RC Heli Forums - Jet ranger

Rappy1

03-07-2008, 10:14 AM

Finally i put some time aside to start building my scale project. today i cut the engine vent under the head of the engine. With the raptor you have to add two strips of hardwood down the length of the heli, i guessing to lift the head more and also because the muffler mount hangs bellow the bottom of the frame. i did not want the hassel of the wood floating around while trying to align bolts so i fibreglassed them in place hopefully it works to strngthen the fibreglass around the skids as well.

Rappy1

03-07-2008, 10:29 AM

The one pain with the unpainted bod is the amount of prep you have to do, all the holes you need to drill for the body parts, and aligning the guide dowels not a great deal of fun. the seam where the body halfs join rough as well so need some sanding and bogging. i was going to add detail but when i look at the size of it it only a 50 size it be too small to really get back the detailing you put in. So tomorow will bring the cutting of the tail for the tail rotor and mounting of the tail cone and fin.

kcgraves

03-07-2008, 10:46 AM

Nice looking Rappy. Some day I'd like to do that to one of my .50s. Keep the pics coming.

Rappy1

03-07-2008, 12:22 PM

Here is one tip that seems to work. the clear plastic windscreen and various other windows you have to cut from a larger moulded part, the finish can be slightly rough when you finish it. i dont like sanding much so i just use the heat of the flame along the edge of the plastic at a spead that smooths the bumps formed by cutting. it also finishes it off looking clean and clear unlike sand paper can

blax1

03-07-2008, 08:38 PM

Nice job Rappy, you must be happy to be starting on her again :cool: Go for it Nathan :)
Now that is one cool tip, the cig lighter that is, never realized that :) Thanks

Rappy1

03-07-2008, 11:19 PM

Thanks Ralph.
The main colour of the heli going to be metalic black with a white belly and metalic purple pin stripping to go withthe head on it, it should look real nice when done, I hope to have all the body work done today so i can start the painting process tomorow as I now purchased all the paint

Rappy1

03-08-2008, 02:33 AM

Body now been primed, will wait for it to dry before sanding. I really hate sanding it comes a very close second to crashing

heli-cuzz

03-08-2008, 02:36 AM

That's cool nate. :cool:
How much does the fuse weigh?

Rappy1

03-08-2008, 02:41 AM

It hard to give an exact weight but it pretty light, i would say once it finished it still wiegh less than the electronics in the heli ie servos battery etc. the paint might weigh more than the body. but it will have the 50sxh in it and mainly be my fragile flyer, I will save the stunts to a cheaper heli like the 450. It will be one expensive heli once it all finished. I think it be the heli you never sell.

DVS

03-08-2008, 02:59 AM

That's looking very nice :cool: Can't wait to see it painted.

Rappy1

03-08-2008, 05:18 AM

base coat for the pin stripe applied, will just leave it to dry for a few hours before sanding again then masking.

Rappy1

03-08-2008, 05:19 AM

this is what the finished heli should look like instead of the red it being metalic purple

Raptor Driver

03-08-2008, 07:36 AM

blax1

03-08-2008, 07:54 AM

Wow Rappy Awesome, :eek:
Mate, Chill---Its beer O'clock ;)

Rappy1

03-08-2008, 10:51 AM

Mate that looks fantastic,..... Your so lucky to have picked a design,..I have done nothing but trawl Airliners.net to come up with a scheme for my ranger,..and still no luck I can't decide :rolleyes: Keep us informed on the build, as I am about to start the same fuselage.

