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- 106 0676
- 154 5434
- 147 4759
- 105 0544
- 100 1536
- 107 0715
- 126 2615
- 125 2586
- 125 2543
- 130 3072
- 105 0567
- 125 2587 2
- 123 2336
- 125 2570
- 110 1066
- P0000081
- 154 5466
- 125 2554
- 154 5462
- 154 5416
- 134 3418
- 110 1081
- 129 2999
- 100 1540
- DSC01329
Depot #4 2003-03-29 A view of the depot, with the rest of the coal yard (such as it is) in the background. 2003-03-29 - 142 4269
- 106 0651
- P0000089
- P0000083
- 129 2910
- 154 5455
- DSC01327
Depot #2 2003-03-29 A view of the depot. 2003-03-29 - 150 5071
- 130 3015
- 129 3000
- 100 0027
Glenn in workshop [1/2] - 133 3334
Size comparison - 106 0670
- 105 0542
- P0000084
- 125 2537
- 126 2645
- 125 2539
- 142 4264
- 122 2293
- 106 0634
- 100 0040
Merlin - 126 2693
- 105 0543
- 130 3019
- 154 5441
- 107 0744
- DSC01211
- P0000086
- 105 0548
- 142 4272
- 125 2512
- 125 2585
- 125 2567
- 104 0429
- 154 5444
- 129 2942
- 125 2556
- 110 1069
- 154 5417
- 140 4022
- 104 0420
- 900 0024
Random shot - 142 4208
- 110 1070
- 154 5465
- 129 2908
- 130 3023
- 110 1079
- 107 0705
- 125 2544
- 105 0562
- 141 4200
- 106 0638
- 132 3267
- 105 0545
- 130 3040
- 142 4243
- 129 2906
- 142 4266
- 110 1080
- 129 2989
- 105 0509
- 130 3047
- 130 3018
- 142 4203
- P0000087
- 154 5418
- 125 2587
- 106 0673
- 134 3412
- 154 5472
- 154 5433
- 133 3333
Size comparison The universal measuring device: A Coke can. - 106 0653
- 154 5470
- 110 1067
- 107 0709
- 107 0741
- 110 1068
- 140 4006
- 154 5468
- 129 2932
- 126 2610
- 105 0546
- 130 3001
- 129 2990
- 106 0633
- 130 3012
- 129 2923
- 106 0667
- 154 5429
- 154 5419
- 115 1508
- b0007
Heart-somethingorothers [3/4] - 900 0020
Tara ...enough already. - 130 3021
- 100 0041
Merlin - 154 5458
- 105 0538
- 154 5473
- 141 4199
- 140 4030
- 134 3419
- 107 0703
- 154 5459
- 133 3308
- 129 2922
- 110 1099
- 104 0422
- dsc sp5 0001
Canon EOS 10D - 129 2988
- 105 0510
- 142 4201
- 142 4270
- 133 3325
- 129 2928
- 129 2911
- 123 2335
- 106 0660
- 129 2941
- 104 0448
- 106 0682
- 142 4260
- 154 5431
- 125 2585 2
- 129 2934
- 154 5471
- 106 0657
- 104 0446
- 142 4267
- 110 1095
- 154 5464
- 142 4240
- 130 3002
- 106 0663
140 4033 crop- 129 2933
- 106 0659
- b0024
Air Canada [2/3] - 154 5427
- 154 5445
- 110 1071
- 106 0637
- 154 5446
- 129 2943
- 122 2295
- 129 2907
- 142 4202
- 129 2913
- 106 0668
- P0000085
- 154 5420
- 126 2613
- 154 5421
- 129 2953
- 110 1100
- 130 3081
- 106 0678
- 130 3011
- 110 1073
- dsc sp5 0003
Canon EOS 10D - 154 5405
- 106 0686
- 140 4005
- 130 3017
- 104 0444
- 130 3070
- 154 5426
- 129 2987
- 100 1538
- 142 4242
- 105 0555
- 133 3368
- 107 0739
- 105 0508
- 100 0014
More house - 107 0708
- 106 0648
- 900 0022
Tara ...I'm outta here. - 133 3343
Outdoors [4/4] - 104 0404
- 125 2540
- 142 4236
- 154 5430
- 100 0018
Blueberry tree - 110 1075
- 154 5428
- 154 5443
- 115 1511
- 100 0013
...in the middle of our street - 129 2944
- 106 0639
- 140 4033
- 100 0025
Glenns truck [3/3] - 129 2991
- 126 2642
- 106 0680
- 142 4265
- 100 0038
Tara! - 130 3013
- 105 0566
- 129 2986
- 140 4021
- 129 2909
- 125 2555
- 106 0662
- 130 3003
- 130 3007
- 130 3032
- 130 3006
- 129 2904
- 130 3005
- 900 0018
Tara Okay, I'm bored now... - 142 4241
- 154 5437
- 100 1539
- 107 0706
- 104 0423
- b0025
Air Canada [3/3] - 140 4007
- 106 0681
- 142 4259
- 129 2978
- 115 1505
- 129 2994
- 129 2903
- 129 2992
- 104 0415
- 900 0017
Merlin [6/6] - 154 5440
- 110 1064
- 100 0026
Glenn inside a truck - b0023
Air Canada [1/3] - 142 4257
- 106 0665
- 133 3342
Outdoors [3/4] - 105 0560
