[MOC] Calypso Hughes 269b/300 Helicopter

[MangaNOID]

I thought I would start some chassis stuff.

just a rough up in LDD as I don’t have the parts I need yet. Slight ‘illegal’ connections stops me from completing an LDD design on the floats between the top and bottom curved bits but the design is still quite robust even if not ‘legal’

pretty happy with how it going.

I am trying to incorporate the  dampened landing gear of the Hughes with technic shocks (I’ll probably use the soft ones not the hard ones I pictured) and ‘slip on’ floats like the real one.

angled axle connector near the shocks on the chassis is a concern and not sure how to fix that if I keep the shocks.

 

and with photoshopped stickers poorly applied to get an idea of final looks. Yes left float is different to right float and nothing is final of course.

 

 

[MangaNOID]

Finding a bit more time in the holidays to get some chassis design work done.

very happy so far with this mock up. The engine is suspended like the real one in very similar spots. The upper chassis points are very close to the proper with the angles also, providing good rigidity.

disregard the tail section on the first 3 photos.

all colours will be changed on a big brick link order as soon as I am happy with the build.

it all seems quite sturdy and robust. Only for a shelf model though not something my toddler will play with!

 

 

 

The tail rotor section has been annoying as not much in LEGO is round with a hole in the middle on this scale.

below is the best I have so far.  The flex axles under will be the drive axle hung by the 1L pin plus hole. I just can’t find that in LDD or the yellow axles either.

 

Comments and ideas welcome.

[Aventador2004]

Good work, waiting for final model.

[steph77]

hi,

I love what I see so far. Just continue this way

1 hour ago, MangaNOID said:

 

I just can’t find that in LDD or the yellow axles either.

You just have to switch onto LDD extended mode and you'll find the parts.

To do this: in the up menu, choose VIEW/NEW THEMES/LDD EXTENDED....

In this mode you can color each parts, included all part that are not present in standard mode, in any color you want....

Good work...

Edited December 30, 2017 by steph77

[MangaNOID]

10 hours ago, Aventador2004 said:

Good work, waiting for final model.

Thanks! It could be some months off, but stay tuned.

8 hours ago, steph77 said:

hi,

I love what I see so far. Just continue this way

You just have to switch onto LDD extended mode and you'll find the parts.

To do this: in the up menu, choose VIEW/NEW THEMES/LDD EXTENDED....

 

Thank you Steph! This is great help. I’ll get to work!

the more I build this model the less relevant the cyclic and collective seems. It’s turning into more a representation of an iconic helicopter than a technic marvel. Maybe that’s me loosing track of the build but I’ll see as I build more. If I keep anything it will no doubt just be the collective.

[MangaNOID]

This weeks update...

I managed to build this properly in LDD with all the actual available coloured pieces which I am very excited about. 

For my first real MOC (tc12 doesn’t count) I am very happy so far.

Ill do a brick link order for how it sits now so I can then nut out the more technical aspects of connecting functions,etc, in proper bricks.

 

 

[MangaNOID]

 

Whilst I await arrival of bits to build the chassis and floats I have been playing with the rotor head etc.

I have pretty much disbanded the idea of cyclic and collective in this helicopter. There is no room to do this without having a great big overbearing swashplate near the rotors that would ruin the aesthetics of the build, yes, sorry aesthetics is overruling this one. There is 3 rotors also which makes it more difficult when using pure LEGO solutions.

The 3 ball low down swashplate I had on the previous page would probably work but it is not realistic in operation and the stability was very compromised.

Collective controls are just hanging on by a thread but any help would be appreciated as I have limited skills and parts knowledge.

This is an idea for collective but still overbearing in size.

5 stud width is OK but it’s about 3.5 studs high because of the hub used . If anyone has suggestions to get it to 2 studs that would be great!

rotor connection is flimsy for those with a keen eye yes, which is another problem when trying to keep scale. suggestiones here is also helpfull!

 

Edited January 18, 2018 by MangaNOID

[steph77]

On ‎07‎/‎01‎/‎2018 at 3:29 AM, JonathanM said:

 

 

This is a proposition by @JonathanM on the AW169 topic.

You could use the center hub and modify the gun barrels by standard 6 holes pulley? The blade is fixed by the 3L grey axles.

 

EDIT: You can also use this design combined with the Wheel hub collective controls:

Edited January 18, 2018 by steph77
complements

[MangaNOID]

Thanks Steph77 for design ideas. I haven’t got any further with rotor head though.

I have received a lot of yellow bricks and started the real build.

not happy with the tail (besides being a bit short) It’s design let’s it bend slightly under its weight. I have another idea but have yet to try it in the real. It’s a whole bunch of different from LDD when physical forces and gravity are applied. 

I’ll keep it short so here is a couple pics.

 

 

[MangaNOID]

Quick update (lots to say but I’ll try keep it short)

First of all, Sorry for the lack of technic in this MOC…although I am very happy with the direction this ‘shelf model’ is going…I was a bit reluctant to update as I am not sure this model fits in anywhere now.

 Still working on cabin, how to make it look good when there is not much happening other than glass.

trying to put doors on but very stuck so far due to lack of structure (see above sentence)

 Front of floats are too pointy so want to round them and make them shorter but slightly increase length of main floats solid bit for better scale.

Fuel tanks look great but could really be ½ stud taller somehow.

