3 and 4 blade tails for T450

[Deron Douglas]

I had a couple of people ask, so I thought I'd start a thread here. I have the Align Hughes 500E fuselage and a 5 blade head. I'll need a multi-blade tail for more authority, so I plan on making one.

I have a mini lathe and mill, so I'm lucky enough to be able to make these myself. I've ordered some parts to allow me to do this with my lathe and now have plans for a 3 and 4 blade tail. While it's not scale, I plan on using a 3 blade on my T450 Hughes... I think the 3 blade looks cool.

I'm not building the cascading type of tail, but rather a single hub arrangement. The plan is to make it such that it fits on the stock rotor tail shaft and uses the stock leveler. I'll be making a new yoke that attaches to the hub.

While I haven't planned on making these available to the public, I had a few people ask if I'd make them a set. So if it turns out not being too much work, I will. The cost will be around $75.00 for the 3 blade and $100 for the 4. You'll need to furnish your own stock align grips. I know it may seem like a lot, but these are hand made and takes more than an hour to make (The going shop rate being around $150 per hour).

Anyway, if interested... pipe up. I should have something to show everyone in about 4-6 weeks. Still waiting on my lathe parts.

Cheers

[rgallant]

Hi,

4 blade hub for me please, if you need pre-payment let me know via pm. Just to confirm for a 450.

Thanks for putting in the effort.

[Madani]

Count me in for 4 blades.
Cheers,
Mark.

[Deron Douglas]

Thanks for the interest. I'll do the 3 blade and probably the four blade for my trex450. Then post pics here for everyone to see. Then you can send payment. I'll be making them in any event for myself. Probably do one for my Trex600 as well.

[appleseed]

I'll take a 4 blade"r" to if you can send it to the UK

[Skiddz]

I'd be interested in a set for the 450 and the 600 as well. I'd like to see pics 1st tho if you don't mind.

[Deron Douglas]

I'll take a 4 blade"r" to if you can send it to the UK

No problem shipping to the UK. They won't be that heavy, so I can ship via letter carrier.
Cheers

[Deron Douglas]

I'd be interested in a set for the 450 and the 600 as well. I'd like to see pics 1st tho if you don't mind.

I totally agree. I don't want to take orders and money until I have at least 2 or three of each completed. I've been machining motorcycle racing parts for the past 25 years so these won't be a big deal. But I still feel more comfortable when I have working models in front of me and the people buying them know what they are getting.

The 600 tail rotor may have more "scale" detail. It's easier to add these details when the piece you're working on is larger. For my personal use I'm going with the 3 blader for the 600 and 450 since it just looks "way cool".

[Skiddz]

I'd lean more towards the 4 bladed setup for the 600 as my goal is to build a scale MD500 modeled after the one I've got time in.

Can't wait to see the goodies...

[jmb2232]

I would be interested in one for both a 450 and 600. :clappp
Mike B.

[Deron Douglas]

I would be interested in one for both a 450 and 600. :clappp
Mike B.

Thanks guys, I'm just waiting for my rotary table to come in then I can start production. I may get started on the hub and spindles and probably the control yoke this weekend.

Cheers

[Deron Douglas]

Well I started work on the 3 blade prototype (the one I'll use) for my T450. And something occurred to me. I'm having a hard time finding a 1.5mm tap and drill. So if anyone knows where I can find one, I'd appreciate a heads up!

In the meantime, I'm going to rethink the design slightly... for the T450 tail hub I'm going to integrate the use of the existing steel hub into the design... basically take three hubs and point them out in three equal directions, then lock them in place. I was originally going to make these out of Al as well, but I think they would be stronger made out of steel.

You can get these hubs for $3.90 each from Helidirect, or you get one when you buy the tail blade grips. In any case, since I don't have to make them I'll reduce the final price on the T450 Hub and control yoke. Remember once done, you'll still have to order two whole blade grips, so you'll get 2 hubs already... plus you'll have one still on your T450 with the standard two blade tail. So if you are like me and doing the 3 blade tail... you have everything you need anyways.

I think the bolt that holds the grips to the hub on the 600 are 2mm (which I have) so I may make them or integrate them into the design since they are bigger than the T450.

The hardest problem I have is working with these parts since they are so small. It's a matter of finding small enough equipment and my eye sight (which sucks).

Anyways... so far it looks good. :thumbup:

BTW... still waiting on my rotary table for my mill, so until I get that I won't be able to take any pictures of the finished product. But I promise I will once things get settled.

Just had a thought, for those that don't feel comfortable putting these together (I doubt if there is anyone here!) I can order the grips and hub and assemble it for you. I'll have to charge extra for these items... but I can do that.

