Trouble getting scale bodies?

[flying 442]

I ordered parts and a Jet ranger TREX V2 white styrene fuselage (for my TRex 450SE) from RCHover and it is listed on the invoice as back ordered. I Also ordered some parts from Modefo's Heli's, saw that they had a Jet Range so I ordered one from them. There now seems to be a delay with that order as well and we are doing the e-mail thing to see if it's shipped yet.

Now I just placed an order today with RC Expert for 3 nice looking, already painted fuselages. I'm wondering if it will have a long wait. I will be meeting up with some friends and really wanted a scale looking fuselage to show off my hovering skills, because when your not doing 3-D, you can only look at the stock fuselage for so long. I even made an "H" heli landing mat and all.

Sooo, are the scale fuselage reg a backordered item? Do they wait until there is an order before stamping one out? Is this just the wrong time of year to order one (Winter's when everybody orders & works on them)? Just wanted some input from those who know.

[slider46]

Here you go this place will have what you need... http://darthdrk.4t.com/photo2.html

[flying 442]

Thanks for the link, I checked it out and will be going that route next. I also checked a little more and found I might have ordered some lesser bodies from someone who has wronged darthdrk.

I'm new to this scale body thing and didn't check it out that well before ordering. I was just wanting to get a body for a fly-in that came and went. But at the fly-in one of the things I was told is that scale bodies are not an in stock item at most shops and a 2-12 month wait is not uncommon depending on the body and who you get it from.

I can now see why some people make their own scale bodies. 1. For the labor of love 2. Because givin 12 months even I could make one heli of a scale body...

[flying 442]

Well a box came today, 3 pre-painted bodies from HongKong that I ordered 7 days ago. This is my first scale style body, but I have seen others. These seem like thinner plastic than I have seen before. Don't give me the "Nice Job" thing, as I said these came pre-painted. Some of the lines do not match and there were a couple thin spots but all in all a good looking fit if you don't pick it apart.

The last 3 are the mounted shots. I feel good about the fit for my first scale style heli. The other 2 look to fit the same way, but will have to wait. I still have a bit of work ahead of me as the cut to remove the nose was not there and I had to guess. So it will need fitting and needs to be seemed/slotted.

I am sure that when the other bodies get here in their own time, they will be of great quality. I have read about and seen the bodies to come and can hardly wait. I look forward to doing the work myself, but for now I like this look and if it goes nose first into the ground with this shell on there It will be less upsetting than one I have spent weeks on.

I felt I needed to add to this post for others like me that think you can just order a body and have it in a few days. Also to those that think all bodies are the same. As the other bodies get here I should add info on them too.

[slider46]

Here are some pics of a Darthdrk jet ranger fuselage I just finished.... Or should I say am closer to finishing, I don't think your ever done with a scale body...

[kama1]

nice bodies.
have one question though.
im thinkin about getting a scale body and was thinkin
how would i change the battery after i get it mounted.
what do you guys do to change your batteries?

[slider46]

If you look at the first picture you will see that The front section of the body, from the rotor housing forward is removable. I have this one set up with magnets so you just pull it off to remove the battery or plug it in... This fuselage is for sale if you are interested in one completely ready to go. I also have a huey I am going to sell.

[flying 442]

I'm heading home for lunch, so I'll take a picture of where I split mine. In the 4th pic down you can see where the stripe shifts, it's there. Not sure it was the best place, but I'm new and learning.

Slider46 I like the pictures, good job! Not that I'm looking for more painted ones, but what was your selling price on that one?

Also, I have a Trex 600 on the way. Is fiberglass my only choice in this size? I saw the "Funkey" fiberglass ones, but was looking for something cheaper in the event of a crash.

[slider46]

Well that is the problem with scale helis. If you crash your going to have repairs with the bigger fiberglass bodies. I had a boom strike on my hugh 500E and the boom cover was destroyed into many pieces. On the Darthdrk bodies the boom is a seperate piece so I just had to paint another boom to match and I was in business... You might try contacting Darthdrk and see if he is planning any 600 size bodies but I would imagine fiberglass is the only way to go when you get that big just for the structural strength.....

[kama1]

well now that is cool
good idea about the magnets

[flying 442]

Here are some shots of how I split mine. Not sure it's right, but was the first thing that came to mind.

The tail is where it really looks bad. On future scales I'm going to work on this area. Also need to look at others and see how they worked this out.

The seem is easy to spot on the side. But still it looks good from about 5 ft.

