A club mate brought out a new HYPE 3D this weekend - got everything set up and had a few successful flights. (Power was an Irvine 53 - I think!!).

Anyway on the third or fourth flight there was a failure at the tail-feathers and needless to say a crash followed. From what I can gather the tail feathers / fuselage rear did not stand up to the twisting forces of the manoevers and twisted the rear of the fuselage to the point where it failed (I did not see the post crash damage). We had noticed during noise testing that there was a lot of flexing of the stabilizer / fuselage rear.

The pilot had not flown the plane at high speed or carried out any manoevre that one would not expect from a 3D plane and had in fact flown the new plane very sedately every flight (being brand new), so the failure and crash was quite a surprise!.

The owner will contact the suppliers this week and ask them for a replacement - either this was a dud aeroplane or there is a serious design fault - all of us watching and those who saw the crash damage are convinced that this was not pilot error or poor assembly.

I will update this thread once I know the result of his discussions with the supplier.

Watch this space before you buy one!

Hi Rory,

I was going to buy one right at the start, but I'd heard there were a few quality issues. Did you know they've re-designed the Hype 3d and the mark 2 version comes out about March time? I really feel for the guy whose model it was, if it had been mine it probably wouldn't have lasted that long as I tend to be a little aggressive with my planes. Having said that my Cougar 2000 is still going strong, save for having replaced the uc with a carbon one.

I know Welsh3d has got one (a Hype) and he strengthened the back end - are you there Welsh3d??

HM

I'm really suprised about your Hype problem. I know their are quality issues but the design and airframe is sound, they fly superb.

The issues with the Hype are more based on finish. Production is being moved to a new factory, I've seen the new prototypes....they're of outstanding quality and finish, with new metallic profilm, excellent finish to the fibreglass parts etc. And all components fit well.

Westons have done a great job with the Cougar and Magnum, these have been constantly improved with each batch received from the factory, The Hypes were a little disapointing in finish, hence the improvements.

Speak to them, I'm sure they will listen if its a structure failiure.

Simon,
Maybe I was being a little unfair before but I didn't know what the issues were, just what I'd heard down the grapevine. It was enough to make me hold back though. I do know that my Cougar's build and finish is first class, and the airframe (structually unmodified) is fine after a year of abuse. And I still intend to buy a Hype3d in the Spring!

Rory,
Maybe your friend just got a duff one?

I suspect that it was "built on a Monday" - he will go back to where he got it and I am sure that they will be sympathetic.

As mentioned in my first post there was a lot of movement of the tail feathers while he was holding it for the noise test with the engine running full speed!

I am also quite keen on this aircraft and I am waiting to hear the out come!

Guys,
I had a fly of the original prototype....its an excellent design. they just need to iron out these initial problems. If the new production run meets the quality of the new prototypes sent from China you wont be disapointed.

I sold my Smaragd yesterday and have money burning a hole in my pocket, just cant make up my mind! Aeroworks Edge, ZN Synergy, Protech Katana....decisions decisions!

You should put tail bracing wires or struts on all 3D planes' tails.3D models are built so light these days that this usually happens eventually.Exactly the same thing happenened to me .Don't listen if the manufacturer says the tail is strong enough(like I did!).If you put tail bracing on the tail, the strength improves a lot for barely any weight gain .

This is the 9th structural failure i've heard... mine's not gone yet, possibly thanks to my very slow and graceful style. I've had mine since the very first batch came out. This 'hype' about hovering is stupid. i'm no stranger to hovering, and this thing is hardly easy.... not made any easier by the wind admittedly. I'm gonna try a 13x4 to try to obtain more vertical control.

videos at www.aeroforce.co.uk/freestyle (click the hype page)

What do you mean, I don't understand? Have I missed something?

I think he is saying that it is hard to hover.

The hype's problems are not just about the covering finish. Some of the parts supplied are simply unusable and unfit for purpose. I have seen better on ARTFS that cost little more than 1/2 the price of the hype. Weston has a damn cheek selling this at all, never mind at the price they are asking.

Harry

I think we should wait to see the new MK II version, as it is obvious that they have a nice flying plane here, just terrible quality. Once they get that sorted, I would even buy one!

Oh I see about the hovering now. I'd like to buy a Hype3d too, but it's gonna have to get in the queue behind a flip3d, a glens Cap 68", a pete tindals excitation, and a ZN Line Madness. Blimey I think I'm be divorced soon and I'm not even married til May! Seriously though if it can't cut the mustard (and I hope it can) theres plenty of other planes out there.

Sounds like theres a few disapointed people out there! New artf's are often a process of constant improvement and development. Theres a great divide in language and distance with the far eastern factories that produce these at a cost thats acceptable, it can take a few batches to get exactly what you want. Thats why Westons have moved production to a new factory - the quality was not at an acceptable level (the new factory builds the Kyosho G-Trick which is finished to an amazing standard)

I bought one of the original Flair Swallows.....crap!!
I've just built a new Swallow EX and everything that was crap about the original kit has been amended - now its a great model for the money.
Although Flair use the cheapest grade woods - some of its not even balsa...just a local soft wood but heavy, whereas Westons artf's are constructed from lighter balsa.

