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- 100 1514
- 123 2337
- 107 0745
- 106 0695
- 123 2332
- b0007
Heart-somethingorothers [3/4] - 142 4203
- 126 2645
- 125 2553
- 113 1360
- 125 2552
- 105 0540
- 110 1079
- 107 0711
- DSC01327
Depot #2 2003-03-29 A view of the depot. 2003-03-29 - 132 3266
- 129 2986
- 106 0669
- 130 3011
- 129 2932
- 104 0445
- 106 0676
- 147 4759
- 105 0511
- 126 2609
- 105 0539
- 126 2612
- 125 2546
- 105 0544
- 140 4029
- 126 2641
- 107 0702
- 105 0567
- 106 0658
- 130 3006
- 106 0675
- 129 2953
- 125 2543
- 130 3005
- 129 2928
- 125 2586 2
- 129 2923
- 110 1069
- 104 0429
- 142 4201
- 125 2563
- 110 1080
- 142 4264
- 142 4202
- 126 2611
- 110 1067
- 107 0719
- 129 2911
- 105 0543
- 110 1068
- 134 3418
- 130 3013
- 110 1070
- 105 0541
- 106 0634
- 104 0420
- 129 2991
- 123 2336
- 106 0651
- 125 2586
- 122 2293
- 142 4269
- 125 2570
- 154 5441
- 129 2943
- 125 2537
- DSC01211
- 129 2922
- 126 2615
- 125 2545
- 123 2322
- 107 0738
- 154 5416
- 130 3017
- 129 2907
- 125 2587 2
- 125 2539
- 126 2693
- 105 0548
- 154 5462
- 129 2933
- 107 0740
- 154 5455
- 142 4243
- 105 0542
- 107 0716
- 154 5435
- 150 5071
- 129 2934
- 129 2913
- 107 0715
- 130 3003
- 154 5417
- 130 3032
- 129 2978
- 154 5467
- 125 2554
- 129 2992
- 106 0670
- 154 5469
- 154 5444
- 129 2944
- 125 2512
- 106 0638
- b0024
Air Canada [2/3] - 129 2941
- 142 4272
- 125 2585
- 130 3081
- 141 4199
- 125 2567
- 140 4022
- 129 2994
- 105 0545
- 100 0027
Glenn in workshop [1/2] - 130 3007
- 105 0562
- 100 0040
Merlin - 107 0744
- 154 5466
- 105 0546
- P0000085
- 107 0705
- 154 5434
- 125 2556
- 132 3267
- 142 4266
- 134 3419
- 133 3343
Outdoors [4/4] - 110 1095
- 106 0633
- 125 2544
- 900 0024
Random shot - 126 2610
- 110 1099
- 106 0667
- 154 5465
- 125 2587
- 106 0653
- 154 5418
- 110 1071
- 133 3308
- 104 0422
- 134 3412
- 107 0703
- 133 3325
- 110 1073
- 105 0509
- 154 5470
- 129 2984
- 115 1508
- 130 3070
- 140 4006
- 107 0709
- 106 0682
- 900 0020
Tara ...enough already. - 106 0673
- 130 3022
- b0025
Air Canada [3/3] - 110 1100
- 106 0660
- dsc sp5 0001
Canon EOS 10D - 130 3004
- 154 5419
- 104 0448
- 154 5472
- 106 0637
- 106 0659
- 154 5473
- 154 5433
- 130 3008
- 142 4270
- 133 3332
Rear view - 129 2912
- 129 2909
- 142 4260
- 105 0538
- 129 2904
- 107 0741
- 106 0663
- 129 2995
- 129 2954
- 100 1538
- 154 5468
- 106 0686
- 140 4005
- 129 2981
- 110 1075
- 106 0668
- 106 0657
- 142 4267
- 129 2903
- 140 4030
- 100 0041
Merlin - 129 2940
- 154 5429
- 140 4033 crop
- 154 5421
- 105 0510
- 142 4242
- 104 0446
- 154 5405
- 100 1539
- 130 3010
- 104 0444
- 125 2585 2
- 154 5446
- 154 5420
- 129 2938
- 154 5464
- 105 0555
- 154 5458
- 154 5445
- 123 2335
- 154 5471
- 129 2976
- 154 5431
- 129 2939
- 125 2540
- 154 5459
- 142 4240
- 122 2295
- 134 3462
In flying shape - 129 2997
- 110 1064
- b0023
Air Canada [1/3] - b0018
A bird Might be a goose - 133 3341
Outdoors [2/4] - 106 0639
- 900 0022
Tara ...I'm outta here. - 126 2613
- 129 2977
- 133 3342
Outdoors [3/4] - 104 0423
- 104 0404
- 154 5427
- 129 2952
- 126 2642
- 105 0508
- 100 0014
More house - 154 5440
- 142 4236
- b0008
Heart-somethingorothers [4/4] - b0020
Bird in a tree [2/2] ...it's in there somewhere - 106 0662
- dsc sp5 0003
Canon EOS 10D - 133 3368
- 106 0678
- 110 1065
- b0028
Merlin [2/4] - 110 1072
- b0029
Merlin [3/4] - 140 4033
- 107 0708
- 100 0013
...in the middle of our street - 106 0681
- 106 0648
- 129 2950
- 119 1969
- 129 2905
- 104 0415
- 142 4265
- 106 0665
- 100 0018
Blueberry tree - 129 2985
- 115 1511
- 142 4259
- 142 4237
- 107 0739
- 100 0025
Glenns truck [3/3] - 154 5426
- 154 5428
- 105 0566
- 900 0018
Tara Okay, I'm bored now... - 900 0017
