Space (C)hopper - 8

It's been a busy weekend, so be prepared for another 45 image after-the-weekend update :)

Now that the poll is closed, the result is clear too. The name for my little hopper is:
CHARON - ferryman in the underworld.
Thanks for voting.

I continued with the rotors by starting to build the actual housing. So first I built the supports holding the two rings.

Once the two rings were mounted, I wrapped .5mm plasticard around it.

I think they now look massive enough.

Then I experimented with the actual mounting of the rotors.

This would be the parking position in the hangar.

Fly position, giving forward thrust.

And hover/lift position.

Next I started to build the actual mounts.

Looking good and massive.

And rotatable into all desired positions.

But I think this is just too massive, too high :(

So I started again, building a smaller, lower rotor mount.

This looks far more in harmony with the rest of the bird.

Next was the integration and building a housing around it.

After I was satisfied with the look of the housing, I started to detail the rotor mounts.

And together they look like this on the CHARON.

Lift off

In flight.

Then I had to build the rear part of the housing.

Still allowing all desired positions.

Then I experimented with a instruments box - something like the FLIR (Forward Looking Infra-Red) system.

What do you think? Is it looking good there? Should I try it somewhere else?

Next on the schedule was the rear fusselage with the fins.

They are relatively easy and plain - no rudders or flaps needed.

Comes togehter nicely I think :)

Being satisfied with the looks so far, I checked into the doors again.

How would it look with the doors opened to the rear?

Since I'm not sure yet, I leave them off for the time being.

So I worked on the waepons systems, adding a rocket pod (for the actual build, see the previous post)

And an Auto-Cannon for the other side.

:D

And finally I started to build some skids for the CHARON.

This ends this weekends post :)
I hope you like it.

C&C welcome and apreciated.

Cheers

Klaus

Scratchbuilding a Rocket Pod

For the CHARON helicopter project I wanted to build a 7-shot rocket pod, similar to the US Hydra System

For this I needed Rockets (or at least the warheads).
So I cut a 1.5cm long piece of plasticrod (in the diameter you desire your rocket to be) and mounted it in the electric drill.

Then I slowly ran it first over a rasp and afterwards over a pad with sandpaper.

With this I had 7 rocket warheads in a minute. For more detailing I also added a small rim - holding a knife over the plasticrod, while it turned in the drill.

After that I mounted 7 piceces of plastic tubing in the proper diameter together to resemble the launcher. In addition I wraped a 5mm wide band of plasticard around it.

Then I glued the warheads into place.

And finally closed the rears with blast caps - small disks of plasicard.

And within no time I had a nice rocket pod for my CHARON.

I hope this is helpful to you.

Cheers

Klaus

Space (C)hopper - 7

Todays update is rather short, as I "only" worked on the rotors last night.

First I did cut the blades out of 1.5mm plasticard and mounted it on a .8" tubing.

Then I cut 4 rings out of 1.5mm plasticard, which will be the frame for the rotor housings.

And this is their size in comparison to the chopper.

That's all :)

Cheers

klaus