AH-1F Cobra [Archive] - Crackroll.com

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CSpaced

08-20-2008, 03:25 PM

I started this a while ago and got side tracked on other projects. Its an Approach Engineering built up balsa fuse. It'll have the Century Swift for mechanics to fly it. The pics represent about a weeks worth of work, spending a couple of hours each night. I hope to get back on this soon!

CSpaced

08-20-2008, 03:27 PM

More pics... This shows the elevated tail section that comes with the kit.

CSpaced

08-20-2008, 03:30 PM

This is the scratch built Telescoping Sight Unit I made. The stock TSU was severely lacking in detail as it was pretty much a carved piece of wood. If everything goes as planned, this will actually be articulated.

CSpaced

08-20-2008, 03:31 PM

And finally this is the canopy section I was half way through building.

I'd like to get this heli finished this year some time, too many projects!

Sleepyc

08-20-2008, 03:32 PM

DAMN dude.
Thats an actual BUILD thread. Not just an assembly thread.
NICE!

zennnnn

08-22-2008, 03:51 PM

wow... didn't know that there's a balsa kit for helis. Keep us posted.

choppermike

08-22-2008, 10:13 PM

A true craftsman....you rock ! please keep us posted on your finishing sequence.

CSpaced

08-23-2008, 07:46 AM

Thanks guys, it sure is a fun build and I can't wait to get back to it. Once I do start on it again I'll be posting tons of pics.

3dflyer88

08-27-2008, 04:17 AM

are you planing to mount a servo to move the telescope? thats very good work on the detailing how many hours have u put in so far? keep us posted

CSpaced

08-27-2008, 07:56 AM

Yep, I'm going to mount a micro servo behind it in the nose. The same servo will also rotate the chin gun :)

So far I have only a couple of hours on the project.

7wt

08-28-2008, 10:31 AM

Too cool. Thanks for posting the pics.

Gmoney

08-28-2008, 06:52 PM

I was wondering what happened to your build. Cool! I have one on the list of must haves. Two more birds in front of it then she is all mine.. Rapy 550E mechanics for me.

CSpaced

08-28-2008, 06:53 PM

Yeah its just a case of time, and needing more of it! I'm hoping to get back to this real soon.

Swashbuckler

08-28-2008, 08:40 PM

Great build thread! Looking forward to seeing the finished bird. Do you know of any balsa kits available for 450 size mechanics? Thanks.

Beast II

08-29-2008, 01:50 AM

interesting build..... what material did you make the turret from? can't wait to see the end results... sounds like you have same problem as me thou.....too many projects going on. Nice work so far

CSpaced

08-29-2008, 08:07 AM

Great build thread! Looking forward to seeing the finished bird. Do you know of any balsa kits available for 450 size mechanics? Thanks.

Thanks, I'm not sure of any balsa kits for a 450 but I don't see any reason why it couldn't be done.

interesting build..... what material did you make the turret from? can't wait to see the end results... sounds like you have same problem as me thou.....too many projects going on. Nice work so far

The turret is made from sheet styrene with various bits 'n' pieces from left over plastic models.

DeadTom

09-05-2008, 10:14 AM

Awesome, I have thought about this very same setup. Of course I could take my yet unflown Century Hawk Pro and make it into the Approach Engineering's Apache.....but then I would have to scrap the brand new OS37 and get and OS50:rolleyes:
Very nice build though please keep us posted.

FrankW

09-05-2008, 04:40 PM

My boss has one of these and it looks awesome. Too bad he can't fly very well. I'm waiting for the Apache.

lextek

09-06-2008, 05:27 AM

Nice job. I look forward to seeing your progress. We all need more time for the fun stuff!

wren1701

11-06-2008, 07:47 PM

Updates?

Just ordered myself a Cobra kit and a Swift 16 kit!