Merlin [6/6] - 107 0706
- 106 0680
- 129 2980
- 129 2979
- 154 5430
- 106 0650
- 133 3328
The exhaust It's shiny now. I'm sure that will change. The silicone pipe runninf from it is a fuel tank pressurisation aid. There's no fuel pump - a certain amount of exhaust gas is used to push the fuel into the carb of the engine. Quite neat, really. - 129 2935
- 110 1063
- 133 3327
It's looking a bit big Note we have an exhaust (muffler) now also. - 154 5443
- 154 5437
- 129 2993
- 104 0421
- 142 4225
- 140 4021
- 100 0038
Tara! - 129 2946
- 105 0560
- 154 5442
- 142 4241
- 129 2996
- 142 4248
- b0027
Merlin [1/4] - 142 4257
- 140 4007
- 130 3009
- 115 1505
- 129 2975
- 110 1062
- 154 5425
- 100 0015
Cherry tree - P0000079
- 125 2555
- 105 0547
- b0022
A plane - 129 2902
- 105 0561
- 100 0026
Glenn inside a truck - 105 0556
- b0019
Bird in a tree [1/2] Can you spot the bird? - 142 4231
- 129 2948
- 154 5436
- 133 3338
The radio I decided to start small. A 6-channel JR transmitter. It came with the servos and a 7-channel receiver. - 129 2949
- 106 0654
- 115 1509
- 129 2945
- 100 0012
Our house... - IMG 0662
- DSC01330
The village to be 2003-03-29 Where am I? In the village. 2003-03-29 - 129 2936
- 100 0021
Blueberry tree - b0021
The sky - 100 0016
Brumbrum - dsc sp5 0002
Canon EOS 10D - 154 5423
- 129 2951
- 133 3337
Wires/servos Much cabling. Notice how I had to trim some of the servo "horns" - they interfered with the ball-link attachments. - 129 2983
- b0010
Pansies [1/2] - DSC01248
- 132 3275
The swash plate This little device is freaky. In a nutshell, the pitch of the blades varies through their rotation, according to the motions of the aileron/elevator servos (called cyclic on a helicopter) and the collective pitch. It's all a bit mad and I onyl slightly understand it so far. - 104 0447
- 105 0506
- 136 3613
- 129 2956
- 900 0019
Tara ...yes, I know you have a new toy... - 106 0664
- 154 5432
- 133 3329
Rotor hub It's really busy up here - I can't imagine this thing spinning as fast as it will need to. - dsc sp5 0004
Canon EOS 10D - 133 3335
The electronics arrived All the servos are on, the receiver is mounted and hooked up. - IMG 0663
- 154 5424
- 129 2959
- 100 0028
Glenn in workshop [2/2] - IMG 0667
- 129 2967
- 129 2901
- 100 0029
Glenn and Tara - 154 5438
- 104 0406
- 100 0024
Glenns truck [2/3] - 106 0649
- 142 4249
- 129 2955
- 129 2947
- 105 0507
- IMG 0664
- 129 2982
- 100 0019
Some other plant - 129 2960
- 115 1513
- 104 0405
- 142 4258
- IMG 0645
- 134 3464
Rear rotor servo cabling - 104 0419
- 100 0030
Glenn and Tara and Wine - 129 2962
- 100 0034
Merlin [4/5] - 103 0394
- 100 0033
Merlin [3/5] - 129 2961
- 140 4031
- 133 3336
Busy busy There's a lot going on with this machine. - 129 2969
- 154 5422
- 142 4244
- 100 0017
Brumbrum - 105 0563
- 142 4246
- 129 2966
- 133 3331
The body/canopy This will be it's ultimate shape. - 104 0402
- 100 0022
Back porch - IMG 0669
- 136 3614
- IMG 0668
- 142 4229
- 104 0413
- 105 0557
- 104 0417
- 133 3326
Progress! With the main rotor blades on, it's starting to look like a helicopter now. - 119 1968
- 106 0687
- 142 4235
- 104 0416
- 103 0391
- 100 0020
And some more foliage - 142 4250
- 132 3276
The engine OS 32 helicopter engine. Here it is with the Raptor cooling fan attached, basically a centrifugal fan. - IMG 0661
- 104 0407
- 103 0390
- 133 3330
So far... - 129 2972
- 100 0031
Merlin [1/5] - 103 0396
- 104 0414
- 129 2958
- 100 0035
Merlin [5/5] - 142 4245
- 129 2937
- b0011
Pansies [2/2] - IMG 0658
- 150 5072
- 129 2970
- 104 0401
- 104 0409
- 136 3612
- 104 0408
- 129 2957
- 136 3611
- 103 0399
- 142 4233
- 105 0559
- 132 3278
Engine, other side - DSC01325
