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Motorized Helicopter Rotors

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Motorized Helicopter Rotors
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 2, 2003 7:19 PM
I would like to motorize the main and tail rotors for some of my 1/32nd and 1/35 scale helicopters. Any suggestions on motors, gears that are available and how in the world can I drive the tail rotors in such a small space. Any suggestions appreciated!
Paul
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Seattle
Posted by Papa-Echo-64 on Sunday, March 2, 2003 8:14 PM
Hello Paul!
I have never done this but.....I always thought it would be cool to use a friction method. Starting with a standard 1.5 or 3 V hobby motor....just position the motor with a shaft that contacts shaft of the Rotor hub by its own weight .......When the motor is energized it would take a little time for the main rotor to match the electric motors speed! ....kinda realistic like! there is plenty of room in those kits to do this! Have fun!
Straighten up and fly right.....
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Panama City, Florida, Hurricane Alley
Posted by berny13 on Sunday, March 2, 2003 8:33 PM
When I was attending ERAI one of the students in my class built a 1/32 scale UH-1 with motorized rotors as a project. It was quite complicated with gears and shafts. It took him over two months to complete. The plans for it looked like an engineering nightmare, which was the reason for the project.

Berny

 Phormer Phantom Phixer

On the bench

TF-102A Delta Dagger, 32nd FIS, 54-1370, 1/48 scale. Monogram Pro Modeler with C&H conversion.  

Revell F-4E Phantom II 33rd TFW, 58th TFS, 69-260, 1/32 scale. 

Tamiya F-4D Phantom II, 13th TFS, 66-8711, 1/32 scale.  F-4 Phantom Group Build. 

 

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Seattle
Posted by Papa-Echo-64 on Sunday, March 2, 2003 10:59 PM
Holy cow! I always assumed that to do the rear rotor as well would involve something like fine watch gears or something......

I wish Monogram would have re-released the 1/24 Huey as the Clear motorized version likr the Visable P51!...What a bumber!
Straighten up and fly right.....
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 2, 2003 11:18 PM
Hey Papa-Echo-64,
I like your idea of using friction, rather than direct coupling. I've wondered if it would work to use a very small aluminum or copper tube with a flexible rod inside as a drive for the tail rotor. I'm hoping the tube would prevent the flex rod from 'whipping' but maybe turn corners ... like 42 and 90 degrees...... do you think that might work for the t/r? Since I don't have an engineering degree, I would rather keep it as simple as possible.
Paul
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by FITTER on Monday, March 3, 2003 7:53 AM
A couple of thoughts here:

Try using a small coil spring for a flexible coupling. Maybe you could create a 90° gearbox utilizing a gearset from an H.O. slot car.

FITTER out
IBTL
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 3, 2003 10:48 PM
I had seen a modeler at a show that motorized a 1/72 scale Apache with micro
motors. They are very small, so they can be placed right where you need the power.

HTH,
Mark
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Seattle
Posted by Papa-Echo-64 on Monday, March 3, 2003 11:54 PM
Yep! I think that should work....I would even experiment with the idea of using some kind of small flat plates instead of just two tubes tuching......might be better for that 'GEARING UP' effect...The size of the 'plate' could make a diffrence.

The neeto thing about this .......is that if someone or something touches the blades no biggie! they just start over again with no real damage to the other model, cat or yourself!
NO Law suits!..."gulp!"

Fitter has the right idea for the rear rotor....try looking into some car or train gears! Train stuff most likely!

