Build Story
500 size CH-54 Tarhe (Skycrane) Build
Michael R.
Chapter 7 of 15
3D modeling and more tail fun
Apr 21, 2025
Work continues preparing the Skycrane for Helistorm. Spent pretty much all of yesterday doing CAD modeling of the IBFs. Also designed and printed the fore/aft gear fairings. Will be doing the aux external cargo hooks next, as well as running a whole lot of brass to simulate the Hyd lines and control tubes.
Also, added a few photos from September where I flew the crane at the annual electric event in St George, UT. At that event, I suffered an IGB gear failure on spoolup. No damage, but had to change the gears and some procedures to prevent that from happening again. After adjusting shims and redoing the tail pushrod mechanism a few times, I’m satisfied that I will have robust and precise tail control this time around.
13 Comments
I am enjoying the build. It looks great. Thank you for posting.
Wow great 👌
Really Nice Michael!
Amasing work on the details ! Nice job.
Nicely done. I do not know how some modelers can work on small helicopters. My sausage fingers do not allow such work.
Great Job,
B
Looks outstanding Michael!
Thanks Tim!
Looks great
Oh how we heli pilots “listen” very intently every flight. Nice work.
Dude, I love the artillery suspended! What a great shot! I'm waiting for my Vario Air Crane to get painted and was thinking about suspending a Tamiya Maersk container from the bottom, but it's a turbine so I'll have to stash the fuel tank inside the container...fun project and yours gave me the idea to make the standard tank and my container swappable.
Very cool! Will look forward to seeing it!
Dammit Mann!!!
You may be the sling load "King"
Nicely done,
B
Very nice !