gugie
FUN FLYER
Posts: 154
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Post by gugie on Sept 2, 2012 1:22:10 GMT -4
Here we go...... Picked up the AH-64 Apache Short Kit several weeks back and have spent most of the time since just doing some research. First a little about the kit. This is a pretty detailed fuselage of the Apache AH-64D. Depending on what the builder wants he can have a nice scaled heli with some effort in installing the mechanics building the landing gear, a TADS & PNVS and a simple cockpit. For me I'm going for a super detailed helicopter so this build may go on for a while. Here's some pictures of what you get with the short kit. This is a big kit at 62" long when complete. (Measured from front of TADs to top of rear tail rotor housing Check out the details in this picture. Access hatches and rivet details are outstanding. This model is just begging for hinged cockpit doors It's going to be fun adding a detailed black hole exhaust system on this model Even the radar warning receiver mounts are molded in this kit.
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gugie
FUN FLYER
Posts: 154
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Post by gugie on Sept 2, 2012 1:41:19 GMT -4
Here's some more details of where I'm at and my plans: Build procedure 1) Gathering information: (Most time-consuming but critical part) a. Surfing the web to look at the different models and schemes b. Determining what model of the AH-64D I was going to make. (Armament, radar) c. Color/paint scheme 2) Mechanics installation a. Using the 3 view scale drawings I took some measurements and determined the location of the main rotor shaft as it exited the fuselage top. I also had to take into consideration the angle of the main rotors. If you look at any pictures or drawings you’ll see that the rotor shaft is tilted forward. This angle I calculated to be 5*. b. Using the forward location of the engine nacelles I measured on the plans to the center of the rotor shaft. Here’s the dimensions I came up with: i. Diameter of the opening: 3” (I may change this later depending on how the mechanics sit) ii. Front nacelle front to the center of the opening: 1 ½” iii. Width of the notch from the rear of the cockpit cowling to the opening. (To enable the mechanics to slide in and out. c. I also measured from the blades to the top of the fuselage. Based on this I came up with the following dimensions: i. From the blades to the fuselage top is 3” (This helped identify how high the mechanics platform needed to be to achieve the right height.) ii. Angle of main rotor shaft 3 degrees iii. Height of platform from the fuselage to the bottom of the mechanics where the main rotor shaft would exit if it came out the bottom: ½” iv. Front of the platform (coincident with the front edge of the mechanic base) is flush with the fuselage bottom. v. Rear of the platform (coincident with rear of mechanics base) is 1" Here's some measurements I made to come up with some of this information I welcome any inputs or comments. I have a lot of work to do on this model so anyone who has some ideas or suggestion I welcome them...
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Post by Dr. Evil on Sept 2, 2012 9:30:36 GMT -4
That looks awesome gugie! Can't wait till you really get into it.
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gugie
FUN FLYER
Posts: 154
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Post by gugie on Sept 3, 2012 0:08:09 GMT -4
Gang, I have a correction I have to make related to the angle of the mechanics. I recently picked up from Cliff some additional pieces needed for this kit. One of the pieces was the mechanic side frames that lower the tail rotor gear box. What i forgot to realize was that the base of the mechanic side frames is angled at about 2 degrees. Here’s my thinking. When the helicopter is on the ground the fuselage is actually slanted backwards. Here’s a gross exaggeration of what i'm talking about: If the angle of the rotor shaft is like this then won’t the heli tend to fly backwards when lift is applied? So I think it needs to be like this: See sketch below The question is how critical are the angles? On the plans I have the angle of the fuselage when parked relative to the ground is 5 degrees. The angle of the rotor shaft relative to the fuselage is 3 degrees. (See plans below) The angle of the mechanic relative to the rotor shaft is 2 degrees So the question is for the angle of the main rotor shaft: 1) Should I make the angle of the shaft also 5 degrees so the blades are level when helicopter is on the ground 2) keep it 3 degrees per the plan. Blades will be slightly angled back (2 degrees) when on the ground (Plans are not all that accurate) 3) Mount the mechanics so the base is level with the fuselage. Meaning the blades will be tilted back 3 degrees Or is this not all that important? Here's what's on the plans: On my previous build (Tiger) i used the same sideframes which is what i'm using again, but the fuselage was not at the angle the Apache is when on the ground and the mounting platform was already in the Tiger. Any suggestions or advice is welcome. Thanks!