Keep us informed! Big Smile [:D]
Straighten up and fly right.....
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 4, 2003 12:09 AM
The guys in the ships forum would know, they use a small motor from a candy dispenser (?) to motorize radars
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by DAVEY5 on Wednesday, March 5, 2003 10:37 PM
THE NEXT TIME YOU GO TO A LARGER WELL STOCKED HOBBY STORE ,SEE IF THEY CARRY ,TAMIYA MOTORIZING KITS.THEY MAKE ALL KINDS OF COOL GEARING AND SHAFT DRIVES .ALL DIFFERANT SIZES TOO.THEY ALSO MAKE A ROBOT KIT.ALSO SOME OF THE TAMIYA 1/48 WAR BIRD KITS ARE COMING WITH MOTOR KITS.CHECK OUT THE R/C CAR DEPARTMENT WHILE YOUR AT IT. I MOTORIZED THE MAIN ROTOR ON AN OLD REVELL 1/48 CH-53 D ONCE. I USED A TRAIN SET TRANSFORMER FOR THE POWER.THE VARIABLE CONTROLDED SPEED MADE IT LOOK REAL AS HECK. GOOD LUCK ON YOUR PROJECT,LET US KNOW THE RESULTS.
To fly is great To hover is divine ...........
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Long Island, NY USA
Posted by Howie Belkin on Thursday, March 6, 2003 10:46 AM
A modeler in NJ has been blowing everyone away with his motorized choppers including carrier deck size (1/350?). Turns out most of the time he buys a motorized toy, guts it, and adjusts the ready made motor gear. He also adds rotor and jet sound. Sounds simple enough...
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Lafayette, LA
Posted by Melgyver on Friday, March 7, 2003 11:12 PM
I used HO race car gear set to make the 90 degree for the tail rotor on an 1/48 Monogram Apache. Also used a coil spring to make the 45 degree turn at the base of the vertical fin. I also used brass tubing I notched with teeth for the main rotor allowing the rotor weight to keep it engauged and no harm done it the rotor contact something and it "free wheels" when you shut off the electric motor. I got all the mechanics worked out but never finished the kit! Clear Left!

Clear Left!

Mel

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: NE Georgia
Posted by Keyworth on Saturday, March 8, 2003 10:38 AM
Try using pager motors. They provide the "vibration" mode for pager response. You's have to find a way to discretely position the battery, but I've done it with conventional piston engine a/c. Worked out well for me.-Ed
"There's no problem that can't be solved with a suitable application of high explosives"
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 9, 2003 10:06 PM
Great ideas from all. Thanks for the suggestions.
Paul
  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: Lancaster, South Carolina
Posted by Devil Dawg on Saturday, September 13, 2008 12:16 PM
I do believe I'll be trying some of these techniques soon.

Devil Dawg

On The Bench: Tamiya 1/32nd Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52 Zeke For Japanese Group Build

Build one at a time? Hah! That'll be the day!!

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Sunday, September 14, 2008 10:59 AM

Holy Dead-Thread Resurection.  This one is over 5 1/2 years old.

 

Good luck with it though.  I did it once to a 1/32 Cobra using a small motor for the main rotor and a clear disk for the tail rotor.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Lafayette, LA
Posted by Melgyver on Sunday, September 14, 2008 5:53 PM

Hey guys!

 I thought I had posted these pictures of my morized Apache that I of course never finished.  I used HO race car gearing and what ever else I could find.  the 90 degree is a coil spring.  Hope this helps. 

 

 

 Man!  I never would have guessed this thread was 5 years old!  Life is flying by! 

We survived Gustav and Ike here in Lafayette.  Wasn't so lucky at work.  We are missing one of our platforms.  Bottom of the Gulf in the Ship Shoal 209 block. 

Clear Left!

Mel

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: SE Alabama
Posted by Retired Gunpilot on Monday, September 15, 2008 10:35 PM

When I flew the Gulf I lived offshore for a year tour in the West Cam 272 field flying their field ship for Tenneco. Loved the week on-week off. Caught a lot of Red Snapper out there. My rig was hit by a water spout one spring and I lost my 206. When I got up to the deck all that was left was the tie-downs and pieces of the honeycomb tub assembly. I enjoyed flying the Gulf.

During hurricane Alicia I flew within twenty miles of the eye evacuating people on platforms off Galveston. I flew a 412 then. If you remember Alicia was heading for Mexico and at the last minute it made a ninety degree turn north. I put in more than 10 hours that day flying out at 40 knots ground speed and 200 knot return ground speed. I think from the pictures I've seen on Ike, it did more damage than Alicia.

I finally sold my rent house in Lafayette after Rita. I got tired of repairing it and worrying about it during hurrican season. We were going to finally retire in Lafayette, because my wife and I are both from there, but we decided we like Alabama better. We still have family there and visit often.

