Scale Helicopters
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1/4 scale Jet ranger

Chapter 3 of 4

Roughing the interior structure

Apr 4, 2025

Next up was roughing the interior. I wanted to make sure all structure was in place before I added fluff. using the printed mechanics as a guide and installed the wood formers that came with the kit and added a 3rd one where the passenger back rest is. for some reason Vario wants you make the floor of the heli at the same height as the door jamb... like its some eurocopter or something...lol. so I am changing that to look like you are stepping into a tub what the door is open. Vario also wants you to install the batteries under the front seats in the form of 3 - 4S packs, but most of my stuff flies on some variation of 6S. so i have decided to put 4 packs under the back seat. the seat pan will come out and secure with magnets. the luggage door will open to allow me to make the battery connections. the batteries will sit under the CG so while they will not help, they will also not hurt. I have taken to printing some of the internal structure rather than shaping it all out of balsa. this is printed with PETG, its a pain but has a glass transition temp of 185F or 85C so when its sitting in the Texas heat, the inside wont melt on me. so far the benches are ready to be covered in styrene and i have printed the linkage tower, and a semi scale ceiling to hide the mechanics from the inside. I also made the instrument console itself. it needed to come forward a lot more than i though as is evidenced by the pictures. originally it stuck out of the windshield, so that was not good. it matches pictures and drawings a lot better now that its moved forward. i guess my spatial awareness was not as awesome as i like to think it is.
lastly, i made some more scale hinges and door handles that i have sent off to be printed in nylon powder as that is sadly still not something I can do in house. will update once i have them.

Chapter 3: Roughing the interior structure
Chapter 3: Roughing the interior structureChapter 3: Roughing the interior structureChapter 3: Roughing the interior structureChapter 3: Roughing the interior structure