Project Jet Ranger

[MadMikey]

Hi Guys,
i'm curently working on a jet ranger project, but i'm not sure where to get the fuse. it will be for a t-rex 450xl cde. i want a really good strong fuse. i've seen some that are plastic but i would like to have one made of fiberglass. does anyone know where i can get one or if any of you have done a jet ranger t-rex, let me know how it came out. i'm going to use 335mm blades so i can get a real scale head speed!!! our local hospital has an jet ranger and i love it's color scheme so i'm going to paint it just like it. i almost have the mechanics done and getting ready to fly the mechanics and get it trimmed out. thanks for any help you can provide!! soon as i get it done i will post pics and how it flys!!!

thanks
MadMikey

[slider46]

I have built 2 jet ranger bodies for the trex XL. I used the Darthdrk bodies, they are light weight plastic, easy to build, paint, install, and look really great if you spend some time on the details.... I don't think anyone makes a fiberglass jet ranger fuselage for the trex yet. I think it would be way to heavy when it's all said and done... Here is a link to Darthdrk fuselages....http://darthdrk.4t.com/photo2.html

[crazyerick]

slider46, lets see some pics ;-)
I'm planing a Darthdrk 206 build too...

[crazyerick]

Sorry for the cross forum post but check this out:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=521079#post5515480

[MadMikey]

slider46, how hard was it to mount the fuse to the airframe?? is it easy to change out batterys for each flight using that fuse??? over all how hard was it to assemble the fuse and then mount it to the t-rex??? thanks for the help

MadMikey

[slider46]

I'm trying to post pics but I guess I need to resize them to post here, I didn't know that til I actually read the header for pictures... The bodies (jet ranger) are easy to build, just paint with a rattle can, and they are mounted by trapping the body between the landing gear and frame.. I use small blocks of wood in the top where a canopy would mount to keep the fuse centered... Also I like to use 4 sets of small round magnets on the jet ranger body to hold the nose section on. Getting the batteries in and out is very easy too as the nose slides right off just by pulling on it alittle....
My hughes 500E is alittle bit harder to build and install and accessing the batteries are accessed by pulling 2 pins that holds the nose section on...
I will try to get the pics posted tonite for you to enjoy.....

[MadMikey]

Slider, i have a few more questions, is there any change in the way the rudder servo mounts?? or will standard mounting work? on my current t-rex xl i'm using an hitec 50 on rudder, will a 50 fit in the fuse?? so you slide the guts into the back half of the fuse and mount it with the skids screw?? my current t-rex i fly 3-d with it and i have it hopped up some. also i mount my gyros right above where the tail boom slides into the frame will i have to move my gyro??? where did you mount your gyro??

thanks so much
MadMikey

[slider46]

On the jet ranger I mounted the servo on the boom and the gyro stayed under the boom as a 3D heli would be set up.... The Darthdrk bodies don't weigh enough to keep you from doing 3D.. Actually the tail boom is seperate piece on the Darth drk bodies, so you only need to get the main body in the fuse. I glue the top half of the fuse together and use clear tape on the bottom half to hold it together after mounting on the frame... The tail is done in the same fashion. glue the top and tape the bottom... If you have a boom strike it only takes out the seperate tail piece which you can replace easily, which I have done a few times... I use the hds877 or 577servo for the tail, both are digital....
Tom

[kingkahuna]

I have not added the exhaust stacks yet but I will soon.

[kingkahuna]

Here are some better shots.

[crazyerick]

Very nice!