Milan Posted March 16, 2014 Posted March 16, 2014 (edited) LEGO RC Helicopter, designed and built to look like real RC Heli 100% LEGO parts and sounds. Custom stickers applied This is my entry for JFAIR. I have been always fascinated by RC (radio/remote controlled) scale models, mainly with dirt cars and trucks and machinery, but when I was young, I also loved RC Helicopters. Back then I never understood anything about them, just that they are cool and well designed. Later I experimented with LEGO Town Fire Helicopter, I made it big, but never motorized. So, I was browsing some RC stuff, and I saw this: Brilliantly designed RC helicopter model, with two Strife motors and two main rotors, and with unusual back rotor, pointing upward. I immediately started building it in my head, and in few minutes, I had rough sketch. The only thing that troubled me was the cabin. First I wanted it to be brick built, but later I remembered that there is quite nice LEGO Aircraft Fuselage, part 54092c01: Which is actually quite fitting to the theme. Only thing did not match is the color of the cabin. It was white, and I wanted to be dark red with black large windows. So, I made a few stickers on my PC, print them and carefully apply them on the part 54092c01. It turn out better than I hoped for. It looked very close to the original, and I did not use any non-LEGO parts. For the chassis, I use exclusively studless beams, first time ever! And the experience was very good. It is very different from building with studded bricks. I wanted to make chassis as light as possible and to have as low part-count as possible. I think I did it. The chassis is very strong and it contains XL motor (partly hidden in cabin), central gearbox, that transmit power to four different ways, and PF receiver. Tail was made with axles, grey axles are use for tail itself, while single 32 lack axle is used as driveshaft for powering tail blades. Tail is slightly angled, like on real RC Heli. Side Strife blades I made from LEGO dark red rims, and as blade protectors, I used black dish 6 webbed. They are motorized. Battery box is hidden in the cabin, and ll the wires are transmitted out of sight. All the gears are side frame, protected and locked by chassis beams. Main rotor blades are 60 studs in length, and are partly covered with sticker. I made the sticker from white paper, Myst-sprayed with black can-paint. Besides stickers, I decorated it with few chromed parts, like motors cases and few bolts on blades. Make sure to watch 1min video of it working and sounding, and volume up! :) NOTE: Sound in the video is from LEGO sound brick! Helicopter is operated by Speed remote controlled, hence the gradually acceleration and deceleration. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJl0bSdA9_k&feature=share&list=UUNjkz5V9Fv0e20WSJsZqKVw If you liked this video, please Like it and Subscribe. Edited March 16, 2014 by Milan Quote
DrJB Posted March 16, 2014 Posted March 16, 2014 (edited) Very nice ... though, in the small RC helicopter, I believe the rotors are counter-rotating (for stability and neutral Yaw) ... which is near impossible to do in Lego, as you need one shaft inside the other. Edited March 17, 2014 by DrJB Quote
Milan Posted March 16, 2014 Author Posted March 16, 2014 You are right :) Idea was that Heli has 5 moving rotors in transmitted from just 7studs wide frame. Quote
Jim Posted March 16, 2014 Posted March 16, 2014 Very nice! I like that fact it resembles the real model a lot. Quote
D3K Posted March 16, 2014 Posted March 16, 2014 Really cool! I almost expected it to lift off at one point in the film! Quote
unimog123 Posted March 16, 2014 Posted March 16, 2014 Really cool! I almost expected it to lift off at one point in the film! Yeah, me too! Nice job! Quote
Milan Posted March 16, 2014 Author Posted March 16, 2014 Really cool! I almost expected it to lift off at one point in the film! Good thing I bolted the landing gear to the floor, so it doesn't fly away :) Quote
darsedz Posted March 16, 2014 Posted March 16, 2014 excellent design and entry... even if a side rotor arms looking "heavy"... did you thougth about lego blades insted of yours? Quote
Milan Posted March 16, 2014 Author Posted March 16, 2014 did you thougth about lego blades insted of yours? Thanks! All the parts are LEGO. I used in dark red, I think it is as close to the original Heli as it could be. It is covered by webbed dish as a protection. Quote
Graydingo Posted March 19, 2014 Posted March 19, 2014 Fantastic entry. I had to do a double take to make sure you were using all Lego pieces. well done! Quote
piterx Posted March 19, 2014 Posted March 19, 2014 it looks so great that till the end of the video i thought it could actually fly XD well done! Quote
Milan Posted May 18, 2014 Author Posted May 18, 2014 Update, guys: Step by step photo instructions for the helicopter are done. You can get them for free, by sending me a pm or email. Quote
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