Joe Bessette

315- that was acft 23 if I remember correctly. The end (supposedly) of VH support at Sikorsky. Looking good as always.

That's awesome 👍

Glad it was a good time. Thanks for the photos. 👍

Thanks for that!

That's looking good! Can't wait to see it painted! Starting #4! Where do you find the time? I've had to put modeling aside for now. Just too much going on.

Nice! 👍🤘🤙

Did you have "hands on" with that tail number? I remember when it was being laid-up in the DMC.

Hey Butch, The deleted windows are composite plugs from the inside that used the original rivet pattern for the window. The plugs have a relief that fills the window opening with a flange to rivet in place from the inside, if that makes sense. The second cabin window aft on the port side is a...

That's such nice work. A lot to be said about patience. Before you cut the window on the personnel door, keep in mind there isn't one on the VH 😜

You can't go wrong with a Brain2/iKon2 👍

I'm not sure, but with all the mods, there is a lot of new ones. It was definitely a good program for structure work. I have heard that HMX-1 has all 23 now.

Looking good. 👍

The furnace in your shop reminded me I am due to have mine cleaned... Awesome work as always! 👍

Looking good! Just wondering what your head gain is at for this flight on the 3x? I want to compare to what I settled on with the 550 size heli with 4 blade head going into the MQ-8?

I think that's part of the instrumentation package from test/eval. Other images don't have it. I have gotten the FLIR platform worked out, just need to figure out the FLIR itself. The challenge is that this is only a .30/550 size heli. The nose datalink antenna is only about 25mm tall.

I see inlets! They look great! Did you print them? Also the String-Ty is the bomb!

String-Ty 👍

Hi Butch. For wire management I have gotten some nylon cable clamps from Amazon and just use a small pan-head wood screws to mount them. Cable Clamp 200 Pcs Black Nylon Plastic R-Type Cable Clamps 3/16" 1/4" 3/8" 1/2" 3/4" 1" Clips Fasteners Assortment for Cable Conduit

Hi Michael, I have been trying to get them more verticle and use the phasing in the 3x, but since I am trying to adapt this head to the Shuttle SWM swash plate, there is interference with the swash follower. When they are set as the picture shows, I need very little phasing in the 3x and there is...

I pinch and my thumbs still shake at times!

"Thumbs shaking" and keeping it slow... Yup!

Excellent 👍

Igor would be proud! 🤣 👍

Very nice! What mechanics are those?

They look great! "Nice job boys!"

So nice!

That's fantastic! 👏

They look awesome! Can't wait to see them finished. After following this build, you should be more than confident in it's airworthiness. Thanks for 50! chapters of tips and ideas!

Great work as always! Here is a scheme for you to consider! They finally moved the POTUS with it at the D- convention.

Super work so far!👍

I should have made the trip...

Great flying! Making it look way too easy.

Glad it was a good turnout and weather 👍

The Lama is such a great helicopter! That setup you had there flew very nicely.

Nyyice! 👍

Envious work you do there , Butch! The picture looking at the nose, it really has the correct stance. 👍 Hauling it to MA?

I have sold or given away the last of my planes over the winter. Heli only for the foreseeable future.

Don't know how you do it daily. Just the thought of coming through Co-op city gives me anxiety!

Thanks as always, Butch! How's the ferry ride across the Sound? 😂

I also find slow controlled flight a challenge. When I do it people get in their cars. 😂

Thanks for the link. They are to big for mine. The way my batteries are installed is a pain. I want to move them to the baskets.

Looks great! Can you tell me more about the cargo baskets? I have been struggling to find some to fit my Lama. I've been struggling through trying to draw some in Fusion 360.

Thanks Butch! I have -4 to +10 at the top. Around +4 right now mid pitch. Blades are 510mm. Normally the 2 blade head would be 550mm. I am hoping to make it to MA. this summer. Yours is closer to me but driving through the city gives me anxiety! 😂

Impressive work! Looks full scale alongside the building.

Sorry, I wasn't implying your heli wouldn't be photographed for a magazine. I meant mine. I edited my comment

Rèmy, I have come across this pilot. Lol Doesn't look too bad. I will have to take some measurements to see if it will fit.

That's nuts!

At least it wont look cheesy as most do. IMO

Hi Remy, I understand what you are saying. however I find the scale pilots to not be very realistic looking and would rather not add one that looks cartoonish. Besides, I doubt a professional photographer will be photographing my heli for any magazines. LOL!

That's awesome! So how would you go about changing rotation direction out of the IGB?

Ok. I get it. That is very similar to Brain/iKon bank setup for flying styles. I will go in that direction instead of the pot. Thanks!

Thanks Butch! Question for you. In the setup for the 3x, what would be a good starting point for the head gyro, rigid stabilization? This is the only point of the setup I am not 100% sure about. I have the channel on a pot for adjustment, just not sure where to start.

