My hype 3d crashed today only after 4 flights, I was doing a stall turn and the tail failed resulting in a spiral dive into the ground. I now understand how the other people felt after this happened to them.

I really sympathise. Had exactly the same thing happen to me with my Hype but I was very fortunate that the plane landed in a flat spin and the wing was preserved albeit a broken aileron. Basically the horizontal tailplane snapped through one side of the fuse until it became a second rudder !

I've put in triangular balsa above and below the stab/tailplane and reinforced with thin ply. The combination of the elevator closed loop and fairly thin balsa fuz sides make it a must due to the forces applied in flight. I've also reinforced F1 and the undercarriage ply plate. Flys great now and no problems hovering on an Irvine 53.

I've heard this incident happen so many times I think Weston should be modifying the build instructions/putting a notice on their site to advise a modification. Disaster and the loss of £150 is inevitable otherwise.

Apparently there is a new improved 'original Hype' coming in March. Can't wait !?!

A friends Hype also lost it's tail in the air, totally destroyed when it hit the ground. I have made some small structural re-enforcements on my own Hype but I am now wondering whether to cut open the covering again and do some serious strengthening as this problem is obviously not confined to a small batch of these models.

I'm sure we all understand that there is no warranty with models in our hobby? Weston Acknowledge there is a problem as I have heard they are switching build manufacturer to that of the Cougar 2000. Our hobby is expensive enough without being Guinea pigs for the aircraft we fly and lets face it the Hype is not a cheap model. I am yet to hear of Weston offering compensation to anyone who has suffered a loss. I have heard of a few instances where the Flair Giles 202 used to snap the dihedral brace in flight and in both cases flair replaced the models. Nice one Flair and take note Weston this is A1 customer service.

There are laws about goods being fit for purpose and safe to use. Frankly, Weston and some other distributors need a serious legal kicking and the fear of bankruptcy put into them. Far too many Brits take the attitude of oh well, I will wait for the Mk2 version and give this unpleasant firm my money all over again. Not only have there been stacks of posts on various web sites from Hype owners whose planes have broken, they have all noted that the kit they got is not the one advertised, it turns out that the decals, carbon fibre canopy and u/c as shown on all the ads, is extra. That is blatantly illegal in the UK. Weston should be prosecuted by trading standards and the fear of God put into them. But as long as they are allowed to get away with it, they will continue to treat customers like this. American and Australian consumers do not tolerate being treated this way, and it shows in the attitude of their businesses and shops when you visit those countries.

Harry

Here Here

Could not agree more,

Weston were really helpful with me. I had a long conversation with the top guy and he agreed to replace my fuselage FOC. The wing was luckily in one place with the exception of a cracked aileron.

Difficult for the suppliers to determine the genuine cases where there has been a failure and others where the model has been overpowered or mishandled in some way.

You only have to look at all the U-CAN-DO-3D threads to see that people are throwing in more than the Great Planes recommended 90 4C maximum. Saito 100 all the way to 150. Who's at fault if F1 get's ripped out during a torque roll ?

Who's at fault? Doesn't take long to do that math at least in my opinion. It's really bizarre as to how it's looked at in different venues.

If you keep the throttle at very low settings you might get away with it at least for a while.

Fly safe and Happy New Year,

EXCAP232