Thanks
JJ :cool:

It takes a while to find a design you like i must admit. In the end i just went with something simple yet modern. if you get lost design your own :D or just copy haha

Rappy1

03-08-2008, 11:01 AM

Well i finished for today, got the body basecoat painted, in the morning i will give it another sand down before clear coating. The black does not really need a clear coat as it gloss black but I think it will make the paint work last longer seeing it in a harsh enviornment. It also needs the clear coat to gloss the pin stripe, i pretty happy with how it turned out so far

bboy

03-08-2008, 03:52 PM

Awsome Rappy cant wait to see her finished looking great WOW!Your so lucky to have picked a design Raptor driver start a thread for scheams Im sure other will help with the search remember we all love Helicopters ;)

Raptor Driver

03-09-2008, 09:37 AM

Well done Rappy, That looks stunning. when you get to it, can you keep us updated on how youattach the windscreens, as I am not sure if I should put mine on then paint, or attache them after,..

Thanks
JJ :cool:

Rappy1

03-09-2008, 11:58 AM

I think it be better to put on after paint. the inside windows glued in from behind the surface while the main one sits on the surface. You also have to do some painting on the screen too. I should have it done sometime this week and will post once done

heli-cuzz

03-09-2008, 10:54 PM

Awesome job nate. looking very sharp. :cool:

Jeff Bulmer

03-11-2008, 04:18 PM

Thats a cool sheme..can't wait to see it done!

I want to build one down the road.

helifreak5623

03-18-2008, 08:48 AM

Cool fuselage. What heli are you going to put that fuselage on?

Rappy1

03-18-2008, 09:18 AM

Hey there i have a raptor 50 i going to use as the mechanics. The body a little bit slow going at the moment as my work picked up and i came down with the flu as well, hopefully next week should be able to get some more done on it

helifreak5623

03-18-2008, 09:37 AM

Sorry to hear you got the flu. I recently had the flu as well. I can't wait to see how your scale bird turns out!

helifreak5623

03-31-2008, 10:09 PM

Just wondering how your Jet Ranger project was coming. Like I said, can't wait to see pictures of it finished.

DVS

04-01-2008, 12:19 AM

Just wondering how your Jet Ranger project was coming. Like I said, can't wait to see pictures of it finished.
I was just thinking the same thing.

Rappy1

04-01-2008, 03:14 PM

ah hopefully this weekend i should be able to get back to it. just finshed working 20 hour work day, some times the joys of being your own boss :o . so once i had some rest i might get back into it. i owned the heli body for over a year and always talked aboat getting around to it and now i shared it i need to keep up the effort for show and tell :D

PaulGrc

04-02-2008, 01:45 PM

Here is a couple shots for you Rappy1 .well for others too :D

Its my T-Rex 450 Se V2 on a HeliArtist blue Airwolf customised as a Air Ambulance.
I only hovered it with that fuselage so far because we have just too much snow here now.
I cant wait wait to fly rescues :D

mkoutnik

04-02-2008, 03:18 PM

Very nice looking heli!! :D

J-Heli

04-16-2008, 07:57 AM

Still nothing on the Jet Ranger Rappy1?

Rappy1

04-16-2008, 08:32 AM

yeah hopefully one of these days when i have some time i will get back into it. i wanting to change the colour a little as the purple only shows up in the light when the metalic shines. I just was experimenting with colours on the front of it. i think it needs more contrast. I will finish it in the end:) but wanting to make sure it just perfect

blax1

04-16-2008, 09:16 AM

I will finish it in the end:) but wanting to make sure it just perfect
Of course you'll finish it Nathan, There no point not being happy with it, you have put a truck load of work into her now, so sort the paint out, so at the end of the day you can step back and go YES that's the way I always wanted it......
Only then will YOU be satisfied with the finished project ;)

Rappy1

04-16-2008, 10:26 AM

exactly Ralph. My way of putting it i dragging the build to get the most out of it :D There just few choices to be made when building as to how much detail you want to add and as there so much more to it my mind changes more often. Just like when i started i didnt want lights but now i see you can get a fully computer programed light control for less than $30 just needs soldiering together it now a good option at that price so i have had to go back and drill out the fins to add wirring and it never that straight foward. Also when it comes to mixing and spraying 2k paint it not just a nice quik job like spray cans there all the mixing and cleaning up so it turns into one of those"ah i will do it next week" jobs. but i been picturing what it will look like if i do it good compared to a rushed job and it be a different heli. The fun only just beginning, i have to build my own landing gear yet for it. the most daunting job even though i have access to welding gear. Anyway time will pass and one day it will be finished.

