[Keyrigger]

I returned from Dalton only with enough time to do some minor repairs and testing of my AS350 and paint up a new set of blades for the CH-139. I can't put any of the graphics on yet as nothing turned out to be exactly what I was after. The actual number of the helicopter was not 32314 but 139314 and the paint is still not completely set but is getting better every day. All the graphics will need to be reworked a bit and I am prepared for the overruns in cost as I must be more specific with my requirements for accuracy. This is not a large model and it tests the limits of any graphics makers tools. I took a few pictures of the new main blades and one shot of the reworked tail blades after they had scraped the runway twice in Dalton. Take care and I'll post after I get back from HSM in Davis, Ca.

Don

[Phil Noel]

Congratulations Don, on the "Best Military Flight Demonstration" award at last weekends big Helicopter Scale Masters 2014 last week in Sacramento, California!

I have seen some great pictures of your H500 Tow, the AS350 and the Jet Ranger shown here. Well done!!!

[Keyrigger]

Thanks Phil:

I am spending some time at the American Helicopter Museum in West Chester, PA. I spent about three to four hours taking pictures and measurements of their MH-6 (they found they had mislabelled it as an AH-6). It is a converted 500MD Defender but this particular one was assembled for them from a few helicopters as it was damaged in a crash. There is a ton of detail on it that you cannot glean from the average photographs and I was able to get a set of portable stairs to take pictures of the doghouse and upper tail surfaces. I am going back tomorrow for more pictures that I might have missed today and take pictures of some very interesting helicopters not usually seen all in one place. I'll give you a call when I return.

Don

[Keyrigger]

When I returned home, there in the mail was a delivery slip for a new taller mast. I had done some preliminary calculations and found that a 230mm long mast was what was needed to position the head at a proper distance from the doghouse. It needed a bit of fitting done with a needle file to get the Jesus bolts to slide in with no resistance but it was nothing more than a few passes with that file. The shaft is stainless steel and hollow and while it does not have the near flawless finish of the original 550E shaft, it is slightly larger in diameter and fits very snuggly in the bearings. The addition of the Logo 5003D head is the final mechanical change that should be the last time any component needs to be upgraded. The Rotor Tech blades give it a very different sound from the old 3D Pro blades and coming in for a high angle approach landing, they give it a much more realistic sound. Here are some shots before I paint the head (I don't have the right colour in my selection here now). Take care.

Don

[Keyrigger]

I can pretty much close the books on this one as the only items left are some small graphics (grounding and anchoring points) that are not going to be missed for a few weeks. See you when I get back from Florida.

Don

[Flyerpete]

Looks awesome Don....

[Keyrigger]

Thanks Pete. I will be out for your float fly-ins with this one on floats (as usual) and with a newly won Tidewater flying boat. I have had a great year and don't look forward to the long down time, sigh. See you all there very soon.

Don

[Phil Noel]

Don, those decals really make that heli look real!! Have a good one in Florida!!

[Keyrigger]

Thanks Phil. I'll give you a shout once I get back.

Don

[RomeoOscar]

Congrats Don! Do you have a link for that 230mm mast, should fit a 600?
thanks,
Francois