HeliArtist AS350 build

[PaulG-rc]

Today I got my new 450 size AS350 Sqirrel from HeliArtist.
Looks very good but I didn't like the big AS-350 in white on the tail and its kind of heavy.
I decided to sand it off completely and do my own paint scheme.
I will use the SAR color codes and use this fuselage as my test bed before I start on Jimmy's Bell 212 SAR.
Going well but the little corners are hard :o I cant beleive how much lighter it is already. :D
They have colors on top of colors no wonder its so heavy.
Gives me an idea on how it would have been to sand off my big Squirrel :eek:

I will make it much more scale keeping it light.
Pictures here of the kit out of the box and a full scale of the one they used as a patern and the way it looks now from my on going sanding.

[Denis Cloutier]

Nice project, can't wait to see it finish.

[PaulG-rc]

I will do the other scale cutouts and then fit the mechanic inside before the primer.
should be a nice little Squirrel :D

[PaulG-rc]

Did more sanding today ,its longer then I thought, the paint is so thick :rolleyes:
Now I have to sand the tail fins.
I also started to draw the outlines of the areas I want to cut like windows and air intake, cable cutter area landing light.

I also got the paint today and the primer, going with tamiya paint since they had the color to match the SAR FS color code.

[PaulG-rc]

Started on a couple little addons :D
I also made a piece on the boom and thats installed.
I also made the rivets like on the front windshield
I have to find a way to make a scale exaust :rolleyes:

[PaulG-rc]

A bit more this morning since I start work a bit later :)
Made my cut outs for the windows ,intake ,panels , vent and the blade cutters.
Was I a bit nervous to cut? not at all..............I was terryfied :eek: but it went very well considering the size.
Started sanding the tail section but now I have to stop and get ready for work :o

Paul

[PaulG-rc]

Tonight I decided to redo my cable cutters to a better scale and shape, 2:30 hrs to make those little things :eek: I didn't see the time go by :D

[PaulG-rc]

Started on the exaust after I had a some kind of an idea :D
I needed something of the proper size and light and that I could cut and glue easely well I found it :D
You will reconnised the syringe, I then took out the original exaust and the hole was a bit bigger so its a floating exaust now and I can use the syrige base to hold it in place with tiny screws that will be recest in the fuselage when Im done.

The pictures shows the fitting around up to now.
I started on the bear paws and the resonance blades for the skids, its looking good up to now. :D

[PaulG-rc]

Tonight did some work on the bear paws, the intake at the top rear and skids .
So thats what it looks like for now :)
Thats it for tonight, too tired and dont want to messup. :rolleyes:

[LAMAHORSE]

Yea,
a DODO is a must...

Nice little machine Buddy!

[PaulG-rc]

My Little ASTAR 350 was put aside while I was working on Lamahorse's Lama 315B, but tonight I decided to work on it a bit.:)

Tonight did some work on the landing skids.
Next step I will fit the T-Rex 450 mechanic inside for fitting, then a bit more detailing.
Getting close to priming :D
Paul

[Burning Head]

Keep going Paul, that a cool E chopper thread

[PaulG-rc]

Merci Richard

Its going to be a cute little ASTAR :D

[PaulG-rc]

This morning mechanic installed and test hovered to a real good hover, CG is good with 50 gr of lead in the nose so I will most likely intall lights :D

Might just bring it to the FunFly tomorow :D

Video of test hover

YouTube - AS350 test hover

Paul

[LAMAHORSE]

Superb Paul,
As always ...

Can't wait to see it with the color scheme now,,, he,he...
very cool !

[PaulG-rc]

Update on my AS350 build
Tonight I made the mirrors.
next will be the finish touch on the front air intake then primer time.

Here are pictures showing the added details to my AS350 ASTAR :D

[LAMAHORSE]

Is it done yet,,,?
lol...

Have you got to the primer apply?
Very humide today...

