And as usual, extracted from my posting in Rcheliresouce...lazy ya...but anyway it does sum up what I think for the time being...
Its been more more than 2 years since the last decal change(Titan) and I guess its about time for a NEW raptor decal because these photos were spotted off a reliable R/C heli forum. Fret not, this time round the raptor has been REBORN with a sparkling new fully programmable Rotor head. Gone is the overslug flybar design and the new rotor head features a 8mm spindle and 4mm flybar. Exciting.
Existing raptor flyers can convert theirs to the new head and washout, which will be sold seperately at around USD200. This new X-treme edition and the rotor head conversion is expected to hit the street in...well...NEVER. No, there is actually no new raptor, but I think I have found a way to make the good ole reliable compete against the "modern design".
Background (Skip this part if you don't feel like reading a grandmother's story...)
"The raptor is such a old design and its SO SLOW!", "Raptor? 3D? Nah, get a t-rex.", "Plastic fantastic? Plastic pig you mean?". Found these familiar? Well, you should, because they are so often said about a raptor. While I don't disagree with some of the very negative comment, I do think a raptor can be MUCH improved by just doing something to the main rotor head.
The original raptor was designed around a pitch window of +11/-9 with a easily achievable 7degree of cyclic. While it was considered to be VERY GOOD in the days where the competition was just of Shuttles, Nexus and Egros, it is BARELY enough for today's style of 3D flying. As such, aftermarket brands like Kasama and G-Force came about making adjustable 3D mixer arms and whole rotor head, which gives the raptor a much larger pitch window. While the increased +/-14 degree of collective really does give the "pop", something was altered along the way with those aftermarket arms- the flybar ratio. I fitted a pair of Kasama mixing level on my raptor and while it definately made a night and day difference to the collective feel(due to the large amount of collective pitch allowed), the roll rate was still...barely adequate at best. I also found quite a bit of pitching in FFF with decently light paddles.
A flybar ratio mod, involving drilling the flybar carrier and retapping to shift the flybar mixer level closer to the hubd, was invented. This mod is pretty well discussed on runryder and apparently, Colin Bell is running this mod too. I was interested and thought about redesigning the flybar carrier and mixer level, but never got down to it due to resources and time constraint.
In addition, I got interested in looking for a head swap on my raptor. Why a swap of head and not heli? Because I love the raptor for its simplicity not found in newer flavour of the month-The belt drive, the mechanical mix and the plastic frame and tail case. There have been a few different head mod and so far, each has got its own set of issues. The T-rex 600N head fit the raptor ok, but had a small collective pitch range due to the mechanic of the raptor. The Kasama sirimok underslug flybar was ok, but a bit of machining has to be done to the main shaft to fit the head. I have also seen a Hirobo 90 size SSZ series head fitted, but apparently the owner found the blade rotor disc to be too far away from the heli, causing issues in rolls.
By fate, I chanced upon the deal of a used RJX X-treme 50 8mm conversion head complete with flybar cage and washout set. That was when I started my journey of conversion....
THE RJX X-TREME 50 HEAD CONVERSION (Important stuff starts here...)
Full of uncertainty, I had to first make sure if the RJX head will at least fit the raptor main shaft before I threw my pocket money into the deal. Asking around got me the answer. It does. The raptor has a jesus bolt to main shaft tip length of 8mm, while it was almost 10mm on the X-treme. In simple terms, the RJX head will clear the raptor main shaft just fine.
Since I got my head used, I shall not go into the assembly or "out-of-box" part. Also, because its a used unit rated by its owner as 8/10, it is obviously not going to be in pristine condition, but its ok, coz I was given a pretty resonable price(Less than 1/2 of its NIB price). And this is the condition of the as it was sold...
Pretty decent, I might add.
It fits the raptor without any mod required. And this is the outcome after an evening of effort. The blade grip distance and flybar length are both longer than on the original design of the raptor head. I got the Align 700n paddles installed because I had them lying around...
I had originally intended to use the stock plastic washout arm and metal washout hub of the raptor, but due to some interaction between the long linkage rod and washout arm screws, I opted for the RJX washout arm and hub set with some slim button head screws. I retained the original washout arm-swashplate linkage to keep the washout higher on the shaft.
And here are the photos of the settings before the maiden today morning. There are a lot of possible settings on the RJX rotor head. 3 on the flybar carrier, 3 on the blade grip, 6 on the grip mixer arm and 2 on the washout arm. Which means effectively...3x3x6x2=108 different possible combination. To be honest, I don't like it. I just need one setting- MOST AGGRESSIVE.
I only did one flight in the morning and I have to say, its should be quite a jump from the raptor head...but there are a few issues with the rod length and flybar deflection which I am still sorting out as of now and will post the solution and outcome in my final review of the Rotor head which will COME SOON..
I only HAVE 1 VERY SERIOUS disappointment. My raptor has really turn to be a heavy weighter with all the RJX head and washout. I am pretty weight consicious with my heli and with my effort to keep things light but practical, my raptor used to tip the scale at less than 7.5lbs, which is around the ball park of most 50size. With the new head, it actually weighs 7.8lbs, heavy.
The full review will come soon...really soon..
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