Something I should add, I plan on putting a brass sleeve in the control yoke. As you know brass will "hold" oil and act as a lubricant. It's not as nice as Teflon, but machinists have been doing it for years.

[DA54]

I thought I saw a DuBro 10 piece tap set - five sizes of drill and tap - at a couple of the local hobby stores. I'd have to go back and look, but thought 1.5 was the smallest in the set. You can also go on line to Enco (use-enco.com) pg 82 and order individual mill/drill/tap stock.

[Deron Douglas]

John at Ron's HeliProz South just PMed me and said he can order the tap... I'll ask him if he can get the set you mentioned since I think I'll need it. But it looks like I'm on track with my original plans. I prefer to make the extended arms myself anyway. I won't be restricted by someone else's design...

Keep you all posted....

Thanks JOHN!

[Deron Douglas]

OK... been working all weekend on this. And it's actually "version 2" of my original idea. I had finished "version 1" and found it too "clunky" so I went back to the drawing board.

This one is the 3 blade tail rotor for the T450. I made everything except the grips which are V2 SE grips. The "top" part of the photo is actually the "back" of the rotor assemble. I haven't cut off the rotor head yet because I still have to drill the rotor shaft hole and I need to do that on the lathe. I'm waiting for my 3.10 mm drill bit.

Incidently, and when I discovered this I debated whether I should make it public... but it turns out I didn't need a 1.5mm tap and drill... the grips go on with a 2mm bolt. AND I had the 2mm tap and drill already!! :arggg::arggg:

Live and learn... in the meantime I bought a set of tap and dies for $39.00 bucks. Well I figure I'll be needing it sooner or later :o

Well here's the photo. It took a hell of a long time and is extremely labour intensive so I won't be making a whole bunch of these. At best... I'll make maybe 6 units for sale. I may have one unit available for sale by the time I get my 3.1 drill bit. So I'll offer that to the group. IF I decide to make 5 more, it'll be on a first come first serve basis.

It would be nice if Align offered these, they aren't too difficult design wise, just a pain when you have a milling machine that is meant for LARGE parts and not these TINY parts.

Enjoy..comments welcome

[jmb2232]

Looks great!! Definitely put me down for one (and one for the 600 if you do that.)
Mike B.

[Hoverup]

Would like a three and a four for the 450 please.

[Deron Douglas]

Would like a three and a four for the 450 please.

In light of doing this one. I'm not really sure how to do the 4 blader yet. I'll make the six 3 bladers for the t450... then maybe a T600 three blader. Maybe in the meantime I'll get some ideas on the 4 blader.

[thatsme59]

http://www.deeteeenterprises.com/NS.DeeTee.Multi.Rotor.Heads.450.4-BladeHead.php

[Deron Douglas]

http://www.deeteeenterprises.com/NS.DeeTee.Multi.Rotor.Heads.450.4-BladeHead.php

Thanks. I saw that... actually version one of my design was similar but I found it too heavy and didn't look elegant. I've worked out a design for the 4 blade tail (last night actually)... I'm going to complete the 3 blade tail this weekend. Then I'll install it and take a few photos. I already have someone awaiting shipment, so I think I should be able to have that out next week.

I'll then start the 4 blade tail, shouldn't take long. I can start taking orders for those.

BTW... if anyone else is interested in a 3 blade tail as well, let me know. I have one left.

Deron

[thatsme59]

im interested do you take paypal?

[Spek]

Hey Skiddzz you fly a real MD500? Awesome! Where have you been learning at?

[Deron Douglas]

im interested do you take paypal?

Yes...what did you need the 3 blader?

[Deron Douglas]

Hi, here's the 3 blade hub with grips attached. I still need to make the yoke, which I'll do this weekend. It'll be easier to build then the hub so I'm not worried.

This one is spoken for and I'll ship it out next week. I left about 1 mm on the edge to give it a round profile. But the customer can file off this lip real easy and give it a three side profile. I'll leave it up to them. Future profiles will be three sided I think.

The control yoke will require the removal of the stock bearing, control ring and brass shaft (one piece) from the stock control yoke (sorry if I'm not using the correct terms)... I'll take pictures once I'm done to show everyone. It unscrews pretty easily.

Since the purchaser will need to use this bearing piece from the old yoke and supply their own grips. I'm going to call this a "conversion kit". Some assembly required.

[Deron Douglas]

OK... I checked my orders and I have one 3 bladed tail conversion kit for a Trex450 available for shipment next week. If anyone is interested, please PM me and I'll give you my PayPal email address. Price is $50.00 plus $15.00 shipping in North America. I think $15.00 MAY cover other destinations. But I won't know until I get the box, pack it and go to the post office.

Thanks,
Deron