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| Raptor in Long Ranger, Page 2 |
| I now have the mechanics completely mounted in the fuse. I attached the aft end of the boom with a bracket. The top of the fuse is attached where the stock canopy mounts to the frames, using spacers and socket head cap screws. |
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| Here are the mechanics mounted in the fuse. I'm attempting to construct some scale looking landing gear for it as you can see in the lower left picture.... |
| Click a thumbnail to see larger picture! |
| Here are some views of the tail. The tail rotor shaft sits about 3/4" forward of the centerline of the vertical fin. I'll eventually try to cut down an Ergo boom to the correct length and find a belt to match. For now, the 46 boom/belt I got from HeliProz will work.... I made a bracket to support the aft end of the boom out of aluminum. I used some extra frame nuts to act as spacers to support the bracket. The small hole on the left side of the tail boom is a relief hole for the nut that secures the tail case. This is the only part that rubs on the inside of the boom. I will make some sort of cap that looks like an access plate to cover the hole. I did cut the support stubs off the tailcase that would have supported the stock Raptor vertical fin, but even doing that, the nut still rubbed the glasswork. |
| These are some views showing the spacer and 3mm socket head cap screw that attaches the fuse to the frames. The cap screw screws into the hole that the stock canopy support would attach to. The spacers are from the hardware store, are plastic and about 1/2" long. You can see there is plenty of room to get your hands in the fuse. This allows the boom assembly to be inserted from the rear of the fuse with the tail rotor gearbox assembly already attached, then adjust belt tension and tighten the four bolts that clamp the boom in the frames. There is plenty of room to accomplish the tightening of the bolts.... |
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| Dec. 22: I brazed the landing gear together today. I used 3/8" steel brake line to make it. It's a little heavy, but I hope the overpowered Raptor will handle it O.K.... Maybe loading the blades with the weight will help eliminate the wah-wah's!? |
| I mounted the horizontal fins. I've heard that the fins vibrate a lot, so I added a support to help eliminate any vibration. I used a 3/16" dowel and a balsa rib to help support the fin. As I write this, the epoxy is drying on a small former ring to stiffen the fiberglass tail boom as even with the added support, I can still flex the entire thing a little. The ring will keep the glass boom from flexing. Hopefully, all these mods will prevent any vibration in the fins. The ring is in, and it significantly reduced the flexing of the fuse! Well worth the time and weight.... |
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