CSpaced

11-06-2008, 09:12 PM

Nope sorry. You know how you have one project, but then you start another, and before you know whats happening you have several projects all going on at once? Well thats where I'm at :D

CSpaced

11-25-2008, 03:58 PM

I had an inquiry about how I made the TSU, so here goes...

I started out by figuring out what the diameter and height of the TSU needed to be and made a cylinder out of two circular pieces of styrene with a styrene wrap. I then put it through a scroll saw to get the angled front which I capped off with more styrene.

For the obround sight pieces I used some styrene tubes (available from most hobby shops in either an Evergreen or Plastruct display), cut them down to size and in half, and used sheet styrene for the walls. Traced the shape around the angled part of the TSU and cut out the slots. You can see the roughed out version here:

http://www.crackroll.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=797&d=1219264197

I repeated the same of the other side of the sight, only capped that one off per the reference photos I have. I also built in the back wall of the sight on the right. I then went to work with the putty to smooth out all the rough spots. I also reinforced the top and bottom where I was going to use a brass tube for the TSU to pivot on, again with styrene:

http://www.crackroll.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=799&d=1219264197

Once I had gone crazy with the sanding (you never know when to stop) I hit it with some primer to see how it looked, used a little more putty, sanded, and primed again:

http://www.crackroll.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=801&d=1219264197

http://www.crackroll.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=800&d=1219264197

At this point I started going through my old parts draw from way back, and started to greebly up the sight part of the TSU. I used styrene tubing, an old 1/72nd ejection seat, some head light lenses and various other parts. I wasn't trying to get an exact copy of the real thing, just a suggestion - this is only a sport scale model. Anyhow, this was the result:

http://www.crackroll.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=802&d=1219264197

After this point it was put to one side. Once I get close to painting I will add some rivet detail and scribe some panel lines. Then once it is painted I will glue on a clear styrene lens cap over the sight and close it off. Not perfectly scale, but its a lot better than the kit supplied balsa block :clap:

lextek

11-25-2008, 08:22 PM

Looks great.

CSpaced

12-03-2008, 01:39 PM

What the deuce?! Did I really just clean off my workbench to get back on this project? :eek: Must be cold out or something :confused:

I acutally did a bunch of sanding and gluing today, looks like this build is back on!

wren1701

12-03-2008, 02:02 PM

CSpaced

12-04-2008, 09:09 PM

I capped off the underside of the tail boom. Nothing worth photographing, just lots of glue and balsa sheeting with masking tape used to hold it down while the wood glue cures. I use wood glue on the wood that makes up the corners because later on in the build I will have to sand most of that material away to form a nice radius. Wood glue sands soooooo much nicer than CA!

wren1701

01-18-2009, 11:29 PM

Here's a bit of encouragement for ya!

http://www.vimeo.com/2877199

CSpaced

01-20-2009, 09:05 AM

Nice! Is that your Cobra?

wren1701

01-20-2009, 09:16 AM

Nice! Is that your Cobra?

Yep, sure is. Started the day after Christmas, had one major problem...when I got ready to adjust the tail belt tension the tube was stuck. In the process of trying to get it loose, I broke the tail! Dr. Tim came to the rescue with replacement parts. :o

DeadTom

01-21-2009, 05:31 PM

That is really looking good and the flying looks great too.
What motor, esc and battery are you using?

wren1701

01-21-2009, 06:14 PM

That is really looking good and the flying looks great too.
What motor, esc and battery are you using?

Scorpion 4025-890, 10 tooth pinion, CC HV-85 in governor mode. HS is about 1500. Currently using a 6S 5000 ma Flightpower, but I had to stick a 1900 ma Rx pack in the tail to make it balance. I've got a 6S 4200 mah Outrage battery on the way that will let it balance without the extra pack for weight.

CSpaced

01-22-2009, 11:21 AM

Thats good info to know for when I get my butt around to setting up mine. :D

wren1701

03-08-2009, 07:17 PM

I got to mess with you CSpaced....you need to tighten up and get yours done!