J-Heli

04-16-2008, 10:49 AM

That's the way I would approach it. Can't wait to see pictures of it finished :).

DVS

04-25-2008, 03:24 PM

Rappy1 How's the build going ? Any updates?

Rappy1

04-26-2008, 12:08 PM

Wish i could say yes DVS but i been so busy lately i not had the time for it, ass i write this it midnight and still busy working on a saturday night. Just had a mad rush the last few months with work. hopefully i will get back into it again in the not to distant future and when i do i will be posting on it. I see the mechanics and the body sitting on the bench each day and dream of what it will look like once finished :o

electroman77

05-20-2008, 10:14 PM

nice work on the bell, cant wait to see finished pics of it, and let us know how it flies.

Rappy1

05-08-2009, 08:55 AM

I need some input boys. What scheme you think looks better, the one i have posted earlier in this thread or the one i have posted now. I like both and cant pick which one to do.
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll91/natmor/heli.jpg

PaulGrc

05-08-2009, 10:07 AM

For myself I do prefer this last one for shure. :D

kcgraves

05-08-2009, 10:43 AM

I'll second the last one.

Rappy1

05-08-2009, 11:36 AM

kcgraves

05-08-2009, 11:40 AM

I kind of liked the last one as well but i went for the first one as due to time zones you were all sleeping and my wife made the choice instead. I am half way through the colour coats. I may have time tomorow to do the clear coat.

We could have stayed up late if we knew there was a deadline to meet. But, better to go with what the wife likes. :D Can't wait to see it finished.

DVS

05-08-2009, 01:51 PM

You can't go wrong if your go with what the wife picked. ;)

Rappy1

05-09-2009, 02:34 AM

Well after 2 or so years here she is drying off after her paint job. I really dragged my feet with this one. The result ended up well. Once it is dry i will get some better photos

blax1

05-09-2009, 04:28 AM

Mateeeeeeeee....Congrats looks awesome...... How :cool: is that

vermonster

05-10-2009, 01:09 AM

Well after 2 or so years here she is drying off after her paint job. I really dragged my feet with this one. The result ended up well. Once it is dry i will get some better photos

Nice.........:D

kcgraves

05-10-2009, 01:21 AM

Looks great. :D

gouki74

05-10-2009, 01:27 AM

it will sure look alot better when it's up in the air i bet!

DVS

05-10-2009, 02:51 AM

That is looking NICE. :cool: :cool: Can't wait to see if finished.

Rappy1

05-10-2009, 05:45 AM

Thanks for the comments guys. I have spent today buffing up the clear coat on the front removable part of the heli. The next job is to fix the windscreen and the upper and lower windows ( the kit does not come with side windows) Anyway its tea time, so will report later if i manage to find some silicon in the garage.

Jeff Bulmer

05-11-2009, 03:38 AM

looking awesome, gotta feel good to have it painted after all the yrs!!! that thing looks huge hanging there!

I wanted to ask, is this a Funkey fuse??

Rappy1

05-11-2009, 04:08 AM

Thanks Jeff,
Yes it is. I first painted the front part of the canopy and was not happy with the colours so sanded, but at the same time it went through the gel coat. So it has taken awhile to get it smooth again. It wil look cool with the mechanics in it and the blades on. Even though it looks big in the photo, once you put it out side on the grass it really looks small again. I think if i was to do a scale build again it would be for at least a .90 size