- 134 3462
In flying shape - 154 5425
- 154 5436
- 129 2938
- 129 2939
- 142 4237
- b0029
Merlin [3/4] - 100 0021
Blueberry tree - b0028
Merlin [2/4] - 129 2940
- 105 0561
- 104 0421
- 100 0012
Our house... - 100 0015
Cherry tree - 129 2912
- 110 1072
- 154 5432
- 142 4225
- 110 1063
- b0018
A bird Might be a goose - 154 5442
- 154 5424
- 133 3341
Outdoors [2/4] - 133 3332
Rear view - 130 3022
- 106 0654
- 142 4248
- 129 2984
- 119 1969
- 100 0028
Glenn in workshop [2/2] - 110 1065
- dsc sp5 0004
Canon EOS 10D - 129 2995
- 104 0447
- 115 1509
- 100 0016
Brumbrum - 900 0019
Tara ...yes, I know you have a new toy... - 106 0650
- 129 2905
- 130 3010
- 129 2935
- 105 0556
- 154 5423
- 100 0029
Glenn and Tara - 129 2954
- b0008
Heart-somethingorothers [4/4] - 130 3008
- dsc sp5 0002
Canon EOS 10D - DSC01248
- b0020
Bird in a tree [2/2] ...it's in there somewhere - b0027
Merlin [1/4] - 136 3613
- 100 0024
Glenns truck [2/3] - 133 3327
It's looking a bit big Note we have an exhaust (muffler) now also. - 105 0506
- 130 3004
- 106 0664
- b0022
A plane - 100 0030
Glenn and Tara and Wine - DSC01330
The village to be 2003-03-29 Where am I? In the village. 2003-03-29 - 110 1062
- 129 2952
- 103 0394
- 142 4249
- 105 0507
- 100 0019
Some other plant - 105 0563
- 154 5422
- 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. - 115 1513
- 142 4231
- 129 2981
- 103 0390
- 140 4031
- 129 2902
- 104 0406
- 129 2950
- 136 3614
- 100 0017
Brumbrum - 129 2976
- 100 0034
Merlin [4/5] - 100 0033
Merlin [3/5] - 103 0391
- b0019
Bird in a tree [1/2] Can you spot the bird? - 106 0649
- 154 5438
- 129 2997
- 100 0022
Back porch - 129 2977
- 104 0405
- 100 0020
And some more foliage - P0000079
- 105 0547
- b0021
The sky - 142 4258
- 129 2936
- 129 2946
- 129 2985
- IMG 0663
- 142 4244
- 104 0419
- 129 2945
- 104 0413
- 142 4246
- 105 0557
- IMG 0667
- 129 2979
- 129 2993
- 103 0396
- 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
- 104 0402
- 104 0416
- IMG 0662
- 133 3329
Rotor hub It's really busy up here - I can't imagine this thing spinning as fast as it will need to. - 106 0687
- 104 0407
- 100 0031
Merlin [1/5] - 129 2975
- 142 4250
- IMG 0669
- 100 0035
Merlin [5/5] - IMG 0664
- 150 5072
- IMG 0645
- 129 2948
- 129 2901
- 129 2980
- 104 0401
- 103 0399
- 142 4245
- 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. - 136 3612
- 134 3464
Rear rotor servo cabling - 129 2956
- 142 4229
- 136 3611
- 129 2996
- 103 0395
- 130 3009
- 142 4235
- 133 3337
Wires/servos Much cabling. Notice how I had to trim some of the servo "horns" - they interfered with the ball-link attachments. - 104 0414
- 129 2959
- 104 0409
- b0010
Pansies [1/2] - 103 0393
- 104 0417
- 133 3335
The electronics arrived All the servos are on, the receiver is mounted and hooked up. - 119 1968
- 105 0559
- IMG 0668
- IMG 0661
- 129 2951
- 104 0408
- 129 2962
- 900 0016
Merlin [5/6] - 129 2947
- 129 2960
- DSC01325
Depot #1 2003-03-29 A view of the depot. 2003-03-29 - 133 3331
The body/canopy This will be it's ultimate shape. - 129 2961
- 129 2983
- 900 0012
Merlin [1/6] - 106 0652
- 100 0032
Merlin [2/5] - 133 3336
Busy busy There's a lot going on with this machine. - 132 3276
The engine OS 32 helicopter engine. Here it is with the Raptor cooling fan attached, basically a centrifugal fan. - 142 4233
- 129 2955
- 133 3326
Progress! With the main rotor blades on, it's starting to look like a helicopter now. - 129 2967
- 106 0640
- 129 2969
- 133 3330
So far... - IMG 0666
- 100 0023
Glenns truck [1/3] - 136 3616
- 104 0403
- 136 3617
- 103 0392
- 103 0397
- 142 4238
