Bell230 scale rebuild pt2 - Retracts

[Cyclicscooby]

Hi Guys,

Been away for a while, but after a change of model room, I got the enthusiasm to crack on with the Heli rebuild... Amongst a Plane and a homemade crawler... !!

I made my own ally retracts a while back, [url=http://www.scalerchelis.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=11654]ScaleRCHelis.com • View topic - Ally Retracts - For my VE Bell230[/url] but lost interest after they were finished, cuz of all the filing and a new plane...

So heres part 2 of the rebuild... With plenty of pics...

I've used three ply formers in each winglet, plus one on the inside. The two inner formers are 'plated' to the side of the fuse, for strength, and the outer two are to create a wheel well..

[IMG]http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l115/cyclicscooby/Models/Heli/VE%20Bell230/Rebuild%20Part%202/01Retractrearbare1.jpg[/IMG]



There are two ally tubes that span the whole ship, plus two additional tubes that only run thru the formers..

The 'Axles' are solid bar that go about 10mm (Left on pic) and 15mm (Right) into the fuse, where they are connected together via a Tube with screws.. The Right side is where the link rod attaches, hence why its longer.. It'll make sense soon..
[IMG]http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l115/cyclicscooby/Models/Heli/VE%20Bell230/Rebuild%20Part%202/02Retractinnercrossbars1.jpg[/IMG]

There are also the first of 3 axle bearings visible here. I made a ply ring, which was epoxyed onto the former, and slotted the bearing in..
The rest of the visible epoxy is mixed with microballons and is ,gopped on', I cant deny that..



Heres one of the axles, showing the bearings.. I've since added plates to stop the bearings running down the axle.

[IMG]http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l115/cyclicscooby/Models/Heli/VE%20Bell230/Rebuild%20Part%202/04Retractrearouterbearings1.jpg[/IMG]



Trial fitting the first leg.. Not yet drilled, or axles flattened, but it fits... :D

[IMG]http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l115/cyclicscooby/Models/Heli/VE%20Bell230/Rebuild%20Part%202/05Retractrearfirstleg1.jpg[/IMG]



The finished article... :)
[IMG]http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l115/cyclicscooby/Models/Heli/VE%20Bell230/Rebuild%20Part%202/06Retractrearlegwithwingletinstalled1.jpg[/IMG]

Still needs to be tidied up at this stage, but its the first time it's all gone together, and I was chuffed to bits..

Just gotta make the other two legs look the same now.. !!



Front attached... And, for me, suprisingly square.. ;)
The front half of the inner well is plated with plasticard, whilst the sides are part of the whole frame..

[IMG]http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l115/cyclicscooby/Models/Heli/VE%20Bell230/Rebuild%20Part%202/07RetractFrontleginstalled1.jpg[/IMG]



The rear arm is screwed to the Axle, for security, hence the right axles being 5mm longer... Its connected to the front by a CF rod

[IMG]http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l115/cyclicscooby/Models/Heli/VE%20Bell230/Rebuild%20Part%202/08RetractLinkRod1.jpg[/IMG]

[Cyclicscooby]

After many many hours, staring at it, I finally decided on this servo mounting option... Its not pretty, but I really was stuck for space.. The mechs and lipo come above and below the balse crossmember, and there simply wasnt the room in the nose, without complicated linkages..
I'll fit a brace to the rear too, but it'll all be covered over with a panel / seats

[IMG]http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l115/cyclicscooby/Models/Heli/VE%20Bell230/Rebuild%20Part%202/09RetractServomount1.jpg[/IMG]



The whole assembly.. Retract unit with replaced, long axle, top.. The far side of the bar (bottom) has an arm to connect to the rear via the CF rod

[IMG]http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l115/cyclicscooby/Models/Heli/VE%20Bell230/Rebuild%20Part%202/10RetractFrontLinkRods1.jpg[/IMG]
The main frame is 3mm ply, double plated (3 layers) around the axles, which has ally tube bearings mounted in each side. There is no front to the frame, as it needs to curve too much, so plasticard was used.



Front leg underload (On bumpstops)

[IMG]http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l115/cyclicscooby/Models/Heli/VE%20Bell230/Rebuild%20Part%202/11RetractFrontloaded1.jpg[/IMG]

The rears...

[IMG]http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l115/cyclicscooby/Models/Heli/VE%20Bell230/Rebuild%20Part%202/12Retractsalldownloaded1.jpg[/IMG]


Off load...

[IMG]http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l115/cyclicscooby/Models/Heli/VE%20Bell230/Rebuild%20Part%202/13Retractsalldownoff-load1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l115/cyclicscooby/Models/Heli/VE%20Bell230/Rebuild%20Part%202/14Retractsalldownoff-load2.jpg[/IMG]

And for the first time, ALL UP, under there own power..

[IMG]http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l115/cyclicscooby/Models/Heli/VE%20Bell230/Rebuild%20Part%202/15RetractsallUp1.jpg[/IMG]

The locking mech is working fine, everything is tight, straight, and just needs to fly now..

Check out my other build posts for more...


Luv Chrisie... xx

[trillian]

'Looks really good! I wish I had the patience for things like that.