Stay safe.

Charlie

 

Stay safe.

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Lafayette, LA
Posted by Melgyver on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 11:22 PM

Charlie,

I went to work for Tenneco (Operators Inc.) in 1984.  Chevron acquired us in 1988.  I was working the Vermillion 50 Fld. back then.  Bob Edes and John Silva flew our Crew Changes back then.  Both were model builders.  Our Fld Ship pilot was Don Bordelon and another fellow who was the Roving Maint Pilot.  Can't think of is name right now.  I think his last name started with an "A".  Old timers disease setting in!  Maybe Absire?  Lived outside of Scott.  We had a few others, Steve Sliger, he went to flying Medvac's, lives in Baton Rouge, another model builder.  It's a small world sometimes!  I actually worked for PHI in 1973 for about 6 months in the Laf. Hanger for Gary Wolf.  Then I worked for Air Marine for 2 years then went to the Army Reserves in New Iberia for 7 years and was CE in the 872nd Med Det. 

Clear Left!

Mel

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: SE Alabama
Posted by Retired Gunpilot on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 4:55 PM

I was the 872nd's intructor pilot for about a year when I first got out of the Army in 80 before transferring over to the IRR until my recall for Desert Storm in 91. I had a great friend who (old) I can not remember his name. He flew for PHI and had an entire bedroom full of models he bought and never opened. He must of had close to a thousand. He got killed offshore in the early nineties. I was told they think he was scud running and a rogue wave knocked him out of the ski. His passengers survived, but no one ever saw him after they hit the water. He was single and also had a collectors 1970 Dodge Charger if I remember correctly. I use to take many of my models off shore to work on at night, but the wife broke them over the years dusting.

All my new models I am building I'm donating to the Directorate of Combat Developments where I work. They already have a big glass case for my models. Maybe they will out live me this time.

I'm sure I flew over your field numerous times during the early eighties. What a small world it is.

Charlie

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Lafayette, LA
Posted by Melgyver on Sunday, September 21, 2008 11:12 AM

Charlie,

The "world" gets smaller!  I was working as a full time Mechanic at the AMSA 75 Shop that supported the 872nd Med Det. and I was "head" Crew Chief in the 872nd until I left in 1981.  We might have flown together! 

Check out my "Bio" on my Vietnam Unit's Web Page.

http://www.174ahc.org/bio-26.htm

Clear Left!

Mel

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: SE Alabama
Posted by Retired Gunpilot on Sunday, September 21, 2008 12:57 PM

It is a small world and we share alot of path crossings. I got my invitation in 71, you seem to be a couple of years older. I also attended USL when I got out of the Army the first time. I'll PM you and give you my email account and we can talk off-line more.

CharlieSmile [:)]

  • Member since
    December 2004
Posted by stan2004 on Sunday, September 21, 2008 5:21 PM

In addition to the WIP threads already mentioned, here are some links and references to completed builds that started static out-of-box, some have lights, varying levels of how-to info.  The links work now but they will probably break over timeBanged Head [banghead]...

 1/72 Italeri AB 204

 1/72 Airfix HH-53C Jolly Green

1/72 Italeri V-22 Osprey - FSM print article Dec 2006 pp.36-39; no online link AFAIK

 1/72 Italeri CH-47A Chinook

 1/48 Hasegawa SH-3H Seaking

 1/48 Trumpeter Mi-24 Hind

 1/48 Italeri V-22 Osprey

  1/35 Trumpeter Mi-24 Hind

Anyone have more links to motorized helo builds?  I'd like to see:

- fenestron tail rotor (such as HH-65 Dolphin)

- contra-rotating coaxial rotor (such as Kamov Ka-xx).

- in-flight dio where rescue basket line, fast-rope, or whatever holds up model and doubles as electrical wire for motor

 

  • Member since
    October 2005
Posted by CG Bob on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 7:03 PM
Go to the R/C section of a well stocked hobby shop.  There are replacement micro motors for most of the small electric powered helo's.  You can also gut out some small servos, like Hitec HS-55s or E-flite S-75s or S-60s.
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