Depot #1 2003-03-29 A view of the depot. 2003-03-29 - IMG 0660
- 106 0652
- IMG 0666
- 129 2998
- 133 3339
I fired it up... So, I took it outside, just to fire up the engine. Nobody else around to take pictures, so this is after the event. They definately make good lawn mowers - notice all the grass and grass stains. I'm so far away from flying this thing (still practising on the simulator) but I thought it would be good to give the engine and mechanics some exercise before it does fly. These things are not quiet! - 103 0395
- b0012
Tulips - 104 0403
- 900 0016
Merlin [5/6] - 142 4232
- 137 3751
Camera mount Allows me to bolt a camera, or other things, to the side of the Helicopter - 142 4238
- 129 2963
- b0026
Dartmouth Street - 106 0640
- 103 0393
- b0016
Tigger [1/2] - IMG 0659
- 142 4247
- 105 0558
- b0017
Tigger [2/2] - 100 0032
Merlin [2/5] - 129 2965
- 129 2971
- 104 0411
- 100 0023
Glenns truck [1/3] - 129 2968
- 129 2974
- 106 0646
- 900 0012
Merlin [1/6] - IMG 0674
- IMG 0671
- IMG 0657
- 132 3274
Side view - 106 0688
- IMG 0656
- 103 0400
- 129 2964
- 129 2973
- 136 3617
- 136 3616
- 136 3615
- 103 0397
- IMG 0655
- 134 3463
Rear rotor servo Moved the servo from the front of the chassis to the tail boom to shorten the control rod - less chance of flexing - 103 0392
- 132 3277
Engine, closeup - IMG 0646
- 136 3621
- 119 1967
- 119 1965
- 142 4230
- 899 9944
Tara! - 119 1962
- 133 3340
Outdoors [1/4] - 142 4251
- 119 1966
- b0014
Wasp [2/2] - IMG 0673
- 119 1958
- 136 3610
- 900 0009
Merlin! - IMG 0665
- 137 3753
Still in one piece Front view, it's been out flying a couple of times now - 119 1961
- 104 0412
- 900 0014
Merlin [3/6] - 151 5104
- IMG 0670
- 900 0015
Merlin [4/6] - 115 1503
- 136 3609
- IMG 0648
- IMG 0650
- IMG 0675
- 103 0398
- 103 0364
Trig pulls a new bird - 136 3618
- 151 5106
- 104 0418
- IMG 0653
- 119 1957
- DSC01318
The village to be 2003-03-29 A lady waits in front of a cottage in what is to become the village. 2003-03-29 - 103 0379
- 132 3286
Look at the mess! - IMG 0647
- 106 0643
- 136 3622
- 136 3619
- 136 3623
- 137 3756
Front view - IMG 0672
- 119 1956
- 132 3283
Assembling the rotor head These bits will eventually sit atop the swash plate. - IMG 0651
- 103 0386
- 119 1953
- 132 3288
Flybar again - IMG 0649
- 103 0389
- b0013
Wasp [1/2] - DSC01319
Towards the industrial area 2003-03-29 Progress has occured in the industrial region with the addition of some storage tanks and a depot. 2003-03-29 - 106 0641
- 900 0013
Merlin [2/6] - 119 1963
- 119 1952
- 136 3620
- 132 3290
Tail rotor assembly This was a fiddly piece to put together. - 132 3281
Engine in the frame, other side - 119 1933
- 132 3273
Getting started When I remembered I wanted to take pictures of the construction, this is far as I was already. - 106 0645
- IMG 0654
- 119 1960
- 119 1964
- 119 1955
- DSC01323
The cottage in the village 2003-03-29 That lady is still waiting... 2003-03-29 - 133 3306
Digital servo The Gyro came with this servo. Because the tail rotor pitch is being computer controlled, and you want it to react fast, you have to use a fast servo. Better yet, you use a digital servo, which mostly means the servo PWM's the motor inside much much faster. This is a reasonably speedy digital servo. When it's going, it whines a bit, but I am pretty sure that's normal. - 142 4234
- 103 0388
- 132 3282
The engine The slot-shaped hole you can see is where the exhaust (muffler) pipe will attach, when it arrives. - 119 1959
- 151 5108
- 132 3279
Engine in the frame - 104 0410
- IMG 0652
- 142 4255
- 106 0644
- 136 3608
- 133 3305
