Working on version 2 of the tail box and boom adapter. After it is done - next week it will go out for more testing. Many Thanks to the testers and the parts they have replaced. They have found several areas that can and are being improved.
Assuming it tests ok, then the product should be ready Mid-late October.
Rerazer ! With the extended Boom, can a stock brushless setup drive the trex blades ok?

Ron
rc-helitech

Must fiddle with everything!

I'd gladly test one for you.

Well my stock Century lighting motor did die on me but I have another himaxx 2015/4100 to try next.

I need to order some tail grips and sea saw. http://www.grandrc.com carries 3D pro parts now.

hmmm
the pendulum swings back to the 3d pro instead of a new Trex for my next semi-blingy cp micro

If It don't involve some danger...don't involve McDanger

I found this site excellent for HB pro parts and others..
Very fast shipping, i get my stuff within 3 days.
http://www.fxaeromodels.com/index.php

Can't go wrong with FX. I buy all my Logo parts there.

You think century would be doing something about the tail by either giving a new kit option with the belt drive or 3dpo v.2 with belt drive...

I asked Century for a belt drive near the beginning of its release. I got no response. Its like their business model is flawed. There certain patterns to the company if you have noticed. I'm not trying to be negative, but to me they seem more reactive instead of proactive. They have been releasing hummer after hummer. I bought everone of them. Each one has had its issues, but it seems that they would release a product and depend on the consumers to come up with the fixes. This thread is the prime example and there are many others. It has caused some of the Hummer lines to suffer in popularity.

I have posted a comprehensive historical post about the evolution of the Hummer somewhere her on RR. Although, Century gets a good grade for making the microheli world more popular, they get a bad grade for foresight for issues with the micro. For example, the out runner BL motors. I posted data as well as video on how awesome the 400DF would be as a motor in the 3D Pro eons ago. And now you finally see them adding a brushless outrunner to their line for sale. I have no experience with their motor, but I do know people will flock toward what has been proven, before they take a chance a very delayed reactionary measure from the company. What they probably should have done was worked out some sort of deal out with the guys over there at justgofly.com. This would have made more since to me.

I think one reason Century is the way there are with the micros is that it is not there bread-n-butter, like the Nitros they sell. I just don't like the whole, "Let them (consumers) figure it for us. If it pans out well, then we will jump on the bandwaggon mentality!" This is my personal quote. It may not express the true sentiment or philosphy of the company, but that is how they come off to many of us pilots.

Again, I'm thankful for Century's contribution to the Micro heli world eventhough it was not originally meant for charity The hummer has created enthusiasm for the hobby in terms of micros, but I really think they should take a page out of Align's book (the makers of the T-Rex), in terms of refining products. Their bird came out of nowhere and took the small heli world by storm. The prove is in the numbers on the Trex's forum.

Hats off to Rerazor and the rest of the gang who push forward to make their (Century) products better. I applaud you all. Keep it up and let me know when the kits are ready.

Predator, Raptor 30, TRex CCPM 450TH, 3D Pro 400F

Zoom,

Well said!!!

Glad to see your still here helping Century with the R&D. I think all HB owners should be given Field rep. status........

I just can't stop thinking on how easy it would be to be able to design the micros correctly the first time or at least by V2-V3. Its pathetic and really makes me not want to explore this 3D project anymore. I went out and flew my Trex XL last night and I could not figure out why the 3D pro is better in any catagory. The 3d pro is no fun in the wind unless you like chasing the bird the whole time. You can pretty much fly the Trex anywhere you can fly the Pro (unless your indoors, but I would rather have a cutdown Fp for that type of venue). Then I came home to order some head links for the pro and found out that I have to spend $9 for them, WTF!!!!!!!!

I still think if someone came out with a FP Belt drive tail micro (like the coruna but a micro) it would take over the micro world. It will happen one day and all these DD and gear driven tails will be antiques.

Anyways, the 400DF, 15t pinion is a cool little motor. I would like to try the 450th in the trex but I need a 30amp + esc (check out the tsunami 30 esc it has some very cool data logging software built in for $65).

Waiting for parts for the Pro from grandrc.com to rebuild in stock config. and need to shorten the stock links to get equal +/- pitch range with the stock blade grips because I decided against the CNC bling.

Evolution in micros is happening at an astonishing pace. Give it another year, year-and-a-half, we'll have belt driven micro frames the size of the Hornet/Blade/3d Pro. My opinion, for something a little larger and more robust, I think you're right--Align got it right with the Trex. Which is why the Trex posts have such a dominant presence on this board and others.

We just need a true micro frame w/belt drive that allows for the 11-13 oz class of micro 3d heli's. I still personally hold out for a lighter, little smaller version of the Trex. You know, I'm actually considering cutting down the frame on my Trex and resizing a much lighter canopy and smaller diameter/lighter blades. Its already converted to direct ccpm and designed for the small Twister motor, so AUW on 3s1320's is estimated at 17oz, instead of 20+. Think with the above stuff, I could get down to about 14.5oz. That would put it close to the Maxir for weight.

Is Century listening? Horizon? Someone???

For $50 for a bolt on belt drive kit available this month!!!
Heck yes, count me in for one. Just let me know when its ready.

I know what's involved with engineering a product, that’s what I do for a living.
I really appreciate all of your efforts so far and yet to come.

Jeff Borowski
RAMS Club President
www.ramsrcclub.com

I ordered another heli just for the beltdrive mod.
that way i can keep my microheli cnc tail on the one i already have

There was a post over at RCgroups showing pics from a hobby show in China showing a tiny Bluearrow Cp Heli (or something like that) that uses a 5g brushless motor. It was very small. It would be cool to do 3D in front of the TV while watching football.