As I said in an earlier post, i've seen the new Hype production run prototypes and they are excellent - I want one myself but will wait till the new batch in March.


Simon

Simon

I would be really annoyed if I bought something from the "old batch" in February to have it superced by a new and improved batch in March!!

Why should we have to bear the costs of development / improvement of these models - I find it grossly unfair of the suppliers to put something on the market that is not up to scratch. Surely if these guys are selling ARTFs they should be "fit for purpose" and properly designed.

Imagine the situation if the same thinking was applied to a motor car, real aircraft or appliance. OH well lets just put the thing on the market and hope for the best.

What if a r/c plane kills somebody because of a poor or unproven design ??

The fact that the production of the HYPE 3D has been moved shows that the suppliers know that what they have been selling is crap - will they replace the bad kits they have sold with the "new and improved"!

Design development and improvements are acceptable as a model evolves but the plane should at least be structurally sound and airworthy before it first gets to the market.

I wonder if there are many people buying ARTF, who crash planes due to structural failure, and think they are to blame so never go back to the supplier for a replacement.

Weston have agreed to replace the fuselage of my mates plane so some credit is due to them there.

Rory,
Can't argue with your "fit for purpose" point, although Westons have sold 400 Hypes and there have been problems that have quiet rightly been resolved by Westons replacing parts on less than 10. Its impossible to test the structural integrity of every kit. (A chinese man on the other side of the world may have drunk too much rice wine the night before and forgot to glue a part!)

I think its testiment to their commitment to constanly improve their product by moving factory and being open with it to their customers.

Believe me, product refinement and improvement exists in all arenas of retail, I work in the car business and know a lot of what goes on that isn't revealed to buyers/owners.

If ARTF's were perfected in unsold batches we'd be paying a hell of a lot more for them, and waiting an awful long time to get them.

Good news that they replaced your mates fuz. Thats a lot more than Flair offered me when a knife edge snap roll killed my original Swallow!

I am the owner of the Hype 3D involved in this incident. After discussing the failure with Mr. Weston UK he kindly agreed to replace the fuselage. It arrived yesterday with replacement tail components not just the fuselage !

Having looked at the new fuse the fit of the stab is excellent.

I feel in this case, unlike others I have heard people have with other manufacturers, that I have been listened to and respected as a customer who has had a genuine problem. He told me of other incidences where failures have occurred because of bad practice by the owner. This included use of a 90 4C !

It's obviously hard for a supplier to separate out the genuine cases. Some suppliers won't even start to listen. A simple phone call, and half an hour of courteous conversation with the top man at Weston UK who is obviously passionate about his products has produced a fair result.

Nice one Weston UK.

I have come in pretty late on this subject but fwiw-

I have three clubmates who are in dispute with Weston UK over engine problems and re: a HYPE falling apart.

The engine problems seem to have dead ended with Weston refusing any further service because "Weston fuel was not used" though I understand some offer of a discount on the new Webra based motors was offered

The HYPE was replaced by Weston after the original was returned via the model shop with a claim for damages resulting from the crash. The owner seem very happy with the replacement which is a/ better made with the cowl matching the colour of the film and b/ uses a transparent additional cowl to helpfit the proper cowl.

I have heard rumours that original hypes sat in a shipping container for about a year due to customs or other shipping problems, that would be a good reason for joints to fail ( non temp controlled metal container would heat cycle really badly to say nothing of condensation issues) Could also explain the bad colour matches

NOTE - in the UK if you bought something from a shop and have problems it is the SHOP not the manufacturer who is responsible

..cool

incidently...

When you put the c/g in your own place, which happens to be around double what the first manual said, this plane is really easy to hover!

"When you put the c/g in your own place"

LOL Nathan, do you cyano or epoxy your c/g into your place !

.. white glue man!

SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME AFEW WEEKS AGO WITH AHYPE 3D TOOK OFF AND COMPLETED A FEW CIRCUITS TO CHECK TRIMS EVERY THING OK THEN A STALL TURN AND A VERTICALL ROLL (ALL DONE SLOWLY) AND FUSE TWISTED UP AND CRASHED THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE OFTEN THAN PEOPLE THINK WESTON REPLACED THE KIT BUT THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS PLANE

Did it happen to an old Hype 3D or the new 'original' Hype ? The new 'original' Hype has been out for more than a few weeks now.

Weston should recall all the kits they have sold. Every model magazine should mention the problem with these planes . Some one is going to die because Weston have not tested the plane properly.

This happened with a old hype bought in december 2002 ,when i first opened the box and saw the quality of some of the parts e.g the colour of cowl i phoned weston to complain and was told that there were no kits in the uk till feb /march . When i asked if there was aproblem with the kits i was told no then a few weeks later its announced that the manufacter has been changed.And when the plane broke up and spoke to Alan at weston about a replacement i asked if new kit had been strengthened in the fuse he replied NO .SO I AM WORRIED IF NEW KIT WILL DO THE SAME .But i have to say the kit has been improved in certain areas only time will tell if fuse is strong enough.