Lots to do on the main rotor shaft (but not cyclic or collective sorry)

New tail looks great but a bit concerned with structural integrity/bending. Will need to build the proper one to see… 

Lots to do. Lots of time being spent on this. Really enjoying it!

 

 

Edited March 29, 2018 by MangaNOID

[Aventador2004]

I like it! Belongs in scale modeling maybe too.

[MangaNOID]

Finaly I have finished the LDD build.

I am waiting for real bricks to come in. I am very excited to build this. You may see this on LEGO ideas soon just for fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Thirdwigg]

This turned out great. Are all the parts available in the colors used?

[BrickbyBrickTechnic]

Wow. Seeing the start of this to what it is now, this shows an insane amount of progress. The final model is awesome. Congrats and expect support on Lego Ideas.

[BusterHaus]

This model looks fantastic. I'm a bit concerned about the white windshield elements staying connected, but I don't have much experience with rigid hoses, so it may work. Keep the updates coming, you have something very nice on your hands. 

[MangaNOID]

 

@Thirdwigg I think most colours are available except the rear red propellers which will need stickers for the red . I have just the cabin area to place orders for so hopefully no disappointments!

@BusterHaus it’s a good point and I also do not have any experience with those parts. This is the one area I am unsure of 

@BrickbyBrickTechnic thankyou! I never imagined to come up with such a great looking (IMO) MOC...ever! I just hope it holds together in real bricks.

this is certainly just a shelf model with very limited playability. I’ve built most connections and the like, with what bricks I did have to trial everything as I was building in LDD, so somewhat confident it will hold together...except that front cabin screen of course as mentioned above, I fear those elements might be ‘wobbly’looking. just keep crossing fingers 

[Sjoemie himself]

I'm totally not into helicopters but this looks awesome. Had to do a double take at the images, as I first thought it was the real thing.

[agrof]

I hope the real build will hold up to your expectations, because the LDD model looks awesome! Maybe the main rotors are a tad small, but no big deal.

[MangaNOID]

@Sjoemie himselfhaha, a double take? I’ll take that, thanks!

@agrof the rotors are indeed 3 maybe 4 studs short. I tried taking them out a bit more but even just 1 stud out made the rotor connection look weird. 

Actually the rotor head should also be 2 studs higher but I didn’t want to accentuate their shortness so kept it lower. Always compromises 

also it looks like the white cabin hose connections are only in black or grey so this model might just be a poster model in its current form...unless the LEGO gods intervene...or I paint them...or indeed change them! 

Oh well thanks for looking and commenting everybody, I’ll update when I have real parts.

[DugaldIC]

Wow ! It's very detailed and looks great, I love the seamless combination of system and technic. Well done! 

[Ivan_M]

Have you considered brick build rotor? Since it is shelf model the fragile nature wouldn't be a problem, I think it looks weird with too small rotor.

[MangaNOID]

@DugaldIC thanks! I found it quite challenging  fun to work with both together!

@Ivan_M I may tinker with a brick rotor but I really am not keen on doing that. I like the rotor blade a lot and think it adds a lot of 'polish'. I appreciate you comment on the small rotor. now 2 people (you and @agrof ) have mentioned it I took another look. 

It seems like I had the tail 4 studs too long so I shortened it...by 4 studs! this obviously is still leaving the rotors 3 or 4 studs too short but I think it is way more acceptable in the overall illusion? your opinions?

shorter tail scale test...

 

 

 

not very interesting sentence...

I also went through all the rigid hose on BL and found there is next to no white ones in real life for the cabin. so the shorter lateral ones will have to be LBG with the technic connector pearl gray. I can get 2 white ones for the vertical middle bit but i will have to put LEGO string through them to keep them and the whole cabin together. I'll explain better when posting the real one when building it.

 

 

[Ivan_M]

You have captured the overal shape wery well so It would be pity not to try different rotor. 4 studs is quite a lot. You can try to work with 32 L axle, that one is a little flexible, it might sag at the end. But I'm scale man, doomed by tre drive for best poportions

[JonathanM]

Would it be enough to maybe swap the 5L thin lift arms for 2x 4L, joined by 2x 2L?

[MangaNOID]

I'm finished with this.

Sorry for the late reply to @Ivan_M and @JonathanM but I wanted a bit of substance before I posted anything. I couldn't extend the liftarms (JonathanM) any longer as that looked way weird with thin liftarms for such a long distance before the rotors started if that makes sense?

And thank you Ivan_m, your thoughts played on my mind for a long time until I committed to building a rotor blade to see how it looked. I'm much happier with the built blades! thanks for your input and yes they are 4 studs longer.

And once again, happy to have this topic moved as its not very Technic.

There was a few colours missing in the Lego pallet unfortunately. mostly the rigid hose and connector and more importantly the trans black quarter round things that sat at the top back of the cabin were not available which seemed to make the biggest visual disappointment for myself.

That aside the model does hold together! its not really to be played with and my god it takes a long time to build and setup the tail section to be straight and in line with the engine etc. also the cabin hose was very fiddly and I used boiling water to help bend them to shape as kind of suggested by @eric trax in one of his MOC's. So I regard this as a structural LEGO engineering feat 

There are a few other discrepancies in the real build that was better in LDD but I'll gloss over those for now.

and a very short Vid to show that it works with a motor attached