500 size CH-54 Tarhe (Skycrane) Build

[F106DeltaDart]

Cockpit interior is finished up and windshields glued in place. Still needs wipers to be added in.

[iFLY_RC Vic]

I am building my S-64F at a 450 size (totally 3D printed). It was not possible to fit the mechanics into the main body of the heli. I used the "water tank" to house the majority of the mechanics and the Lipo is installed in the "tool box" just behind the cockpit. Not sure how the COG will work out???

[F106DeltaDart]

Looking good! Your CG will probably be much better than mine has turned out with the battery in the cockpit section.

Paint work is finally (mostly) complete. Still need to touch up a few spots, but I’m pretty happy with how it is turning out. Need to get the vinyl cutter setup and try cutting some masks for the markings next, build a battery tray, and glue in the final clear parts.

[sfcfury]

Looks fantastic man!

[F106DeltaDart]

Thanks Fury!

I did get a few things finished up over the weekend. I painted on the final markings and added a rear cover to mount the tail stinger and false tail rotor driveshaft. I also weighed it.

With the 6S 4000mah battery installed, it weighs in at 10.5 lbs, the heaviest 500 size machine I've ever built.

I completed a few test hops in the yard, and on the 2nd flight, the sounds suddenly changed. I quickly landed to find approximately 30% of the main gear teeth stripped. I disassembled the mechanics and found that gear mesh was a bit loose. I've since changed out the gear and put fresh loctite on the motor bolts. Will need to be pretty careful with this one. Might need to upgrade to the helical gear in the future.

For now, I'm awaiting better weather for further test flights. If that goes well, I'll try a sling load with my lightest payload.

[F106DeltaDart]

A few photos of the painted model, added detail, and the failed main gear:

[F106DeltaDart]

Had a great time with the CH-54 out at Helistorm! Got in a few flights there on Saturday despite some significant winds. Was great to meet so many builders and pilots there and even got a few photos with Mike Spinner’s big Vario Crane project (which was looking and flying excellent!). So far, the main gear is holding up, but it’s probably time to take it apart and check since it’s been around 15 flights since the failure. I’ve done probably about 4-5 flights with external cargo so far and it handles it well. I’ve lifted both the 105mm Howitzer and an Apollo capsule test mass. Both loads were stable even in some decent wind. Will need to work on the rest of the payloads and rigging next. I’ve got an RC duece and half truck, as well as an M113 in the same scale that should work, and am printing an M551 Sheridan as well. Might also need to do a troop pod as well..

[F106DeltaDart]

Got in some sling load flights yesterday on the CH-54. Handled the gusty winds surprisingly well.

[Snipermadrid]

This will be my build log of the Buamodel 500 size Skycrane. The model is sold as an S-64 firefighting variant, but I wanted to convert it back to the military CH-54. One of the big challenges there was fitting the mechanics. The stock setup hid most of the Trex 500 mechanics inside the suppressant tank. With that tank removed, there is very little space left in the upper spine.

To solve this, I designed a compact frame that uses parts from the Trex 500X and 500ESP that is about 40% shorter. Still need to shorten the mast a bit, but it seems feasible. Will be running Vario 530mm blades on a custom 6 blade head.

Great work on the model! Where can I buy the main rotor? I ask because I'm very interested in this special model ever since I first saw it in a classic Vietnam War film, as well as in Independence Day. I have the 1/72 scale Revell model with my Esci Choppers and a Kyhowa, along with some Esci M113s and an M48, in a small diorama I made many years ago. As I always say, I loved the enormous size of the flying crane, and seeing that ICM is releasing it in 1/35 scale, I've decided to try to make it even bigger, like theirs, in 1/16 scale. I would appreciate any information you can give me about materials and part numbers, and especially about the main rotor, as it's impossible to build without it. Thank you.

[F106DeltaDart]

Great work on the model! Where can I buy the main rotor? I ask because I'm very interested in this special model ever since I first saw it in a classic Vietnam War film, as well as in Independence Day. I have the 1/72 scale Revell model with my Esci Choppers and a Kyhowa, along with some Esci M113s and an M48, in a small diorama I made many years ago. As I always say, I loved the enormous size of the flying crane, and seeing that ICM is releasing it in 1/35 scale, I've decided to try to make it even bigger, like theirs, in 1/16 scale. I would appreciate any information you can give me about materials and part numbers, and especially about the main rotor, as it's impossible to build without it. Thank you.

The main rotor blades are from the Vario Kamov: https://www.vario-helicopter.biz/us2...v::200931.html

The rotor head was custom made by Buamodel: https://www.facebook.com/buamodel.bynoinarong.7

Good luck on the build!

[Snipermadrid]

The main rotor blades are from the Vario Kamov: https://www.vario-helicopter.biz/us2...v::200931.html

The rotor head was custom made by Buamodel: https://www.facebook.com/buamodel.bynoinarong.7

Good luck on the build!

Thanks so much for the information and thakns for his breath