Another MCPX Airwolf project!

[Varc]

Hello Airwolf fans! I was admiring the build-up of somebody else's 1/48 scale MCPX Airwolf, that I'd thought I would share mine.

I purchased my MCPX-Airwolf fuselage from Darth and I have to say his service, communication, and speed was awesome! I purchased it a week ago, he shipped it Friday or Saturday, and I received it today!

These first couple of pictures are right now just dry-fitting or trial fitting. It appears that the extended 120SR tail-boom doesn't do this fuselage justice. So, I'm probably going to go back to stock length.
I've also been contemplating on how to do the landing gear and battery mount for this baby. I've tried flat strips of magnets for the battery, but that didn't work, and I doubt I can screw into place MH's battery tray. If that doesn't work, chances are I'll just simply velcro the battery to the belly.

First few pics are just sizing up the fuselage with the extended MCPX.




Next few pictures are just removing the parts that'll no longer be needed. Skids, tail-boom supports, and tail-fin.




Here are the broken MH skids from this morning.



But, that's a great excuse to delete them all together for this fuselage!



As you can see, tail's a bit too long here.







Had to cut out a hole for the battery plug to poke through.



Provided rocket-launcher battery tray too tight a fit.



So, going to see if I can bolt this on the belly.



I'm thinking of getting some small pieces of balsa, cut them to shape and epoxy them or CA them on the inside of the fuselage where the landing gear bits will be. I'm also thinking of using those tiny little colored push-pins with the little ball-ends on them? Find three black ones, bend them at probably 75-80 degree or so angle to simulate the scale landing gear, and glue them into the balsa wood through the plastic.

One will also need to get a piece of foam, and insert it over the tail-boom to keep it in position through the fuselages tail.

So, look's like there's quite a bit of work ahead of me, but I think in the end it'll work great and will be an awesome micro-Airwolf! And, you gotta love the white KBDD blades on this thing, really looks appropriate.
I've ordered two mores sets and will be painting one set with yellow tips, and flat-black on the bottom just like I've done with my other Airwolf projects.

[WNCmotard]

That's really cool. I demand a video with the original theme music when it's done. LOL

[Varc]

Well, mounting the battery tray was a piece of cake. Just used some double-stick servo tape and it holds really well.




Battery in place.




Showing that it stay's in place really well too. Perfect for when the Little Lady goes vertical! LOL!



Still not ready for flight. Need to get a stock tail-boom, or cut this one to stock length, and get that tail-boom stationary inside the fuse.

As for original theme song? While it's cool, it's over-played.

[questerng]

Nice...

Your's is definitely more roomy than what I'm doing.. and lighter..

love it..

Q

[Varc]

Yea, but yours is going to have a much more true-to-scale appearance. Now I need to take it out of the body and do some real work on it.

[Varc]

Reinstalling the fuselage and using this foam piece to keep the tail-boom from moving.


I almost had this ready to fly "with no detail's added" and onto another thread....................

I killed it!

[450man]

love to see retracts!!

[Varc]

Originally Posted by 450man

love to see retracts!!

HA! Me too, but that's way, way beyond my technical expertise. No, I want to keep it simple. I am still in need of some sort of landing gear for it. Unfortunately, my idea won't work because I can't get inside the side caps like I wanted too for the side gears.

I was thinking about the little foam wheels from the Kyosho and Flyzone Park-Flyer Minium airplanes. You know, the tiny Cessna or Bananza airplanes? They have tiny little wheels that look like they would be the right size for the Airwolf. Maybe not scale, but size suitable for the chopper.

The most important thing it needs, is something in the rear to keep the tail-blades from touching the ground, and something on the sides for balancing. Other than that, it would just be looks, but right now I need it to be functional. That is, when I fix the darned blown fet.

[questerng]

coming along nicely..

maybe you can try epoxy the wheels and a carbon rod on the fuselage..

[Varc]

Wouldnt epoxy add weight in itself?

[questerng]

Just small amount.. Shouldn't affect that much.. now mine AUW is close to 70g.. Still gives me a good 3min flight..

I'm sure yours will weigh a lot lesser..

[lemaster]

just playing the airwolf theme whilest reading this thread ;p
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=jKJjFD4Y7tk
what shell is that
does it still fly ok with the extraweight?

[Varc]

Just got a new reciever, so I will be working on this during the weekend. Also got two sets of Xtreme CF blades, and they are super sexy! Perfect match for this bird.

[Varc]

She's almost back together again. Got the new receiver installed, now just need to solder the power leads from the brushless speed controller to the new receiver. Got the short in the tail secured so hopefully there won't be any more shorts.
Then reassemble it into the Airwolf, attach the blades and give her a whirl! Installed the new white tail-blades, so going to see how they help. Going to first fly her with the trust-worthy KBDD blades, then bolt on the CF ones and see how I like'em. More than likely I'll fly it with the KBDD's, and just display it with the CF ones. But, we'll see how she performs.
Right now the weather is ugly outside and not much room to fly her indoors. But, I can at least give her a hover test. So wish me luck......................

[Varc]

Got the Lady soldered up, and dressed. Now just charging the battery for maiden hover test. Hopefully all will be well.
Now just need to come up with a way to keep her balanced on the ground and tail away from danger.

New white tail-blades.







Once I know everything works and she hovers well, then I'll try the Xtreme CF blades on her and add some detail. Thinking about getting the 1/48 scale plastic model kit and rob some bits off that for detailing it.

[Varc]

HURRRAYYYYYY! She works! Gave her a little hover in the basement and she hovered nicely! It was kind of tricky though since we hand-launched it, but seemed to work pretty well! I wanted to test her outside where there's more room, but it's way too windy for it.

Here are pictures of the Airwolf with the awesome-looking Xtreme blades. Will have to see how she flies with them, or if she'll be flying with the KBDD's.







Next is to keep her level on the ground for easier take-offs and landings!

[jt45255]

where can i get that fusealage at. i want one

[Mojappa]

Sexy blades, I do love me some carbon fiber.

[badfrog]

Blades are SWEET! I am going to have to get me some of those! I like the re-use of the battery mount... I need one for my Hog project! right now all I have is stock everything... I suspect the hog will be a little heavy!

Nice project! anything you would do different next time?

I assume you are running BL... which motor? (sorry if you already posted about it).

[Varc]

Brushless motor from Wow Hobbies, blades not flowen yet. LED nav-lights might be next, not sure. What would I do differently? Wont really know till I fly her.