Gyro This is described by many as the "most cost effective" stabilisation gyro on the market at present. It's job: keep the machine pointing in the direction you want it to. In the old days, you would program a "revolution mix" into your radio which altered the tail rotor blade pitch according to what you were doing with the throttle/collective, the idea being that you could match the rotational energy being put out by the main rotors to make the tail rotor counteract it, and keep the machine steady. Technology these days simply measures the rotation and does what it needs to counteract it. Funky. This is what makes the difference between whirly-top-with-dangerous-bits and simply "dangerous". - 142 4254
- 142 4252
- DSC01322
Tunnel ahoy! 2003-03-29 At the rear of the layout, a long passenger train headed by two Class A3s enters what will be a tunnel. 2003-03-29 - b0030
Merlin [4/4] - 132 3287
Rotor head and flybar The fly bar, I think, ,ostly balances the main blades. They are on a single bar whose pitch alters with the cyclic, but not the collective (I think, lots of "I think"'s here!). The bar is supposed to be near-perfectly balanced otherwise it causes really nasty vibrations in the rest of the machine. Rememeber, this thing is a huge spinning top, really. - DSC01317
A village station 2003-03-29 The village Railway Station, yet to be named or decorated. 2003-03-29 - 119 1951
- 119 1937
- 132 3280
Engine in the frame, closeup - 103 0375
Jappert - 142 4253
- 114 1496
- 119 1939
- 142 4228
- 151 5107
- 103 0378
- 133 3304
Clutch The silver drum in the centre of the picture is the clutch bell. Inside this is a clutch disc, which runs directly from the engine below it. It's designed to be fully diengaged below about 7000rpm and fully engaged above 10000rpm. The rotor blades operate at a fraction of this speed, not normalyl going faster than about 1700 rpm. - 132 3294
Tail rotor The orange material you can see through the hole is the belt. The blades twist together, in opposite directions. This is how you point the helicopter. - 136 3607
- 137 3749
Fuel line arrangement This t-piece arrangement allows me to load/unload fuel to the tank without pulling the pipwork away from the engine. Just use the right fuel line clip to direct the flow to/from the tank. Similarly, the left clip allows me to inject after run oil without having to do fiddly stuff, or remove the engine. - 119 1954
- 142 4256
- 115 1502
- 132 3295
Main drive wheel The belt goes back to the tail rotor. The grey spindle meshes with a drive wheel on the engine drive shaft. There is a shaft going up through these two wheels directly to the rotor hub. - 132 3291
Tail rotor assembly The red coloured pulley is a two-piece item, a flange fits on one end, and it can go two ways round. The correct way si with the shorter end into the pulley, longer end outwards. Otherwise, as I discovered, there is about 2 to 3mm play in the tail rotor shaft. Not good. - 132 3285
Rotor head bearings At this point, I only assembled one end of this piece. The bearing set in the bag fit onto the shaft with a collection of washers, spacers, bolts, loctite and so on. It's all a bit busy. Particularly sicne I forgot to put in a supporting piece rigth in the centre to had to disassemble the thing. - 132 3292
Coming together nicely now Tail piece is in, various tail-plane bits and bobs. The tail rotor blades are on the wrong way round here (and remained so for a while) until I realised I had the belt on the wrong way. I noticied this long before firing up the engine, thankfully. - 103 0377
- 133 3303
Beastie so far - 114 1499
- 142 4226
- 114 1500
- 142 4227
- 114 1495
- 114 1489
- 114 1494
- 114 1488
- 114 1490
- 114 1492
- 114 1487
- 114 1493
- 114 1486
- 114 1491