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All
114 1493
114 1492
114 1491
114 1494
114 1486
114 1490
114 1487
114 1488
114 1495
114 1489
114 1500
103 0377
142 4227
114 1499
142 4226
151 5107
103 0375
Jappert
119 1951
115 1502
119 1954
103 0378
142 4256
119 1964
136 3607
114 1496
119 1937
142 4255
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
142 4253
142 4254
b0030
Merlin [4/4]
119 1939
151 5108
119 1952
103 0388
106 0644
IMG 0652
DSC01317
A village station 2003-03-29 The village Railway Station, yet to be named or decorated. 2003-03-29
104 0410
119 1953
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.
142 4228
900 0014
Merlin [3/6]
119 1963
103 0389
136 3620
119 1933
151 5106
900 0015
Merlin [4/6]
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
136 3608
106 0645
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.
119 1955
119 1960
DSC01323
The cottage in the village 2003-03-29 That lady is still waiting... 2003-03-29
119 1957
119 1959
103 0386
133 3303
Beastie so far
900 0013
Merlin [2/6]
106 0641
103 0398
119 1958
119 1956
IMG 0651
136 3619
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 3280
Engine in the frame, closeup
103 0364
Trig pulls a new bird
151 5104
103 0392
136 3622
103 0379
119 1962
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.
104 0418
136 3618
106 0643
IMG 0648
119 1961
119 1965
IMG 0649
103 0400
IMG 0672
136 3621
b0013
Wasp [1/2]
IMG 0654
IMG 0647
103 0397
136 3623
104 0412
103 0396
119 1967
119 1966
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.
IMG 0653
142 4234
132 3279
Engine in the frame
105 0558
136 3609
104 0411
b0014
Wasp [2/2]
900 0012
Merlin [1/6]
IMG 0670
132 3281
Engine in the frame, other side
899 9944
Tara!
900 0009
Merlin!
105 0557
IMG 0673
142 4251
103 0393
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.
115 1503
103 0399
136 3615
103 0391
106 0646
105 0559
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.
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
136 3610
104 0409
136 3617
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.
104 0401
103 0395
132 3288
Flybar again
100 0020
And some more foliage
136 3616
IMG 0646
132 3290
Tail rotor assembly This was a fiddly piece to put together.
103 0390
104 0408
900 0016
Merlin [5/6]
104 0403
IMG 0666
104 0416
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".
104 0402
104 0413
b0017
Tigger [2/2]
IMG 0674
IMG 0665
104 0407
IMG 0650
103 0394
100 0023
Glenns truck [1/3]
IMG 0675
104 0406
115 1513
142 4247
129 2964
104 0414
100 0019
Some other plant
132 3282
The engine The slot-shaped hole you can see is where the exhaust (muffler) pipe will attach, when it arrives.
104 0405
100 0032
Merlin [2/5]
136 3611
IMG 0671
IMG 0659
105 0507
125 2555
100 0033
Merlin [3/5]
142 4258
b0012
Tulips
106 0640
IMG 0660
104 0419
136 3614
119 1968
b0016
Tigger [1/2]
100 0024
Glenns truck [2/3]
IMG 0655
106 0688
100 0021
Blueberry tree
129 2965
105 0556
100 0031
Merlin [1/5]
105 0561
100 0034
Merlin [4/5]
IMG 0656
142 4250
IMG 0667
104 0447
IMG 0668
105 0506
dsc sp5 0003
Canon EOS 10D
b0011
Pansies [2/2]
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.
104 0417
142 4246
900 0019
Tara ...yes, I know you have a new toy...
100 0035
Merlin [5/5]
154 5422
129 2901
104 0415
132 3273
Getting started When I remembered I wanted to take pictures of the construction, this is far as I was already.
129 2971
129 2963
100 0029
Glenn and Tara
142 4235
100 0030
Glenn and Tara and Wine
132 3277
Engine, closeup
129 2973
105 0560
132 3286
Look at the mess!
129 2974
dsc sp5 0002
Canon EOS 10D
154 5424
137 3756
Front view
104 0404
IMG 0669
136 3613
123 2335
IMG 0657
154 5436
100 0017
Brumbrum
142 4245
IMG 0661
105 0563
b0021
The sky
100 0016
Brumbrum
132 3283
Assembling the rotor head These bits will eventually sit atop the swash plate.