[PaulG-rc]

At this very momment I'm working on the horizontal stab, inserting the wirering for the nav lights before I glue them on the fuselage.
Then final smooth sanding and cleanup and primer time :D

[PaulG-rc]

Here it is on primer, looking good so far :D

[Denis Cloutier]

Once again, bravo! on all the details you put on a scale, it really make the difference.

:blingbling:

[PaulG-rc]

Merci Denis :)
I just did the first color coating, the yellow, its perfect, now I will paint the skids in dark German gray.
Tomorow if the yellow doesn't need a second coat I will do the red.

[PaulG-rc]

Skid painted dark German gray :D

[LAMAHORSE]

Look good Bud!
Nice the skid's color choice and result.

[PaulG-rc]

well I just went to get the fuselage from the garage and I do need a second coat of yellow since I see the gray primer a bit .
I hope I have enough paint for the second coat .
Very happy with the yellow its exactly like the SAR color palette, if I had use a white primer it would have been too bright and the Red and Black on top of the yellow will be perfect. :D

Paul

[PaulG-rc]

Here you go ,just out of the oven :D yellow done and skids are done and clear coated. :)
Now I will do the black, the tail turtle deck and the exaust ,install the windows and then paint the inside medium dark grey.

I will wait for the red paint since I havn't decided exactly what I will do. :rolleyes:

Geting there bit by bit :D

[xed]

Yellow looks gorgeous!

[PaulG-rc]

I Love yellow :D

Well a bit more tonight.
All windows installed and painted in medium dark gray inside the cabin.
painted the exaust, the turttle deck flat black and some red stripes on the stab. Still playing with photoshop to help me decide on the company scheme.

I dont remember working so much on models during the summer months :D

[zorba]

Nice work Paul indeed. Where do you find the time to do all these?
Must be nice to have all this free time in your hands.
I was supposed to get the Euro ready for the Fun Fly this week but not enough hours in a day.

Again niceeeeeeeeeeee
Cheers

[PaulG-rc]

Thanks Billy
This is how I wanted to do my big Sqirrel if I had got it white in the first place.
Its crazy how fast the hours go by when working on this :D

[Denis Cloutier]

Nice paint job, just need a candy red to finish it

[PaulG-rc]

I might do the Red paint today and also trial making my SOPFEU logo on a piece of plastic to see how it would turn out.
Its a hard Logo to make because of its size , the letters are ok and the triangle but all the black lines will be the difficulty.
Here is what I'm trying to achieve, done on photoshop :)

[PaulG-rc]

Ok so this is what it looks like this morning, actual shot.
I made my decals and did the exaust mess at the tail section. :D
Still have some details to make, like the antenas, the hook, the heat plate behind the exaust, temperature probe,and more :)
So far I'm please with the result. :D

[Denis Cloutier]

An other great looking scale Paul. Nice paint job and details work.

[Xavier]

Vraiment beau Paul. Bravo.

[PaulG-rc]

Merci beaucoup :D

[LAMAHORSE]

You actualy made it superb Buddy!
Congrat's on the detail's making.
The LOGO came out pretty good ...

Will look awesome with those stripes colors blades now!

[Denis Cloutier]

Lt.Commander SW.LAMAHORSE
Why dont you bring your Lama to our funfly this weekend so we can have a look at it?

[PaulG-rc]

I have ordered the scale B3 rotor Head for it :D I just had too.

I will try to make it at the funfly but it will be after work, should be there around 1:30-2 I hope
Probably wont have my stuff to fly them but at least display, I will see. ;)

[PaulG-rc]

Just did a test hover to see if I solved my tail binding problem, seems ok in hover but I will have to fly foward and do turns to make shure.
Too windy today so maybe tomorow. :D
I also got my Zippy 3s1p 4000 mah and with that the CG is right on with no dead weight. :D
Looks good in the sun in hover :D

[PaulG-rc]

Well today was the maiden foward flight of my little HeliArtist AS350 ASTAR :D
I took a couple of pictures on the ground and Lamahorse was there to take real nice inflight shots and video.:D
I wish I had a good quality video camera, I will try to get one on my vacation. :D

Link to the video, I slowed the speed down a bit I like that :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYwaIjWQxN0&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eyoutube%2Ecom%2Fv%2FyYwaIj WQxN0&feature=player_embedded

[LAMAHORSE]

Lt.Commander SW.LAMAHORSE
Why dont you bring your Lama to our funfly this weekend so we can have a look at it?