Rappy1

05-11-2009, 10:05 AM

Here are a few picks of the heli, it is pretty much finished now. Glued the windows in using ADOS, is fairly rubbery so it should help keep them in place. I just feel i need to airbrush some matt black around the edge of the winscreen as this is the only window that gets fixed from the outside and you can see the glue behind it.
I will use my raptor as the mechanics. After seeing all the latest helis that been coming out over the past couple years it is starting to look a bit dated. I am a little unsure as to what i will do about the landing skids, if i should use the standard raptor skids or try build my own. I think at first i would like to run the raptor ones while i get use to it in scale then build some scale ones. Anyway the only mod i have to do to the raptor is change the tail back to standard as it has the titan tail boom. No biggy and i have the parts here.
body now weighs 760grams
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll91/natmor/DSCF0754.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll91/natmor/DSCF0753.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll91/natmor/DSCF0752.jpg

heli-cuzz

05-11-2009, 12:17 PM

Nate, sweet looking fuselage.Great job. :cool:

cbflys

05-11-2009, 01:22 PM

You're not going to let that paint dry for a couple of years before you finish it up, are you?

Nice work man ...

Rappy1

05-16-2009, 05:36 AM

Ok here are a couple more pics pre flight. Fitting the mechanics to the body was fun (not). some work has to be done on the tail rotor casing to allow it to fit. I had to take some plastic off where the vertical fin bolts to the tail casing. At the same time i changed from nut and bolt to self tapper. I thought there might of been more room to bolt the tail casing together. the rest of the work is ok.

Rappy1

05-16-2009, 05:37 AM

and another

Rappy1

05-16-2009, 05:58 AM

Some flying photos. Just at home in the yard. the sun had gone down so they not the best quality. The old man on the camera. The wifes up the duff so even flying this is carming my nerv's :D
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll91/natmor/DSCF0768.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll91/natmor/DSCF0760.jpg

Rappy1

05-16-2009, 06:00 AM

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll91/natmor/DSCF0761.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll91/natmor/DSCF0763.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll91/natmor/DSCF0772.jpg

blax1

05-16-2009, 06:42 AM

Hey Nathan excellent photos.....

Really glad you got her sorted, Congrats...... :cool:

Rappy1

05-16-2009, 07:18 AM

Thanks Ralph. I am getting use to the feel of flying it now. Its not as bad as i thought last night. It just seems to wise to not decend too fast. It may just need some adjustments made to the throttle curve.

vermonster

05-16-2009, 08:43 AM

Congratulations Nathan Job well done. It looks beautiful in flight and the color scheme is awesome. :cool:

Rappy1

05-16-2009, 08:48 AM

Thanks OD kind of the same as your avatar. hopefully it inspires you to do yours now haha

vermonster

05-16-2009, 08:57 AM

Thanks OD kind of the same as your avatar. hopefully it inspires you to do yours now haha

Sure does. The Jet Ranger is my favorite fuse. I think I'll be sticking to using a pre-painted fuse though. :D

Rappy1

05-16-2009, 09:02 AM

Yes i would highly recomend going with a pre-painted. They end up cheaper anyway. I am sure if i had a pre painted one i would of had it installed the same day it arrived in the post.

heli-cuzz

05-16-2009, 09:28 AM

Great pics, nate. :cool: Awesome to see it flying. :D

kcgraves

05-16-2009, 09:47 AM

Very nice pics Nathan. :cool:

Jeff Bulmer

05-17-2009, 12:18 AM

congrats on the flights, it turned out great!!

I was wondering , how'd you fit your fuel lines? I'm planning a Bell 222 for my beloved Evo, and its been puzzling me!

Rappy1

05-17-2009, 04:32 AM

Thanks again for the comments guys.
The fuel lines are still exactly the way they were when i was flying it with the standard canopy. the side windows have no glass so to speak in them so you can get your fingers in there ok. There are a few things i would like to change to make it easier on me and those would be adding a fuel filler (same as a plane one) and having somewhere to plug the charger into. At the moment i have to unscrew the front of the body to get the balance leads onto the lipo.