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l218/wren1702/Cobra-1.jpg

CSpaced

03-09-2009, 08:04 AM

Haha....Looking good! What are you using to seal/paint it?

wren1701

03-09-2009, 08:57 AM

Haha....Looking good! What are you using to seal/paint it?

Fiberglass, and Dupli Color high build primer. Paint is Krylon Ultra Flat OD Green. :D

BigBird

03-09-2009, 01:03 PM

Fiberglass, and Dupli Color high build primer. Paint is Krylon Ultra Flat OD Green. :D

That spray bomb paint looks good. Do you have to clear it or is it electric only?

wren1701

03-09-2009, 01:09 PM

That spray bomb paint looks good. Do you have to clear it or is it electric only?

It's electric, Swift 16 mechanics. It's flybarless with the Skookum SK-360.

BigBird

03-09-2009, 02:58 PM

Awesome I never thought about going flybarless. Can you get the mains to spin in the scale direction also?
Sorry idiot ?'s I'm just learning and it is clear you have the skill!
Thanks,
Jason

wren1701

03-09-2009, 04:25 PM

Awesome I never thought about going flybarless. Can you get the mains to spin in the scale direction also?
Sorry idiot ?'s I'm just learning and it is clear you have the skill!
Thanks,
Jason

I could, it would be a matter of reversing the one way bearing, blade grips and reversing the motor. Also reverse the tail blades.

I'm going to keep mine with the stock rotation. It's a sport scale to me.

miket

05-08-2009, 07:24 AM

One of our members has been working on one on and off for awhile. Brought it out for some testing before he finishes it off. Things went really well. Built around a T Rex 600 ESP. Bad news is he just got notice that he's being deployed again so the project has to wait. Fig8red I'd share the pictures. Mike

CSpaced

09-10-2010, 05:47 PM

I finally took the cobra off the shelf, dusted off the box, and carried on building! I'm almost done building the rear section behind the canopy.

wren1701

01-10-2011, 10:53 AM

Update?????

I've done a bit more work....

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l218/wren1702/Approach%20Engineering%20Cobra/IMG_1657.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l218/wren1702/Approach%20Engineering%20Cobra/IMG_1649.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l218/wren1702/Approach%20Engineering%20Cobra/IMG_1653.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l218/wren1702/Approach%20Engineering%20Cobra/IMG_1509.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abht5DPYpgc

CSpaced

01-10-2011, 08:16 PM

Looks great! How do you have the nose turret actuated? It looks like its just sweeping back and forth on automatic...

I have the dog house installed, but other projects keep pushing it back. I've noticed that the rear hatch is quite tight to install and remove too, I may have to work on it a little more to loosen it up.

wren1701

01-10-2011, 09:11 PM

CSpaced

01-10-2011, 09:29 PM

Where did you get the pilots from?..

wren1701

01-10-2011, 09:36 PM

Where did you get the pilots from?..

They are out of production....but can be found on Ebay!

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=MCFARLANE+MILITARY+SERIES+3+ARMY+HELIC OPTER+CREW+CHIEF&_sacat=0&_odkw=mcfarlane+series+3&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

CSpaced

01-10-2011, 09:40 PM

Wow, a little more pricey than I thought!

wren1701

01-10-2011, 11:14 PM

Wow, a little more pricey than I thought!

Seems like I gave about $24 each for mine....then cut them in half! :blockhead: :D :p

They are worth it, very detailed!

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l218/wren1702/Approach%20Engineering%20Cobra/IMG_1479.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l218/wren1702/Approach%20Engineering%20Cobra/IMG_1480.jpg

Tseres

12-19-2011, 09:51 AM

This is very interesting. I love an actual build thread. I didn't even know kits existed for helis. Thanks for reviving the thread for us new guys.

Tseres

12-19-2011, 09:54 AM

Chris. Let me know if you need some glass I have some left over from My P-47.

priscalex

03-05-2012, 11:41 AM

wow, that is a great building and flying.