Fitting an aftermarket metal swashplate to the Raptor
These are some pictures of the
components and parts used to fit an aftermarket metal
swashplate to my Raptor 30. I found that the mast,
elevator A-frames and aileron links needed to be
extended by 4-5 mm in order to allow the same full range
of movement as with the TT plastic original swashplate.
This necessitated the purchase of the TT aluminium
elevator arm assembly and a number of other bits and
pieces.
This picture shows the 4mm difference
in swash base to ball link plane that started it all.
The metal swashplate is 4mm higher because it uses a
much bigger bearing to better handle the loads imposed
on it. As such, it shouldn't suffer the premature wear
of the original. The Quick UK swashplate is a superb
piece of engineering, and shows just how 'pretty' a CNC
machined piece of hardware can be. Add the modifications
shown here, and I don't think you'll be disappointed! :-
I wanted as rigid a finished product as possible, so
bought two sets of these Zeal adjustable rods, one for
A-frame links and one for aileron links. The Zeal parts
have a taper between the centre section and the threaded
part. By countersinking the A-frames and Rocket-City
ball links I was able to get far greater rigidity than
by just relying on a piece of threaded rod:-
This shows the standard elevator assembly with
moulded arms whose length cannot be extended. Below it
is the TT aluminium upgrade assembly together with the
supplied threaded rod and ball link and the Zeal rod and
a Rocket-City link:-
More detailed view of the replacement elevator link:-
Assembled arm plus Zeal rod plus Rocket-City link
plus second set of Zeal rods used for extended aileron
links:-
Three different masts. Top to bottom are original TT
mast, Quick UK S/S mast and finally the 5mm longer mast
made of silver steel. The metal for this cost just 2.50
GBP from R S Components (but you have to buy four in a
pack, so I've got enough for 3 more if I somehow manage
to bend the one I made). Machining is limited to
drilling two 3 mm holes and cutting the location groove
for the mast collar.
If you don't have access to a lathe, you could just
assemble the collar to the shaft in-situ and tighten the
grub screws. This would leave small marks on the shaft.
Then remove the shaft and use a flat edge of a small
triangular file to make small flats at each of the
marks:-
Silver Steel
In response to a request as to the makeup of
silver-steel, I scanned this from the RS Components
catalogue. I trust they won't mind as I'm advertising
their products (prices exclude VAT at 17.5% in the UK).
Hope this has been of some assistance!
This page was last updated on September 06, 2006
