Has anybody tried...

Yo can try to use them, but be warned. Those motors can spin up to 2000 RPM!! Hope you reinforced the struts... unless you can wire in a variable voltage regulator. It may just work for larger scales.

demono69

I was thinking specifically if the 1/24 huey because they are 2 5/8" inches in diameter.

Maybe an old R/C servo and gear box?
I'll figure something out next chopper.

You'd need a metal main rotor shft and nylon bearings, and then figure out a way to replicate the tail rotor gearbox and intermediate gearbox. The drive shaft's to the tail wouldn't be too difficult though. If I were you I'd start by building a test rig in something tough, maybe a metal construction set (meccano?) and once you've got it working, simplify & minimise it to see how far down you can go & still be safe & practical. The ends of those main rotor blades would cause quite some damage to skin if they hit! Maybe R/C stuff is the way to go.

I've been thinking of a fiber clutch so that their is no direct coupling to the blades (I have a Three year old). I have been thinking on thi for a month or so and when i get it figured out i'll let you all know. Now, to track down that Huey.

How about a vibrating pager motor? remove the eccenntric weight and bingo, one instant main rotor gearbox.

Might have trouble synchronising 2 for a Chinook though!

Cheers,

Rob M.

I've got a 1/48th Monogram Apache I started and never glued the fuselage together. I motorized it using a small 1.5 V motor and some plastic gears to turn the main rotor and used the "differential" gears off an HO race car for the "90" degree tail rotor gearbox. I think I just used a coil spring to make the turn at the base of the tail. Used brass tubing inside the larger dia tubing for the bushings for the tail rotor drive shafts to turn in. I think I need to go back and change the gear ratio for the tail rotor because it was turning too slow. I used a split shaft for the main rotor that was notched to allow it to "free wheel" when you shut off the power to the electric motor. That also allows to to simply remove the main rotor by picking it straight up. May have to dust that little "test bed" off when I ge home next week! I'll talk about my motorized 1/48th V-22 project another time.

I've got an old Revell 1/32 scale Hughes Police Helicopter that was basically the same kit as their OH-6 Loach but motorized. I still have that old thing. The motor started by turning the main rotor blade and it jump started the engine. Has a spotlight under the nose. I used the Revell "Miss Clawd IV" decals on the police chopper and painted it to be an Army bird. I do not know if it still works, I will have to give it a spin.

that sounds like a cool idea.

Yes, 13 years ago it was a great idea.  Rehashing it now is pretty pointless.

Why? If it fires up imagination, and someone wants to try it I think it's a good thing. I see nothing wrong with bringing upthis thread. Good lord, some are just too uptight. This is a hobby, we are supposed to throw around ideas. Who cares if it is a old thread.

I guess you didn't see his 12 other threads across all the forums where he did the same thing by replying to 13-15 year old posts that are also no longer relevant with nonsense replies as well.  My favorite is his "Welcome!" to a 12 year old introduction post.  If he were adding valuable info, fine.  Trolling by adding nonsense replies to a bunch of ancient threads is just annoying.