Lins

I've decided to start a build thread for my vario astar. It'll be a slow build, but if all goes well, it'll look sweet!

Lins

Here's a couple pics of the fuse, just got the mechanics and a bunch of scale accessories the other day which I'll start on next week.

kuade

My Feedback: (3)

Hey, I see you are getting things started. Just a few questions... where did you get the kit? what heli/size are you puting the fuselage on. I have two 450 size heli's, I want to make one a scale heli and the other is reserved for 3D so I am really interested in this thread. Thanx!

Lins

Well, actually it is it's own kit, fuse, woodwork, mechanics, etc. and not designed to go on other heli's. The engine I'm putting in it is 23cc. www.variocanada.com is where I bought it from.

kuade

My Feedback: (3)

Ok, from the first pic you posted I thought that was all your parts but now I know you have a lot more work ahead of you. Have you decided on a paint scheme yet?

Lins

Here's a couple pics of the mechanics. Next is to start fitting the woodwork, and landing gear. As well, a pic of one of the real Astars I work on. This is the scheme I'll paint mine.

Lins

Here's the fuse sitting next to my Raptor 50, and the windshield and door opening marked out.

Lins

Next is to file the openings smooth, and fit the woodwork, then epoxy it in, along with the rear landing gear strut former. Might be leaving town for a week, so progress might halt for a bit.

kuade

My Feedback: (3)

Nice Lins, I like the paint scheme you picked, it will look great. I am also getting a grand tour of your house since you take pictures of your project in a different location every time. Keep up the good work.

Lins

Woodwork is mostly fibreglassed in. Tail is just taped in place. I have to fibreglass the rear former for rear landing gear strut, and cutout the skylight and nose window openings next. I will probably keep this to a weekly update on the progress

Lins

I haven't got much done this week other than cutting out the skylight and nose window openings and fibreglassing the rear landing gear former. I'll get a pic though after I file the openings smooth. I guess fitting doors and windows is next, and grinding away some of the woodwork to fit the engine heat shield now mounted in the mechanics.

Lins

As much as I've gotten so far, nose and skylights cutout. I blame Christmas coming . Our real decorated 500 sitting outside the hangar, too...

Lins

All I've done so far, cutout the door window opening, and smoothed them out. Have to mark-out and cut the lower window opening in the large doors like the real astar. Still have to fit the mechanics in the woodwork...gotta love the holidays. I'll continue again probably the first or second week in January.

Lins

Ok, so I broke down and did a little work tonight. You can see in the first pic where I had to grind down the woodwork to clear the heatshield on the engine. I also fitted the doors for the most part, and you can see how poorly formed the right rear door is in the last pic. Not sure what to do about it yet, any fibreglass wizards on here have any ideas? Next maybe install the door hinges and perhaps even the tailboom.

kuade

My Feedback: (3)

Well Lins, it looks great, good to see that you "broke down" and got to work this weekend. When I saw the picture of your 500 I thought to myself that I want to get my commercial helicopter liscense. Office jobs are so mundaine.

Lins

Thanks, as long as I do a little bit one night, here and there, at least I keep getting somewhere with it. I just don't want to try and rush any of it, which I think if I worked for hours at a time, I would tend to take shortcuts I'd later regret. You can see I also started on the cockpit floor, I had to trim 5 cm off the aft section of the floor for the mechanics according to the instructions. I still have to cut away a little more than they say.

Lins

Just wanted to tape on the tailboom again...a little persuasion for myself to work up to mounting it.

wings_of_fire

Hi Lins !..
I had a request for you.. Hope its ok if I pm u.

ABproductions

by anychance could you take the body off the raptor and get a kit like that to fit on the raptors frame?

if so please pm me instead of replying on here.

Lins

wings of fire, of course, pm away.

RodanAZ

Lins, you've got PM...[8D]

ABProductions - Thunder Tiger makes a couple of fuses specifically for the Raptor 50. Here's a thread on their Twinstar AS355 which I built for a friend: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_6716283/tm.htm

They also make an MD530 (MD500E), which is in the first pic on that thread. It comes as a military ship, I built mine as a civvie police ship.

Lins

Rodan, thanks, I got it!

ABproductions

i currently have a SYMA 603 and SYMA 8093, so im hoping getting a normal model kit for that will work out... =S

Lins

Tailboom attached, seats worked on a little, intake MGB (main gearbox) and engine cowlings fitted a little.

wings_of_fire

I had been to the fibreglass factory today regarding ur door problem. they sugested that the door should be pressed to the actual fitment (under its elastic limit) & taped to keep it in the same position. Then on the inner side of the door where it has been stressed to fitment, add a strip of fiberglass surface matt (single layer) with resin. Then let it cure in the same position. This will set the door in its right position. There is no alternative as fibreglass & resin once cured can,t be reshaped, hence u will have to add a single layer of surface matt on the inner side. make sure the layer is not too big, but just a strip that once cured overcomes the elasticity of the door in its initial stage.

This is just one option. I will try to find out more options from fiberglass experts on this site.

cheers!