When I go to put it back together, I just put a piece of tape on there. As you can see it looks kinda cheap, but while moving it looks good.


Here it is layed open. If it was farther back I could replace shafts and gears without removing the tail. As you can see I have no trouble getting the batt out this way, so it's all good.

I have another fun fly coming up and just wanted something other than the stock Trex plastic. All I can do right now is hover around tail and side in. I do a little forward and rev flight while tail in. I think this body will look good doing that.

[slider46]

I was looking at how your nose piece attaches and you don't have a flange glued to the main body for the nose to slide onto... I will post a picture on mine later to give you an idea of what I'm talking about...

[flying 442]

Thanks, last night I gave it a full batt pack of hovering. when I landed the nose fell off, tape came loose. Found some white velcro and added it top and lower sides. Did 2 more packs and it held ok, looks better too. Will be looking forward to how you flanged yours

[slider46]

Here is a pic of the mounting flange on mine. On the Darthdrk bodies it's molded in for you. You can add strips of thin plastic glued to the inside of the body for the nose to slide over to get the same results..... Then you have somthing to screw the 2 halves together with...

Notice the small round disc up by the rotor, It's the magnet that holds the nose on....

[flying 442]

Hey, just got my body from Modefo's Heli's! They had shipped it last year and it has been riding around the USA for more than 2 weeks in a USPS truck.

Anyway the body is a Darthdrk V2 fuselage complete with assembly info, so now I'll have one to build after all.

Now just the RCHover one to go and they'll all be here.

[slider46]

I think you will like the Darthdrk body the best......

[copeland69]

I've got a Predator Gas SE and would like to someday add a scale body if it's possible. I am a fan of the AS350 A-Star and was wondering if anyone knows where I could get one. Or maybe you can't get that fuse style for the Pred? I've seen some big scale A-Star fuses in pictures at some of the European scale heli events but am unsure of who manufactures them.
Anyone out there added a nice scale fuse to their Predator? If I can't get the AS350 fuse, maybe something else would work? Or maybe I'll have to pick up another machine that has more options as far as scale fuses go. Are there any machines out there that are particularly well suited to a large variety of scale applications? I'd like something a little different.

Thanks

Warren

[slider46]

Hi Warren I'm not sure how big a predator gasser is but I would assume it's a 60 or 90 size heli. There are many fusalages available for that size heli and probably the best place to ask this question is here... These guys are excellent builders and can help you find the body to fit your mechanics....
http://www.runryder.com/helicopter/f43p1/

[heliwizard]

copeland look at the vario fuse line they fit gassers

[slider46]

Yesterday I had a tail rotor issue due to the cold weather. I snapped the pitch slider arm off the tail rotor casing luckily it happened whe I was coming in for a landing about 3-4' off the ground so nothing got broken or damaged on the fuselage... Note to self don't fly plastic helis in the cold, they don't like it at all

[flying 442]

And the beat goes on... I order a very nice $$$ Funkey 50 body. I worry about U.S.P.S. not giving my shipping the love they should (large dents in boxes), so I go with UPS. It was going to arrive 2-13-07 and for those of you not watching the Midwest we got hit with a ton of snow. So I called UPS and told them not to send it out, I would just pick it up at the hub. Now it seems they no longer know where the box is. The truck it was scanned to didn't have it and they are not sure how long it will take to find it. Two days later and they still have no clue where it is! I am starting to think that scale bodies are cursed. Or maybe this is just a sign that I'm not to be a scaler.

[jnm]

Hey all,finally got my scale done for my T-rex450,was a little slow goimg but it was my first one.Here are some of the pics. Thanks for all the help!!

[flying 442]

Great shots jnm! Looks like a good job on the build and I really like the close-up shots of the landing gear install. Can't wait to see a shot of it in flight.

Good news all! I got the call from UPS and they found my box! I think the truck may have tossed it's load because there was a big dent in the box that made me feel sick! I opened it up and fouond the body to be packed very well. Big thanks go out to Funkey and the Century guys! The dent caught the heli in the screen area (see pic), but you would not notice if not told. I can live with this and will start taking build pictures of my own very soon and listing them under "First Real Scaler" http://www.helifreak.com/viewtopic.php?t=30321

[slider46]

That is very nice looking, Did it come prepainted???? what mechanics are you going to use????

[Bob Payne]

Hey all,finally got my scale done for my T-rex450,was a little slow goimg but it was my first one.Here are some of the pics. Thanks for all the help!!

what kit is this?
link to website please.

Thanks