DSC01325
Depot #1 2003-03-29 A view of the depot. 2003-03-29
150 5072
106 0652
115 1509
b0022
A plane
142 4257
115 1511
900 0017
Merlin [6/6]
IMG 0664
100 0015
Cherry tree
154 5425
142 4232
136 3612
129 2937
b0026
Dartmouth Street
100 0022
Back porch
134 3412
137 3753
Still in one piece Front view, it's been out flying a couple of times now
dsc sp5 0004
Canon EOS 10D
142 4233
129 2970
154 5468
142 4238
154 5432
129 2968
154 5423
100 0018
Blueberry tree
129 2961
125 2585 2
900 0018
Tara Okay, I'm bored now...
b0029
Merlin [3/4]
900 0022
Tara ...I'm outta here.
IMG 0658
142 4237
154 5430
126 2613
105 0555
115 1505
DSC01248
106 0664
154 5438
154 5431
106 0678
100 0026
Glenn inside a truck
107 0739
107 0706
104 0421
IMG 0645
b0019
Bird in a tree [1/2] Can you spot the bird?
119 1969
129 2972
133 3340
Outdoors [1/4]
106 0687
106 0649
105 0508
142 4230
154 5428
105 0547
129 2936
129 2962
100 0028
Glenn in workshop [2/2]
100 0012
Our house...
132 3278
Engine, other side
b0020
Bird in a tree [2/2] ...it's in there somewhere
140 4033 crop
140 4031
154 5426
100 0025
Glenns truck [3/3]
106 0648
104 0448
104 0444
100 0014
More house
100 0013
...in the middle of our street
154 5437
129 2902
106 0654
129 2905
142 4249
126 2642
154 5433
142 4244
140 4033
106 0639
105 0509
123 2322
154 5434
129 2969
125 2554
129 2960
125 2544
125 2556
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
140 4007
125 2587 2
125 2585
142 4241
100 0038
Tara!
132 3274
Side view
123 2336
134 3418
132 3276
The engine OS 32 helicopter engine. Here it is with the Raptor cooling fan attached, basically a centrifugal fan.
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!
105 0562
b0028
Merlin [2/4]
b0027
Merlin [1/4]
107 0741
107 0708
104 0446
126 2610
106 0680
106 0663
105 0546
154 5466
129 2935
125 2587
106 0681
129 2904
154 5427
b0010
Pansies [1/2]
126 2611
129 2967
142 4236
134 3419
129 2958
129 2947
106 0667
154 5443
154 5445
106 0665
154 5446
129 2966
110 1075
154 5429
IMG 0662
154 5472
129 2982
129 2948
142 4225
154 5420
125 2547
115 1508
107 0742
154 5405
122 2295
129 2945
142 4260
133 3336
Busy busy There's a lot going on with this machine.
900 0020
Tara ...enough already.
154 5473
125 2586 2
125 2553
125 2545
106 0650
105 0510
IMG 0663
154 5470
129 2998
110 1072
137 3751
Camera mount Allows me to bolt a camera, or other things, to the side of the Helicopter
126 2612
110 1064
106 0657
105 0566
125 2588
106 0668
129 2903
125 2539
107 0703
123 2323
125 2540
129 2946
140 4005
106 0637
154 5471
126 2641
129 2957
kt ruth wed 0075
b0023
Air Canada [1/3]
b0018
A bird Might be a goose
100 0027
Glenn in workshop [1/2]
154 5419
106 0675
106 0662
106 0653
129 2909
105 0545
b0024
Air Canada [2/3]
154 5459
154 5469
154 5441
133 3330
So far...
129 2959
129 2951
123 2324
154 5465
107 0740
125 2567
125 2560
106 0638
129 2955
125 2543
123 2332
107 0705
154 5435
104 0423
125 2570
125 2552
125 2546
b0025
Air Canada [3/3]
133 3338
The radio I decided to start small. A 6-channel JR transmitter. It came with the servos and a 7-channel receiver.
100 1538
104 0476
129 2938
104 0420
106 0682
142 4248
123 2326
b0008
Heart-somethingorothers [4/4]
142 4240
110 1095
110 1071
DSC01216
DSC01210
154 5467
129 2980
154 5421
126 2693
133 3325
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.
