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Scale Helicopters Discuss scale helicopters, tips, tricks and scale construction threads |
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07-08-2014, 05:47 PM | #1 |
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Fun-Key Jet Ranger Reloaded
Having rid myself of any outside work to do, I can now get at one of my two projects. I had wanted to replace the body of my Jet Ranger as it had been badly beaten up over the last three years. This was already the second body so I wanted to do one in military clothes this time around. I had thought long and hard about building an OH-6A Kiowa but felt that the window structure, that I would have to build,would be a bit flimsy so I chickened out and went for the CH-139 Jet Ranger from 3CFFTS Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. I am thinking that I might do it up as the picture with the single landing light on the outside but I did like the twin lights of my original Ranger and they had both versions. There must have been some serious upgrading to the avionics to remove the internal landing lights on the originals and switch to the single unit.
I started out wanting to remove the square protrusion from the lower body so that it would more closely resemble the original body. I had a second set of landing gear made up when I had the first custom set done so the only thing needed is a bit of a spacer to set the body at the right angle. The originals have a fair space between the strut and the body so a couple of washers should do the trick. I am still not sure if I am going to try and flip the tail rotor around or not. Switching the one way bearing is a snap but getting a nice finish on a complete rework of the rear boom is another story. The other drawback is getting a good quality pitch lever that flips it to the underside. For now, I will leave well enough alone. Take care. Don Last edited by Keyrigger; 07-25-2014 at 06:32 PM. |
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07-08-2014, 08:48 PM | #2 |
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Re: Jet Ranger Reloaded
Nice! What mechanics are you going to put into that?
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07-08-2014, 09:03 PM | #3 |
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Re: Jet Ranger Reloaded
I am installing the mechanics from the current Jet Ranger which is an Align 550EFL with a Scorpion 890kv motor. It has almost three hundred flights on it and it is still going strong. It will have the Bambi Bucket attachment on it when finished. Thanks.
Don |
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07-10-2014, 05:45 PM | #4 |
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Re: Jet Ranger Reloaded
I got a bit more done on the floor installation. I used a laser that I used at work to set the mid-point of the body. Just a few minor alterations to the preliminary hole placements and it should be spot on to the last body. I will only need to undue four screws this time around to install or remove the skids and floats. It might take less than a minute whereas before, it took almost an hour because of the lack of "T" nuts in metric. I should be able to get the canopy installed tomorrow as it will take the rest of the evening to get the spacers done for the rear chassis and Bambi Bucket bracket. If things go this well, I might have it in the air this weekend and ready for paint over the next week or so. The graphics should ship from Callie Graphics tomorrow if all goes well. I was very surprised at how fast it takes but I had already been told by a fellow club member that he needs a shot of the model (or two) with a tape measure to scale the graphics to. This is turning out to be a fairly quick project rather than one that never seems to get finished. Take care.
Don |
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07-10-2014, 06:53 PM | #5 |
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Re: Jet Ranger Reloaded
Looks like another masterpiece in the making.
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07-11-2014, 12:04 AM | #6 |
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Re: Jet Ranger Reloaded
Thanks Phil. I'm just putting the finishing touches on the electronic battery mount. I now have the chassis fully installed and once this is in, I will be all over the tail installation and canopy pins tomorrow. I really do want this one up in the air this weekend for a nice weekend of flying. I have been going over the gyro setting for this one and comparing to the others. There is a noticeable difference in the tail gain settings with the 500 having the least gain and the AS350 having the highest. That really does not make any sense as the 500 has the worst tail hold (should have thought that through first) and the AS350 seems to have too much at times. That may mean very little in the grand scheme of things but once I get the other two hooked up, I will be very interested to see the Bell gains, control rates, and pyro rates on the three helicopters. Maybe then it will twig why the Ranger is the best helicopter in a pedal turn. Thanks for the tip. Take care.
Don |
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07-11-2014, 08:22 PM | #7 |
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Re: Jet Ranger Reloaded
The chassis is now mounted and has the chassis brace installed like the first Ranger. I ended up with the tail shaft right at the join of the tail cone and boom, slightly ahead of the last installation and the two holes that give me access to the screws on the tail housing are the smallest of the three bodies I have done. It really helps when you can see the spot where the screws is because of primer being removed in the seam sanding process. I am now waiting on the pads in the body to cure so I can begin installing the alignment pins in the canopy. I also have all the navigation lights ready to install once this is painted but the landing light is still up in the air as to which version I do. I could have flown it earlier today but without the tail surfaces, it wouldn't look right. Painting is really going to delay this one as I am having a bit of trouble with colour matching the yellow. There might be something out of a can that might match and maybe later this weekend, I'll get my butt out to a store to see what is available. Take care.
Don |
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07-16-2014, 12:48 AM | #8 |
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Re: Jet Ranger Reloaded
A bit more work was done and the canopy is now solidly on the body. The upper pins are angled upwards and pull the canopy towards the body when in position. I got a bit more detailing done tonight but no pictures as of yet. I also installed a block between the gear and the body to raise the angle of the body a bit more. The hard job, externally, is building the front landing light housing. The original outline of the twin inside landing light is now gone but I don't know if they just filled it in with a panel or made a new section between the chin windows. Once day I'll see them in person (maybe next year on my way across Canada) and I will take a ton of pictures. I'm just finishing working on the upper windows and they will be a lot closer to the full size in shape. The windows won't be in until I get the body painted but the openings will be done in the next few days. I have a weekend off doing other things but will try and get this put together and painted for next weekend. I can only hope. Take care.
Don |
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07-16-2014, 05:12 PM | #9 |
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I am: Don I.
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Re: Jet Ranger Reloaded
More details from last night's session at it. More to come as it gets done. Take care.
Don |
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07-21-2014, 10:41 PM | #10 |
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Re: Jet Ranger Reloaded
I have a bit more work done after taking the weekend off. I recut the chin window openings and may change them if there is enough room on the panels once cut from the sheet. I prepped the air intake before I left and spent most of the day cutting it and shaping a plywood deflector for in front of the opening. The doghouse is not deep enough as the original in that area but the general idea is conveyed. I let the Hysol set a bit before I started to reshape and add more to the air deflector. It now only needs a bit of sanding to finish off the shape before painting. I opened the upper window and it does make a big change in overall looks. I also opened up the doghouse vents and am prepping for the one behind the engine doors. I have also removed the step stub on the left side in advance of putting a scale one in its place. I should have it in the air with Bambi Bucket and Pumpkin this weekend. Take care.
Don |
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