- 136 3615
- 105 0558
- b0026
Dartmouth Street - 129 2937
- 104 0411
- 129 2966
- 142 4247
- 129 2982
- 132 3278
Engine, other side - 142 4251
- 106 0646
- 136 3621
- 899 9944
Tara! - 142 4232
- 103 0400
- 136 3610
- b0011
Pansies [2/2] - 900 0009
Merlin! - IMG 0658
- 137 3751
Camera mount Allows me to bolt a camera, or other things, to the side of the Helicopter - 129 2972
- 129 2958
- IMG 0674
- 129 2957
- 106 0688
- b0017
Tigger [2/2] - IMG 0671
- IMG 0659
- IMG 0660
- b0012
Tulips - 900 0014
Merlin [3/6] - 151 5104
- 129 2970
- 104 0412
- 136 3609
- IMG 0655
- IMG 0646
- 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! - 132 3274
Side view - 103 0364
Trig pulls a new bird - 129 2963
- 900 0015
Merlin [4/6] - 115 1503
- 136 3618
- 119 1965
- 119 1962
- 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 - IMG 0673
- 132 3277
Engine, closeup - 137 3753
Still in one piece Front view, it's been out flying a couple of times now - IMG 0665
- b0016
Tigger [1/2] - 151 5106
- 142 4230
- 103 0379
- 119 1967
- 103 0398
- IMG 0656
- 119 1958
- 119 1966
- IMG 0657
- 129 2965
- 129 2964
- 129 2968
- 129 2974
- 136 3622
- 129 2971
- 136 3623
- 103 0386
- 129 2998
- 103 0389
- IMG 0675
- 136 3619
- b0014
Wasp [2/2] - 129 2973
- 119 1961
- 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 - 106 0643
- IMG 0670
- 133 3340
Outdoors [1/4] - IMG 0648
- 119 1957
- 104 0418
- 900 0013
Merlin [2/6] - 136 3620
- IMG 0672
- IMG 0647
- IMG 0653
- 119 1953
- 106 0641
- IMG 0650
- 137 3756
Front view - 103 0388
- 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 0645
- 119 1963
- 119 1933
- 132 3286
Look at the mess! - 119 1952
- IMG 0651
- 151 5108
- IMG 0649
- 119 1964
- 119 1956
- 132 3283
Assembling the rotor head These bits will eventually sit atop the swash plate. - DSC01323
The cottage in the village 2003-03-29 That lady is still waiting... 2003-03-29 - 132 3288
Flybar again - IMG 0654
- 136 3608
- 132 3273
Getting started When I remembered I wanted to take pictures of the construction, this is far as I was already. - 142 4255
- 119 1955
- 142 4234
- 106 0644
- 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. - b0013
Wasp [1/2] - 132 3290
Tail rotor assembly This was a fiddly piece to put together. - 132 3281
Engine in the frame, other side - 142 4252
- 104 0410
- 119 1960
- 142 4254
- 114 1496
- 103 0375
Jappert - b0030
Merlin [4/4] - 142 4253
- 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 - 132 3282
The engine The slot-shaped hole you can see is where the exhaust (muffler) pipe will attach, when it arrives. - 151 5107
- 119 1939
- 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". - 132 3279
Engine in the frame - IMG 0652
- 119 1937
- 119 1951
- 119 1959
- 103 0378
- 136 3607
- DSC01317
A village station 2003-03-29 The village Railway Station, yet to be named or decorated. 2003-03-29 - 142 4228
- 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. - 115 1502
- 132 3280
Engine in the frame, closeup - 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. - 119 1954
- 142 4256
- 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. - 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. - 103 0377
- 114 1499
- 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 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 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. - 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. - 133 3303
Beastie so far - 114 1500
- 142 4226
- 114 1495
- 142 4227
- 114 1489
- 114 1494
- 114 1488
- 114 1490
- 114 1487
- 114 1492
- 114 1493
- 114 1486
- 114 1491