the better buy out of the two, because it`s more like what I`m looking for. After that comes the hobbyparts / wren turbine trainer at £3,888 and then the hobbyparts / wren turbine acrobat at £3,988. Further afield across the pond I see the Bergen Intrepid wren / turbine at £4,121.96 + shipping and import duty. :( Then more again is the hobbyparts / jetcat SPH5 acrobat at £4,288. Although the LM Odyssey sounds good, I rule it out because I`m only interested in the 2 stage and besides it costs more than all the rest. Now if only I can decide which one :?: I`ll sleep on it :D :glasses:

[Peter Wales]

One other to condsider is the SPH5 with a Cuatro. The only advantage it has over the Wren based machine is the built in governor. Folks are saying they dont need a governor with the Wren and can make throttle curves work, but I prefer to dial in the number and let the computer do all the work for me.

[hornblower]

thank you Peter Wales, where do I find out how much it costs and where to get from? and can anyone think of another 2 stage kit not mentioned here yet?

[richie1967_uk]

You should also think about spares/back up etc. If you are in central UK then wren is not so far away if you need help, Midland helicopters have Robbe spares (cuatro) coming out of thier ears!! As i mentioned i had a predator/wren, it was a lovely heli however it was a little frustrating sometimes when ordering spares or upgrades as they were often out of stock. I stripped the tail drive gear and was grounded for a month as there was no replacement available. This may have been an uncommon occurance however it was very frustrating. I also ordered two carbon landing gear struts, they sent me one and told me it was thier last one and were not sure when they were getting anymore...What use is one strut? Thought that was real stupid.... The predator is nice, but the cuatro is nicer (IMHO). However touching on another thread running here it is very important where you get your kit from...I wont beat around the bush so i will tell you DO NOT GET A TURBINE TECHNIQUES CUATRO....i wouldnt touch one with a shitty stick! Buy a wren turbine (from wren), a cuatro and the conversion and you will be very happy.

[chopper jockey]

Hornblower, you made a slight error in prices, the vario acrobat with SPH5 and hobbyparts conversion comes in at £4173, which is almost in line with the Bergen, and if you decide to go with the acrobat then the Wren is the most popular choice in the UK, with same day service turn around, if you ever need it. :cool:

[Coolice]

Hey,

See my WREN / Century Predator strutting it's stuff last year at Jet Power Germany.

http://www.coolice.co.uk/Century-WREN%20Predator%20@%20Jet%20Power%202005%20-%202.wmv

Only upgrades fitted and needed : metal elevator "A" arm.
.

[hornblower]

well I dont know now, cant make my mind up, didnt sleep well last night, I ve got an acrobat already, I might as well remain with Vario, at least I know vario is good for spares in the uk. now that suggests the turbine acrobat, with all those features and I don t have to buy a kit either, just a conversion. now which engine? The wren is highly popular and cheaper, but not available with a rpm governer, also I`m hearing about kerosin start, I can see the advantage of not having gas plumbing but is it worth payin more for this up-grade :? and do I need a rpm governer :?:

[chopper jockey]

kero start is available as standard with the wren option at the same price and as an up-grade package to existing wren owners, but it costs more with the Jet cat SPH5. Orbit says the GV1 works well with their ECU, so now there is no excuse, you can have a wren with kero start and a governor , but only from hobbyparts :)

[hornblower]

chopper jockey am I right in sayin it will cost me £3,063 to change my vario benzin acrobat into a turbine acrobat with a wren and kerosin start and rpm governer?

[chopper jockey]

:rolling

if you have a GV1 that is

nice try!

[Sara]

Please note: The Hobbyparts offer (above) of a Wren engine modified to take the Orbit ECU and kerosine start is not approved by Wren.

We use the Gaspar Espiell FADEC ECU. We have spent 5 years working closely with Gaspar to create an engine management system that matches the characteristics of our engines. The ramp profiles are closely matched to combustion chamber characteristics in a way that can only be acheived after hundreds of hours of testing and development, and we have yet to see a competitors' engine that approaches the levels of performance that Wren engines acheive.

The use of any ECU other than the Gaspar Espiell FADEC voids the Wren warranty. Gaspar is working on a kero start version which will integrate with the existing engine management systems and we will make it available as soon as it is ready.

Sara Parish
Wren Turbines

[hornblower]

I ve just about made my mind up, now this :? :? :?

[chopper jockey]

hi Sara, I am aware wren does not approve of using an Orbit controller to drive their engine, thank you for clarifying that. However there are those who wish to move up to kero start and gov control and don`t want to wait around, and those who don`t. That`s fine, I am offering a choice here. Presumably if one owns a wren and want to up-grade it then that`s up to them, you can understand why they may be impatient waiting for you to add all the whistles and bells, I`m one of many that have been waiting over 2 years for a gov from wren. Lets face it, your engine is very reliable and rarely goes wrong anyway, you still charge for servicing and I`m not modifying the engine in any way, only the driver with a proven good track record. Plus I am running a demonstrator with the Orbit controller and it performs perfectly and reliably. Would you agree with my comments Sara?

[Sara]

Chopper Jockey,

I agree that you are running one of your engines successfully on an Orbit. That's fine, the engine is yours, it's out of warranty and you can do as you wish.

However, selling engines to a third party with a system which is not approved by Wren is not acceptable. We are not prepared to carry out warranty work when we have no control over how the engine is being operated.

Sara Parish
Wren Turbines