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Post by Dr. Evil on Sept 3, 2012 21:22:48 GMT -4
Is a full scale Apache's main rotor tilted forward per the drawing? Just wondering, atleast thats what it appears to me. Thanks
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gugie
FUN FLYER
Posts: 154
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Post by gugie on Sept 3, 2012 21:55:35 GMT -4
Dr. Evil, On the full size Apache the rotor is tilted forward as in the plans. Even on the Tiger the rotor shaft was tilted slightly forward. I'm pretty sure this was to compensate for the angle of the fuselage when on the ground. Just a guess....
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gugie
FUN FLYER
Posts: 154
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Post by gugie on Oct 8, 2012 1:10:19 GMT -4
It's been a while since I’ve post so here's some updates: Most of my time has been working on the mechanics. The fuselage requires new side frames (as the tail drive gearbox has to drop) and new front drive gear assembly. I've had the mechanics apart so many times now I bet I could assembly this blindfolded. I've also been working on the fuselage with getting ready to cut the opening at the top for the main shaft and rotor head. The fuselage has a square opening marked in the gel coat but this is not scale so I marked a scale opening and will be cutting this hole out. I need to get the mechanics slid up into the fuselage in order to figure out the angle the mechanics need to sit at in order to make the mounting platform. The problem with this opening is that I still need a slot forward of the hole so the rotor shaft can pass through. Since I only wanted a scale hole in the top I needed a way of attaching this tab to the cockpit canopy. Since the forward edge of this opening did not have a lip to attach the canopy Notice how the top edge does not have a lip. I had to make a fiberglass sheet, cut this to the shape of the opening. Once the fiberglass sheet was epoxied in place and dry, I cut the front side of the opening, taped the outside edges on both the fuselage and canopy and then epoxied these together. This probably sounds pretty confusing so sometime this week I'll cut the opening and the tab and you'll be able to see what I did. Attachments:
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Post by Dr. Evil on Oct 8, 2012 8:48:46 GMT -4
nice work there sir....can't wait to see more.
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gugie
FUN FLYER
Posts: 154
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Post by gugie on Oct 9, 2012 12:09:59 GMT -4
I forgot to mention that once the fiberglass sheet was epoxied in place and dry on the top edge of the fuselage , I cut the front side of the opening, (This step is very important as once glued you will not be able to get to this edge) note the red lines where the cut was made. The cut was made only to the front edge and about 1/16 on the top. Once these two slots were cut I taped the "outside" edges on both the fuselage and canopy and then epoxied these together. This prevented the canopy from being glued to anything but the tab section. OK did some more work last night. The hole in the fuselage top was started by cutting a square opening first with a Dremel cut-off wheel Then did some more cleanup with the Dremel cut-off wheel. Then the hole was sanded using a Dremel sanding drum to the marked opening as well as the two tab edges cut. (red lines) Now with the canopy removed here's what the fuselage looks like. When i went to slide the mechanics into the fuselage I noticed that the newly added fiberglass lip hung down too low so i had to cut these back on the canopy and on the fuselage This picture shows the tab on the canopy marked where I needed to cut it. Here's what the end result looks like I noticed that I'll probably need to make the opening a little more larger in order to have more clearance for the linkage rods.
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gugie
FUN FLYER
Posts: 154
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Post by gugie on Jan 6, 2013 2:53:20 GMT -4
First thanks to crmodels for posting how to attach multiple pictures! Prior to the holidays I found a little bit of time that I used to do some planning and building of the mechanics mounting platform. While build exactly to my plans once cut out, assembled and placed in the fuselage, I realized that this did not allow the mechanics to easily slide into position when placed in the fuselage Platform plan Platform cut and assembled Platform in the fuselage Another shot of the platform in the fuselage Given this I'm going to have to do some more brainstorming to figure out how to make this work. My focus lately has shifted from the fuselage to the mechanics as i want to have a functional Fire Control Radar (FCR) that is the big dome on top of the main rotor hub. This dome does not turn with the blades but does rotate 360*. I'm about 80% done but am waiting on some parts. Will do a write up as soon as i can get the new parts installed.
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Post by Chris Reibert on Jan 6, 2013 3:07:07 GMT -4
Np dude! Looks like the build is coming along nice.
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Post by doc121 on Jan 6, 2013 14:19:56 GMT -4
Looking good gugie. Looking forward to the rest of the build.
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