Century - New Side Frames

The following is a review of the Century updated plastic side frames.

Overview

Century have released these new side frames in response to criticism that the stock current side frames are not rigid enough. The new side frames also introduce some extra holes that allow fitment of the third bearing block upgrade. This upgrade adds an extra main shaft bearing to the main shaft. Again the aim being a more stiff set of side frames to improve 3-D flight performance.

Differences

The two pictures below show on the left the new side frames and on the right the old side frames. Highlighted with the red arrows are the additions to the new side frames to make them stronger and stiffer than the old side frames. As can be seen from the pictures Century have just added some plastic ridges to the moulding which gives it this extra stiffness. Aside from this the new side frames also contain three extra holes for fitting the new third bearing block mentioned earlier.

 

Conclusion

Fitting this upgrade is no easy task and requires virtually a complete strip of the machine in order to install the new side frames. As part of my upgrade I also installed the third bearing block upgrade kit and the upper bearing block upgrade kit.

Certainly by installing these newer frames the machine is much stiffer around the side frames. It is now quite difficult to flex the frames where as before it was quite easy. This should have a beneficial effect on the flying characteristics of the Swift. I will report on those flying characteristics as part of the third bearing block upgrade review.

Overall this is a needed and well executed upgrade for the standard Swift side frames. The only option better than this is the forthcoming carbon side frames which should be arriving shortly. Therefore these side frames come as recommended.