Vario Bell 47G3 1/4 scale

My first Commercial job flying helicopters was with an old Bell 47G3B-1 giving sightseeing rides in 1984 and I have been a fan of the 47 ever since. When Vario introduced the 1/4 scale I knew I was going to build one. I had built four of the 1/6th scale but it was time to move up. After purchasing everything needed I started deciding what I wanted the end product to look like. The old 47 I flew had the "utility" (squared) skid gear but I really liked the "arched" skid gear. I aquired the necessary aluminum tubing and started bending the crosstubes. Not having the equipment to weld aluminum and finding out the cost of such a job with a prior build I decided to build the skid gear myself using the J-B Weld method that has worked so well in other projects. After the gloss white paint was applied it was time to move to the cockpit. The Vario cockpit is doable but NOT what I envisioned for this model. I had specific requirements such as battery placement under the cockpit floor, installation of a sound system and LOT'S of scale detailing. I knew it was going to have to be completely scratch-built. I started with the floor, back bulkhead and seat foundation, center tunnel and instrument panel. The pedal assembly, cyclic and collective were made from many pieces of aluminum tubing, plastic pieces in many shapes and pedal lettering from Plastruct. I wanted the "bench" seat which was popular in the sightseeing business with one long seat belt for both passengers instead of just seat cushions with seperate seat belts (faster to move them in and out, lol). I used a vinyl "leather look" fabric for the covering. I wanted to use a pilot I had seen from PremierPilots which had a big smile on his face because if you have ever ridden in a Bell 47 with the doors off you would have had that same smile, lol.