129 2949
129 2912
125 2537
105 0540
900 0024
Random shot
125 2558
107 0743
104 0422
129 2975
107 0744
DSC01245
106 0669
142 4259
115 1506
kt ruth wed 0076
106 0651
125 2586
126 2640
DSC01330
The village to be 2003-03-29 Where am I? In the village. 2003-03-29
142 4270
142 4265
105 0544
104 0445
106 0670
100 0041
Merlin
kt ruth wed 0021
107 0709
106 0659
105 0548
DSC01211
140 4030
140 4022
129 2979
100 1539
105 0538
154 5418
dsc sp5 0001
Canon EOS 10D
106 0686
129 2950
125 2557
107 0715
126 2615
125 2563
142 4229
125 2595
110 1070
106 0673
133 3337
Wires/servos Much cabling. Notice how I had to trim some of the servo "horns" - they interfered with the ball-link attachments.
133 3331
The body/canopy This will be it's ultimate shape.
140 4021
104 0477
107 0738
126 2639
107 0745
126 2614
134 3420
105 0539
105 0505
126 2643
105 0542
154 5442
123 2337
110 1067
125 2569
150 5071
154 5464
154 5444
129 2983
128 2849
140 4006
129 2907
110 1062
154 5462
133 3335
The electronics arrived All the servos are on, the receiver is mounted and hooked up.
129 2940
110 1073
107 0737
133 3329
Rotor hub It's really busy up here - I can't imagine this thing spinning as fast as it will need to.
115 1507
110 1063
107 0707
104 0429
125 2542
106 0694
125 2538
134 3421
122 2293
106 0676
154 5457
142 4231
125 2572
110 1066
154 5458
127 2735
125 2559
106 0693
142 4267
126 2682
107 0704
142 4272
kt ruth wed 0052
142 4243
125 2588 2
107 0716
110 1100
110 1099
110 1065
154 5453
126 2609
105 0543
134 3464
Rear rotor servo cabling
100 1514
123 2335
110 1069
106 0633
104 0449
129 2913
104 0478
129 2911
111 1101
123 2331
DSC01209
154 5403
kt ruth wed 0022
133 3326
Progress! With the main rotor blades on, it's starting to look like a helicopter now.
110 1068
122 2294
125 2597
129 2922
125 2512
104 0479
105 0541
104 0469
129 2956
126 2608
123 2333
DSC01219
123 2325
106 0671
154 5463
129 2934
126 2628
125 2568
kt ruth wed 0077
110 1076
100 0040
Merlin
154 5440
140 4029
132 3267
126 2638
125 2571
106 0658
154 5406
129 2908
130 3009
129 2910
126 2644
107 0714
105 0511
100 1512
106 0660
104 0455
154 5416
147 4757
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.
100 1511
107 0722
104 0475
123 2327
125 2541
133 3368
123 2334
126 2645
133 3308
125 2520
154 5456
122 2230
107 0721
129 2906
126 2626
133 3341
Outdoors [2/4]
125 2584 2
DSC01207
147 4775
125 2562
DSC01327
Depot #2 2003-03-29 A view of the depot. 2003-03-29
129 2952
kt ruth wed 0050
111 1102
106 0634
105 0512
133 3327
It's looking a bit big Note we have an exhaust (muffler) now also.
129 2977
125 2536
kt ruth wed 0074
105 0535
P0000079
125 2573
DSC01217
DSC01206
129 2954
125 2566
107 0717
129 2981
125 2584
125 2548
kt ruth wed 0016
105 0537
DSC01243
129 2914
106 0695
129 2923
125 2581
kt ruth wed 0063
154 5455
154 5460
125 2564
129 2939
126 2681
DSC01208
147 4776
142 4264
100 1540
125 2596
107 0719
DSC01220
110 1081
128 2894
107 0702
105 0567
154 5417
106 0698
106 0636
129 2943
128 2890
142 4266
100 1536
125 2561
108 0838
105 0536
126 2680
125 2589
129 2928
125 2590
100 1537
123 2310
110 1078
129 2985
110 1079
125 2510
154 5452
100 1513
100 1510
142 4242
127 2737
127 2736
kt ruth wed 0014
154 5407
100 1516
126 2694
125 2594
125 2582
106 0672
DSC01247
122 2296
b0007
Heart-somethingorothers [3/4]
150 5070
129 2995
125 2583
125 2511
129 2993
129 2976
142 4239
122 2292
kt ruth wed 0067
DSC01244
129 2984
107 0748
105 0504
cDSC01183
The layout at 2003-01-25 What the layout looked like on 2003-01-25.
