It would take a lot more then the slight disadvantage of a tube supported wire drive compared to a full tube tail drive system to make me discount all of the other benefits the Hawk IV has to offer over the Raptor. Considering the minimal effect any "wind-up" would have technically, it is a small price to pay for all the other advantages this heli has in other areas.

All modern gyro systems have adjustments to integrate/optimize the complete tail rotor system, which includes the dynamics of the drive system used, the dynamics of the servo used (speed, centering, torque off center etc.), t/r control rod system (drag, slop etc.), tail rotor blades efficiency (airfoil, rpm,length, chord) and a few other factors. Generally (e.g. the Futaba 401) you will have gain and delay (or some other similar adjustments with possibly other names). These will allow you to get the maximum from your total system.

Consequently comparing older (mechanical gyros/older and less precise servos/ GMP t/r drives) systems and their relative settings to what we have today may be inapropriate and counter productive.

My practical testing has proven that a good belt system or tube supported wire drive system can be set to work very well for all flying. Only in the most demanding high speed backwards applications will a noticable difference between them and the solid shaft drive be apparent.

So why should a manufacturer force the extra cost of the tube drive system on someone in the market for a beginner kit? Should he not spend his developement assets on developing better and less expensive systems in more important areas of the unit. Areas that will make the heli more dependable, reliable, stable, maintenace free etc. for this beginner. These I think are far more important areas for the beginner and general flyer because they will mean he can spend more time flying and less time solving problems?

Looking at the areas properly addressed in the Hawk IV, I think Century has done it right. And later if you want a "fully blown" 3Der (or 3Fer) then one would just have to add the inexpensive C/F shaft drive u/g to it. It would still end up costing less then its competition.

Just have to look at the cost of a Hawk SE with the C/F tube drive or the Falcon SE/V2 that comes with it. Compare these and all the features they come with to anything else similarly equiped?