S.W.

Hi,

I'm helping a friend to build and paint this scale heli by Hirobo. I have started building it for about 3 weeks and here are the build pictures, i will continue building and upload new pictures every week and hopefully can see this beauty become airborne sometime in August!

S.W.

Paint scheme chosen, it will not be in metallic blue, but metallic graphite with gold trimmings, silver belly.

S.W.

(Deep breath!) Okee-Dokee here we go!

S.W.

Getting all the other engine stuffs together ready for assembly.

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Assembly of main frame.

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Tail drive assemble and engine installation.

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Main gear, washout, paddles all done.

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Tail drive unit assembly.

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Fuel tank level and battery checker.

This is a very neat design by Hirobo, the big LED provided will give you a visual cue as to the fuel level in your heli as well as checking the battery voltage, i will place it at a prominent location so that when you hover her near, you can see the LED flashing!

Here is how it works...

Flashing 1 sec, no flash for 1/2 sec, flashing 1 sec, no flash for 1/2 sec ---> Let's call it LONG FLASH = fuel level is still healthy.

Flashing 1/2 sec, no flash for 1 sec, flasing 1/2 sec, no flashing for 1 sec ---> Let's call it SHORT FLASH = fuel level at 10mm from bottom of tank, better land!

Constant GLOW from LED, flight battery has reached minimum voltage, do not attempt to fly at all.

Fuel tank comes with a stainless steel lip ring, very solid, prevents the neck from cracking if one tightens too tight, anyway you don't need brute strength to tighten it, it's using a 3mm machine screw.

I've also named the 3 outlets for easy reference.

S.W.

Coil is slipped thru the whole fuel line, one end is stuffed into the clunk, the other end is earthed to the steel washers at the fuel cover.

Copper strip is then taped down to the side of the fuel tank, bottom end is measured 10mm from the bottom of tank, that is the reserve fuel level given in the manual.

[]TEX[]

Very cool!!

S.W.

Turn on the unit, it now gives out SHORT flashes, reason being it's empty, next, fill up the tank with fuel, then remove the fuel slowly until it's at at 10mm mark, using a small cross-head screwdriver adjust the screw anti-clockwise until it gives LONG FLASHES, then slowly turn clockwise until it starts to give SHORT FLASHES, stop adjusting anymore, there you go, the system is now setup nicely to give SHORT FLASHES when fuel level is at the 10mm mark.

2nd picture shows LONG FLASHES. (There's still a lot of fuel in the tank, can fly happily)

3rd picture shows SHORT FLASHES, which my camera cannot capture obviously (Better land now!)

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Installation of GY401, all links and levers hooked up, all servos hooked up to receiver and all funtioning properly.

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Thanks TEX!

Single retract servo working properly, placed the mechanics into fuse for trial fit, to dremel holes at the bottom of fuse for exhaust pipe routing. Placement of flight pack is directly under the pilot seat.

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Rear exhaust pipe installation...automotive high temperature silicone sealant used.

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Blade grips epoxied into place, trial-fitted onto head assembly.

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Dremeling of fuselage, boy, this one is a killer! my fingers were still having tingling sensations hours after holding the dremel tool for so long! LOL!

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The original twin exhaust stacks were made of hard cardboard paper roll, much like the core of a toilet paper roll! LOL! that's not good, so decided to replace it with industrial strength plastic pipe.

Next will be vent mesh expoxying, twin exhaust stacks epoxying, retracts trial installation, LED lights sourcing and so on...watch this space!

fonzegator

Beautiful work buddy....beautiful..

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

Nice work Stephen, thanks for sharing!

S.W.

Thanks a lot gentlemen, back to dremeling!

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Twin exhaust stacks epoxied.

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All the windows dremeled out and sanded smooth on all edges.

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Tail was made of ply and balsa, lots of sanding here!

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All dents and pit holes sealed with Hobbico balsa filler and ready for fibreglassing.
3M spray used for initial tacking of fibrecloth onto the surface, Zpoxy resin applied thereafter.