Hi hello Buddy Denis!

Would love to do that Denis,
maybe next time...

Lama is in the hangar getting those new stab fin's inplant.
Will also paint today and fix the fin's on. Will also fix the turbine
brass heat protector and the exaust donut at the end of the pipe made of brass. Then it will be time for my canopy floor to be proper size and fix.
Will also paint the floor and canopy instrument panel and seat.

Got some duty at home also,,, befort vacation with Paul by the 15th.
So I better take care of it now, then it's vacation time with Paul on our helicopters roll flying SAR schedules sweet time.

Thanks for the invitation Buddy,
Next time for shure ...

Have all a great FunFly day at WIMAC ...
Respect flying rules peoples ... Safer that way for all ...

[PaulG-rc]

Today I gave the clear coats on the fuselage and I then built the Sling hook and Landing light. :)

I decided not to install functioning lights to keep the weight down. :)
The hook is not functional also since its fragile again to keep the weight down.
I will try to see if I can make a cargo basket too but only if I can make one very light. :D
I hope to receive the 3 blade head sometime next week. :D

[LAMAHORSE]

Hi Paul,
She's a sweet now with all detail's done.
Will see it tomorow I guess...

[PaulG-rc]

I also added the pilot and copilot in it, looks cool! :D

[LAMAHORSE]

Are they made the same way as your 355N pilot as ?

[PaulG-rc]

Yes they are and it hides the battery on both sides so its good.

[PaulG-rc]

Got my RC Aerodyne 3 Blade rotorhead today, spent 4 hours assembling it and balancing my blades.
Well I just had a mishap with the 3 blade head as it just came appart on spool up
What a bad design ,there is nothing holding the bearing and screw inside the grips so the 2 bearings and the screw just slid right out.:mad:

See pictures

The hole were the screw is should at least be smaller then the bearing holes.
cant even put a washer the way its design.:mad:
They just made the hole exatly the same diam all the way through :mad:
Even the shaft was too short I had to install the Align shaft. :mad:

I guess I will contact them.

[PaulG-rc]

Good news on the rotorhead.
I received a confirmation that the grips are being redisigned and I will receive a new one once they are done.

Even if it could have been disastrous at least they acknowledge the problem. :)

Paul

[Denis Cloutier]

They acknowledge the problem but the action is slow to come! I am still waiting for my replacement body promise on June 29, 2009. Don't hold your breath.:mad:

[zorba]

I agree with Denis.
I've been following the website from time to time and some items are still "coming soon"
Is been over a year now. When will they get here?

Cheers

[PaulG-rc]

Here is what it would look like wit the 3 bLade rotor head, unfortunatly this one I got from RCA was badly design so its static only.
Waitting for their updated one now. :rolleyes:
I can tell that the new one will be taken completly appart for inspection before it goes on my heli again. :D

[zorba]

Aren't you suposse to do that anyway?
Even with new kits the parts that coma assembled I have to take them apart and make shure that there's enough loctite.
Looks good though. But it needs a brother BIG BROTHER.lol
Cheers

[PaulG-rc]

I do take them appart and I did on that one too except that when I remove the grips I didn't notice the design since the bearing were press fit............untill they came off :mad:
After really looking at it , that rotorhead is very badly design and dangerous.

[PaulG-rc]

I wish Align would design multi rotorheads too :D

[zorba]

You are right. Why don't you try the one I have?

You welcome to borrow it if you like.

[PaulG-rc]

Thanks Billy but I dont want to risk it.
Were does it come from?

[zorba]

I'll check my bills and let you know..
I know this one works....