I am using a BD 3x for the first time and have the receiver powered by the controller per BD.

We did 920924 - 920947 for VH. Lol

This is close.

Hi Butch, the airframes we had come through had a brighter, almost yellow-lime green hue to it. It is now a eco friendly primer. It definitely isn't as dark as the older zinc chromate primer.

Fantastic work as usual!

I have also played with Sketchup and Tinkercad.

I am starting to get interested in 3d printing for scale parts. I have been learning Fusion360, slowly! Lol. I want to print my own ext cargo baskets for the Lama.

Thanks for the tip, Rémy!

I just noticed the printed station lines on the formers... Nice touch!

Vario.

Thanks Rémy. Yes I need to change the hardware there. There is an issue with with the nut hitting and limiting the travel of the black arm. I had to radius the nut a little to get the travel I needed. I also will flip the cap screw over and install top down. Thanks for the tips.

On helis like the Future and even Raptors, I have just eye balled them and sometimes used a dial caliper to measure off of a common surface. If off a little, those helis would be trimmed in the radio anyway

Ah... Right. I should have known that 🤦

They look great! You mentioned that the swash will be "above" the upper cowlings. Won't that be kinda high?

No way! What a kick in the pants!

Looks good! Have you had a chance to hover it yet?

Thanks Rémy!

Thanks, Massimo!

Thank you, sir.

I am slowly learning 3d modeling on Fusion360. I have discovered that having things printed commercially isn't all that bad. Great idea by the way.

cults3d.com

Well, not quite amazing, but it'll do.

Great... 10pm and now all I can think about is burgers! 🍔 And your work looks just as good, as usual. Merry Christmas.

Very impressed with how stable it appears to be!

Our season ends 12/1 regardless. Our field is located in an Army Corp of Engineer project and they do not maintain the road into the field in the winter.

Sorry Butch, re-read your reply, it is definitely Monday... It is the stock TGB. I am going to try to adapt Aligns setup. There is def room to move the unit in on the shaft and still get enough throw.

No. That is the upgraded, metal tail drive gear. I didn't like the stock setup with the plastic gear and the sleeve over the drive wire output. This one will secure the drive wire a lot better. Good advice on the flats. 👍

yes. That is the stock drive wire. Is it something I should be concerned about? Honestly, I think it is going to be the source of much vibration...

Thanks for the idea. That would definitely be easier!

I think that will be easy for you. I am looking forward to how your going to do the inlets.

I like that! Looks like it slides in right through the door. Will you try to dress it up and hide it?

#3 already! Man you're fast! On the other hand #18 is coming along also. Impressive work as usual.

Thanks Butch. Yes there room for faux fuel tanks. In fact I have been given the .stl files to print them. Just need to find someone to print for me. I am thinking of leaving the paint imperfections and call it wetherizarion! Lol

Looking good. Interested to see how the battery fits under the seats.

"Just... WOW!"

I was just wondering. You are not the only one I have seen do it that way. I was just taught 90* off the right side for collective setup.

I like the angle meter holders. I have always set up my pitch with a blade 90* to the heli. It looks like you do it parallel to the heli. Is there a difference in each way?

#2 already! Amazing work as usual. 👍

A video would be great! I too have trouble imagining how that setup works.

A beast it is! Would like to know more about how the head works.

Correct. My plan is to "blue" the exhaust at the beginning of the exhaust stack where the gasses would be hottest. Then air brush some soot at the exhaust exit.

Thanks Remy. I agree with the red and green wiring. I think that is what's making it look off. I will rework the high speed shaft also.

Trex 500 belt.

Hi Eric, this is the head. And so far it has worked out well. As far as the blades, they are just regular 500mm blades, sanded, painted and rebalanced.

Thanks!

Awe shucks...

Fantastic work!

Looking good!

I found you have to get creative when building scale helis.

Nice flying!

Oooh, thanks for the tip! I have been saving scraps of safety cable from work to use as braided cable and hoses. I also have 1/16in brass tubing. Going to get the rest in primer first.

Here's a good read about phasing . I do it over the tail but imagine over the nose would be the same results.

Thanks Butch! So far the consensus is to punt and avoid biffing up the canopy. Coming from you guys, it's sound advice.

There a high probability I'll be punting.

Fixed it!

What are you thinking for mechanics? The options are pretty good. Many different paths you can go.

And a lot more scale...

Not quite what I wanted (Baby Lama) but I'll make it work.

Fantastic!

Lama's are just cool! 🤙

I know what the bagging does for it. But what is the overall quality difference between bagging and not bagging the layup?

Looking good!

So cool looking!

Holy smokes! That is a lot! bigger than I imagined! Looks great!

Yeehaw!!

Now you have custom, modified mechanics 👌

Oddly enough, I found myself understanding quite a bit! 😂

Maybe by splitting it, Vario's aim is to have access to the mechanics?