This is the second attempt at the plug for this helicopter. I did not like the way the first plug was coming out so I have started over.
The process of building this plug is going slow as my day job and family (very supportive wife and 3-yr-old son) have been keeping me busy. I have added this page for the construction of this helicopter plug and model but it will not have as many pictures as some of the build threads on popular fourms do.
The S-55 model is being built using the Vario Benzin mechanics as the base with a three bladed head (1680mm dia.). The Vario 50 degree gear box may be used for the tail rotor drive. My current plan is to develop a set of wood work that can be used for these mech. and other mech. as well.
There will be just enough room to add the cockpit, the windows will slide open, the side door will open, and I may be able to have the nose doors open (it will depend on how stable the structure is).
The model will be fiberglass with carbon fiber added around the openings and in other needed areas.
Some details will be molded into the fuselage and others will be detail parts to be added during the build.
To start with the model will only have the wheel landing gear. The floats may come later if desired. I am NOT sure that a set of scale float gear can be made to be fuctional on water for this model.
Sunday Oct. 5 '08
I have ordered more parts for the tail drive system. The 50 degree tail rotor box from Vario is heavy for this size model so I am trying the 40 degree gear box and will be using the dog bone connectors. for the drive shaft.
I have not ruled out the use of a flex drive cable for the tail rotor. One at a time first.
Sunday Oct. 19 '08
The last of the mech. parts have arrived so that is now ready once the first model is pulled from the molds.
I was recieved a set of vintage books for this helicopter which helped me to discover a couple of mistakes on my first spine and ribs shown above. These errors have been corrected. The main error was the tail boom length. The 1680mm rotor dia. will still work for this model and this is what will be used for the testing stage. With the change in length there is now a need for longer blades on the main rotor. I contacted Vario and asked about this. There is an 1880mm dia set of blades. There will give the proper scale length of blade. The other choice is to use the Starwood Scale Models main rotor set up. This would be the OF three bladed head and the 875mm blades.
The spine of the model and some of the ribs have been cut apart to build the different sections. The tail boom has had the foam filler added and will be finished soon. This S-55 model will become at least a 9 part model; top, main fuselage, tail boom, tail boom support, tail boom cap, two nose doors, cooling duct, and main sliding door. This does not yet include the cockpit window/doors, the woodwork, the window glazing, or the landing gear.
Friday Oct. 24 '08
All of the ribs have been added to the fuselage. The base plate for the top has been added but the front and back still need to be made. The back of the nose also has to be made and added.
Still to be done: The tail boom support. The angled down version of the tail boom. The stabs for both the flat and angled tailboom. After all the foam work has been done there is a 1/4" thick additional part to be attached to the bottom of the fuselage.
Sunday Nov. 2 '08
I have not done much on the model the past few days as I have focused on a halloween costume for my son.
While I was waiting for glue, paint and even some epoxy to dry I did get most of the foam cut for the space between the ribs of the fuselage and cockpit. It was then all sorted glued together and shaped with a hot wire cutter. Some of the odd spacing was filled in with expandable foam.
Here are my mech. set in front of the fuse to give an idea of where they will fit.
There are a few more wood formers to be added and then the rest of the foam.
Back to work!
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