105 0518
147 4790
147 4782
126 2698
DSC01222
129 2933
126 2654
129 2944
154 5461
141 4199
133 3316
123 2330
107 0712
142 4269
154 5448
154 5415
128 2889
153 5318
Lockeland Ave.
154 5402
132 3266
107 0746
129 2996
125 2549
DSC01218
110 1077
104 0456
kt ruth wed 0023
107 0710
126 2692
107 0735
123 2338
107 0701
129 2941
104 0463
125 2575
kt ruth wed 0051
DSC01332
DSC01242
126 2627
113 1360
107 0720
140 4002
133 3322
125 2589 2
123 2311
126 2677
125 2598
130 3070
125 2523
129 2992
126 2691
130 3022
111 1118
110 1074
108 0802
100 1515
129 2997
126 2625
125 2579
kt ruth wed 0066
107 0727
147 4758
128 2850
kt ruth wed 0103
DSC01246
147 4752
129 2994
100 0039
More Tara!
147 4759
134 3424
kt ruth wed 0053
153 5317
Broadway
128 2895
110 1080
126 2631
125 2600
107 0711
105 0554
134 3462
In flying shape
130 3008
125 2599
125 2550
154 5454
128 2847
126 2679
153 5328
126 2653
107 0736
154 5408
153 5325
154 5449
123 2340
130 3010
126 2675
126 2674
123 2314
106 0699
105 0519
147 4783
kt ruth wed 0017
110 1098
134 3422
126 2687
142 4271
133 3364
105 0532
153 5360
Capitol Theatre Not decorated!
128 2861
127 2740
100 1482
154 5450
153 5330
Park Ave. (I think)
142 4268
126 2697
126 2629
123 2312
123 2328
kt ruth wed 0071
100 1534
107 0728
147 4792
153 5332
Sylvia Ave.
153 5315
Rawson/Exeter
133 3332
Rear view
128 2863
126 2637
107 0750
153 5369
Park St?
100 1485
126 2676
129 2932
125 2513
105 0549
122 2291
104 0494
128 2864
123 2319
DSC01328
Depot #3 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
128 2848
DSC01223
147 4780
133 3315
126 2623
kt ruth wed 0018
108 0839
130 3047
kt ruth wed 0102
133 3342
Outdoors [3/4]
133 3333
Size comparison The universal measuring device: A Coke can.
110 1097
153 5366
Granton Park
153 5331
Park Ave. (For sure)
142 4263
125 2533
106 0697
130 3081
100 1543
125 2514
129 2942
128 2851
126 2696
105 0553
123 2309
106 0700
cDSC01205
Man waiting at platform 2003-01-25 Man waits at platform while a train passes on the opposite tracks. 2003-01-25
154 5451
129 2925
126 2657
126 2630
kt ruth wed 0062
105 0551
126 2655
125 2524
123 2318
107 0718
125 2535
123 2317
107 0749
111 1169
147 4760
100 1535
125 2593
125 2534
kt ruth wed 0065
kt ruth wed 0019
107 0752
107 0747
153 5368
Fordham St.
153 5334
Rublee St. (narrow pic)
kt ruth wed 0020
106 0696
105 0550
111 1104
b0006
Heart-somethingorothers [2/4]
154 5447
127 2731
kt ruth wed 0001
111 1103
128 2803
126 2656
125 2580
111 1171
107 0723
142 4202
133 3324
133 3323
129 2978
126 2695
105 0529
130 3003
126 2688
123 2329
111 1168
108 0836
105 0552
147 4777
128 2865
kt ruth wed 0064
kt ruth wed 0061
147 4797
104 0480
100 1533
kt ruth wed 0072
108 0837
105 0502
128 2859
kt ruth wed 0073
133 3317
128 2804
kt ruth wed 0015
105 0503
104 0450
100 1541
126 2624
107 0751
107 0729
107 0725
123 2320
130 3082
129 2987
kt ruth wed 0068
105 0533
142 4201
147 4785
134 3427
P0000083
142 4203
141 4200
100 1487
104 0481
129 2953
125 2521
123 2313
kt ruth wed 0314
133 3320
b0001
Dartmouth Street [1/4]
105 0534
147 4755
129 2991
125 2551
154 5409
142 4299
122 2284
kt ruth wed 0090
132 3235