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Discussion
RC Aerodyne Eurocopter Tiger Scale Build
As some of you may know, RC Aerodyne recently added some new scale fuselages to their site. One of them, was the Eurocopter EC665 Tiger, and I've been given the opportunity to review this kit. The full review will come later, once it is built and in the air, but for now I wanted to keep you all posted with regular photo updates on the build. Feel free to ask any questions, and enjoy the photos!
I'll be using my Chaos 600 as the donor heli to power the fuse, adding a scale head and tail, and replacing the power system for a 12s setup. The fuselage comes with everything you need to raise the tail, and is all torque tube driven. The kit also comes with new side frames for the mechanics that allows room for cockpit detail. Check out www.scaleflying.com for more details! |
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The side frame conversion on the mechanics is done, I just need to set up the electronics again. I had to make some new pushrods for two of the servos, they were moved so far back in the new frames that the old pushrods were way too long. Luckily I had some on hand.
I also made a small washer to take out the up and down play that was in the tail drive shaft. The LED lense caps I ordered came in today, and it wasn't long before I had a couple of them installed in the tail. The carbon fiber spacers for use with the Chaos mechanics: New side frames being assembled: Here you can see the washer that I added to the tail drive shaft: Drilling out and installing an LED in the tail: Testing the tail lights: The finished mechanics, ready for electronics setup: |
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Got a few more parts in, and have the mechanics completed. I'm using a Castle Creations HV-80 2, and got all the soldering completed (my least favorite thing). The Microbeast flybarless controller is all set up too. I'm back to working on the actual fuse, and got the wing lights installed. I have a lot more lights that I could use, and I'm trying to resist the temptation to go crazy and install lights all over it (it would be cool), but the real Tiger only has the lights that I have already installed. I was thinking about putting strobes behind the wing lights, but I'm torn!
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Ok, I've printed out some reference for the mast mounted sight. The printout is 1:1, I just have to figure out how to build it! I have plenty of photos of the real thing, but my size reference was a 1:48 scale version from a model kit. My 1:8.5 scale version will be right around 5.75" in height.
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Quote:
In the mean time, I mocked up the new pilot FLIR. I'm modeling the PAH-2 variant, which has a FLIR in place of a chain gun. I don't have a lathe (I wish I did!) so I mocked something up |
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A quick update on the Tiger. The mechanics for the mast mounted sight are completed, I've attached some photos to help explain how it was done. First of all, it helps to either have access to a machine shop, or know someone who does that can help you out. I have to give big kudos to my buddy Sonny, who has patiently whipped out parts based on my hair brained explanations. Couldn't have done it without you Sonny!
The first thing I had to figure out how to do, was to get rid of the through bolts in both the head and the main gear. After a pleasant phone conversation with "copterdoctor" Emile Sheriff, who has done this kind of modification a few times before, I started to form a plan. Starting with the head, I needed a collar making so that I could use 4mm set screws, the tips of which fit nicely into the countersunk ovals on the main shaft. I used one on each side. The problem was that I couldn't just slip a ring over the shaft of the rotor head, because it already had a clamp with a flange. I really wanted to keep the clamp for added strength, so I came up with the idea of doing a two piece ring that would lock together. After explaining my idea to Sonny, he came up with an incredibly strong ring that more than suits its purpose. The new 4mm set screws are tapped through both the new collar and the head itself. I then had to consider the main gear. Sonny took the main gear and using a lathe he cut off the parts that stick out (where the bolt and nut sit), and then made a really nice ring which was glued in place with industrial adhesive. The same 4mm set screws were used here also, basically the same principle as the rotor head. I then had to figure out how the piano wire was going to ride through the main shaft. I didn't want it to touch the inside of the mainshaft, so I came up with the idea of embedding a small bearing in the top of the rotor head, dead center. I then had a new bearing block made to accept the same sized bearing on the bottom end, inside the side frames. I'll have a new head button shortly that will serve two purposes. The first is that it will be much more scale like in size, and it will also act as a lock collar with a set screw to secure the top bearing against the rotor head. I'm going to rig up a servo arm on the lower end and use a set screw to secure that side, this way the bearings are both locked in place, and there will be no vertical play in the smaller, stationary shaft. Finally, I'm going to mount a servo on the side frames that will actuate the center shaft, so I can pan the mms back and forth. The mms itself is being made by another good buddy of mine, Jeff, who is going to model the basic structure for me by vac-forming a mold. I will then detail it out and complete the internals. The exposed aluminum parts on the head will powder coated black, so it won't stand out as bad. This is definitely a collaborative project! Having friends with awesome skills really helps, and I can't thank Sonny and Jeff enough, thanks guys! The top of the rotor head: The rotor head collar: The main gear collar: The lower bearing block where the servo will be installed: |
Last edited by CSpaced; Mar 17, 2012 at 03:37 PM.
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Very nice can't wait to see is fly
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Here it is, the shiny new head button, once again courtesy of Sonny. This new head button slides over the center shaft, and has a couple of set screws to hold it in place, as well as hold the bearing in place. The new parts are headed to the powder coater today, next time I post up they should be black like the head.
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