Here is the link:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=425684

I saw the Bluearrow sub micro you talked about. I also saw a all Fiber-glass & Metal 400 scale bird. The maker of black hawk (that's another copy of the zoom 400) also showed a 600 class bird. The bluearrow bird and the blackhawk 600 are not for retail. Because there is no retail heli market in China. They were just showing those birds and hoping someone will OEM them for export.

They were more than 10 factories each making Li-pos, BL motors, BL ESC, CF parts, Copies of Zoom 400 and T-Rex. Everything there is dirt cheap. I am just hobbiest and have a 9-5 job that I am not willing to give up. Otherwise I can sort out all the good brands and make a very profitable business.

However this story has been repeated many times with many kind of Chinese imports. Including other kinds of RC products. As soon as a product become popular, the quality starts to go down, many more people start to import them to our shore, and many other versions of Chinese copy cats start to show up. Suddently a good profitable product become garbage.

My goal is to keep my 9-5 job and only buy some truely good products to share with the true hobbiest. If I keep my profit low, others may not want to compete with me. If someone big wants to take over and OEM the product, that will even be better, because I will have no headache to manage everything and just have fun with the hobby.

So far on my shopping list include the 300 class heli I showed on the other thread, copies of Ultra Deans and Micro Deans connectors, CNC black hawk - Zoom 400 hop up parts, T-rex, Ark eCCPM conversion kit. The headache is each of the products are from different brands. Now I have to deal with them one by one. Also I don't think there is enough time to do much before Christmas and have to leave a lot of the fans in deep long cold winter. Hopefully by next winter we will have many more little birds to play around with.

3D Pro? I have only "1D" under my belt, what am I going to do with "3D"?

Just wondering any idea when any of mods are going into production runs I've had my 3d pro grounded for a while now due to lack of response to questions like any idea as to why I'm going through the plastic tail drive bevel gear ? before I go burning a hole in my back pocket buying parts again and again .Lucky I found you guys ,Australia only have one company that sells century and their in a differant state I Thought I did my homework before I bought this bird hmmm lots of scary dragonflys here.

Hey there Kryters
I still cant believe that ACE are the only store in all of Oz that sell Century.............I mean come on!
Australians spend money too ya know, so how about another dealer here?
Im fine cos Im in the same state as the dealer lol.
Having said all this, he does mail order his stuff out very quickly ( I know cos Im a shiftworker and cant always get to the store)
I have 3 spare crown gears here, and their all useless cos I cannot get the grub screws on the metal gears in the tail to stay putt.
All I gotta say is BELT ME UP BABY! ..........hmmm thats a bit suspect actually

For the love of the hobby

Gorn,
Yep I checked it out ages ago century lists only Ace I called them a while back and they said they've never had a problem with support and did have spare parts, at quite a bit more than buying directly the last I time I checked a local mag. Melbourne has Jb ,Twisters, differant suppliers that don't carry Century & others .but there are lots of scary Dragonflys from ebay on wrong frequencies

Hi Kryters
I know all about the Dragonflys on incorrect frequencies, cos I had one as my first heli..............and it died a horrible death by its own hand/frequency lol.
Local guy is very good with his stock, as Ive never caught him out with a part that I need that he didnt have.
But I agree with you on buying direct. I actually have to for the carbon blades as he has had them on order from Century for months, but they keep telling him they arent available.
Thats funny cos I keep seeing new Pro owners on the net with them lol.
I have too much money invested in the Pro to give up now, so on with the belt show

For the love of the hobby

Little update: I have the belt drive conversion kit form rc-helitech using the stock boom now. I also have his new tail box which is a very nice unit and his landing gear. Everything bolts up very easy and works great. I haven't been in contact with Ron (rc-helitech) in the last 5 days but I'm sure he must be very close to finalizing and putting out the kits into production. I can understand the frustration in waitng for the kits to be released and reading about these "updates".

I like the R&D part of this belt drive kit (hobby) and will most likely end up selling my pro and extra parts soon (approx. $105) and move on to something else to play with (eRaptor looks cool). The belt drive really solves the Pros weakness and makes it a realiable flyer. I just don't have the need for a micro Cp machine right now and I see no need to let it gather dust when someone else can enjoy it more. Michigan winters are not the best for flying a micro. .

I'll get a few more flights this wekend. I was also considering using a FP Head on the Pro and have a belt drive FP for indoor flying but weight and the need for a smaller battery (currently using the 3s2100) will most likely prevent that from happening.

Hi rerazor,

I'm in a cold climate too. CRB68 was talking about a belt drive kit for an FP. Living in New Hampshire I feel your pain about winter flying. I'm currently dodging acorns and leaves. Almost time to move indoors!!

My 3dpro is great for outdoors and once I got the tail smooth I've had no problems but as I progress in my skills I can see where a belt drive would be very interesting.

For now, I'm hoping a belt drive for my FP (elite) comes out, this would help the winter go by quickly!!

Cheers,
Leslie

Protecting those who protect us

I have not replied with status for some time, here it is.
I am very happy with the progress and some of the latest changes to the Belt Kit.
I have moved to ordering and maching the required parts, and working on the web. I will open the web site up to orders the end of the week and should be shipping shortly after.

My target was October and it looks good for the release. Just in time for Winter in much of the country.

I will offer the upgrade in Kit form or as individuals parts, this way you can purchase the parts you want and not need to get the ones you don't. This should work fine with the Shogun Tail Box conversion listed on this site, and with another company's tailbox. However the upgrade I am offering is very strong for it's size and will allow the belt to be tensioned at the tailbox end and not the boom end. Trust me if I can break a part I have, this is the reason for my interest in the upgrade
This project started to replace the very weak tailbox but has evolved into something much better.

Thanks to the testers and others that have helped to make this all possible.

Enjoy
Ron - Rc-Helitech

Must fiddle with everything!