Vario Turbine Ecureuil AS 350

[satsuma]

Makes you wonder what's changed their minds.

[satsuma]

Ok, mechanics now fully built up and turbine mounted, now need to take EVERY screw out one at a time and refit with threadlock and mark each bolt with red laquer when done, that way none get missed, am also in the process of moulding the boom top heat cover.

[satsuma]

First fitting of turbine/ mechanics, all ligns up nicely



Kerrostart plumbing.

[EC225LP]

what an amazing project.....

Thanks for sharing with everyone!!

[Pagan207]

Hi mr . satsuma! did you post or have any flying video of your previous project bell 412? love to see it, from the turbine start untill the landing!

[satsuma]

Thanks guy's appreciated, as to the maiden of the 412, it is ready to test, as soon as my back allows, i will get it flown and post the results

[spool this]

Originally Posted by satsuma

Thanks guy's appreciated, as to the maiden of the 412, it is ready to test, as soon as my back allows, i will get it flown and post the results

Lets hope its in HD!

[satsuma]

HD, of course

UPDATE pics, need to open up the hole for the swash and a few more bits and bobs, but she's NEARLY ready for primer, then the detailing can begin.




Am happy with the Starflex head, looks very close to the original.



Tranny shaft cover heat shield moulded out of a bit of carbon cloth i had hanging around in the shop.

[satsuma]

Swash opening now done, contrary to what most people think, the hole is not round, more like a rounded off rectangle with centres like a parenthesis, different anyhow lol.
Left/port side rear hatch cover also fitted now, getting close to flatting and primer.







Also found the Kerro plug sticks a long way out on the Jaka as opposed to the Jet Cat, which IMHO is better laid out.

[veloflier]

Just read from the start of the build and this is pretty amazing. Never flown or seen a turbine heli flown in person. All on youtube, lol.

[satsuma]

Thanks Velo, glad you enjoyed, she still has a way to go, but i am wanting a really good scale look with this heli, all the external panels and rivets and will have fully detailed cockpit, passenger seats included, all with belts etc and a full scale paint scheme, hehe, we shall see.

[veloflier]

About how much does it cost to build a scale turbine heli? What is all needed to do a project like this? I might one day be interested in the build of one of these. I enjoy creating and building things. Something like this would just seem like so much fun to create then fly.

[jpooch00]

Subscribed!

[Skiddz]

Originally Posted by veloflier

About how much does it cost to build a scale turbine heli? What is all needed to do a project like this? I might one day be interested in the build of one of these. I enjoy creating and building things. Something like this would just seem like so much fun to create then fly.

Figure about $4,000+ USD for the engine, another $1,000-$1,500 for electronics & plumbing and $2,000-ish for the mechanics and fuselage kit for starters... Add a scale cockpit, scale rotorhead and blades and you're adding another $1,500+

My pod and boom turbine ran about $7500 to get into the air...

Just for giggles Sats, what'd that Star-Flex head run?

[veloflier]

I looked at the starflex for my 600 scale build and it was about $840! I still haven't pulled the trigger on that buy.

How difficult was it too build a turbine? I have no experience with turbine or nitro heli's.

[satsuma]

Kevin, the Starflex head plus the swash was $1500.00 BUT, it looks awesome and should complete the scale look i'm after.

Also by the time i would have bought the Vario head, swash, swash driver etc, it wouldn't have been THAT much different.

[satsuma]

Originally Posted by veloflier

About how much does it cost to build a scale turbine heli? What is all needed to do a project like this? I might one day be interested in the build of one of these. I enjoy creating and building things. Something like this would just seem like so much fun to create then fly.

The Ecureuil will Probably have cost me about $15k by the time it is completed, but i will have had SO much fun building and flying it.
You could build a smaller scale bird with the Jet Cat PHT-2 for about 7k, i have the PHT-2 in an Alouette 2 and it.s awesome.

[veloflier]

For someone such as myself how hard would it be to build a turbine heli?

[satsuma]

No more difficult than building any other scale heli, don't forget the turbine is just an engine, no more, just powered by different fuel and they are SO EASY to operate, no fuss, flick a switch and fly, once set up it's that easy, also building will present you with no issues you don't already find.
Good luck if you decide to give it a go, as i say, the PHT-2 is a powerfull little turbine, ready built in it's mechanics, makes life easier.

[Skiddz]

I figured the StarFlex would be pricey, but yeah, will definitely make the heli stand out.

As for build/operation difficulty.. Someone with a little experience can easily build and operate a turbine model. Like Sats said, flick a switch and wait for the noise. I do tend to give my turbine a more thorough pre-flight than my other helicopters simply because of the cost factor.