Agusta-Bell 206B RC Helicopter in Scale 1:5.7 of the Greek Army Aviation




Introduction

I have started this blog as an english-text alternative to a thread that I have opened in modelclub.gr (modelclub forum in greek) regarding my project to build an RC scale model of an Agusta-Bell 206B Jet Ranger II of the Hellenic Army (see unofficial site).


Now a few words about the project itself. The model is based on the fuselage provided by Vario (model 1004) in scale 1:5.7. There are very little differences between a Jet Ranger III (model kit) and an Agusta-Bell AB-206B Jet Ranger II that I needed for the project, so I decided to get the kit from Vario. The kit has been bought from one of the best specialists and professionals in the field, Mr Thomas Baumann who has helped me with making my choice of the model and its accessories (Helikopter Baumann). Thanks Thomas! I would also like to thank the team of eflight for their professional support not only for this construction but for all my RC models and accessories. In addition, I would like to thank the team from Innoflyer and especially Mr. Christophe Raible for the help with the lighting system and for letting me test a new CPL model before its official launch. I would like to add here the biwix.com RC helicopter store and Johnny Trolliet at my hometown Renens for his exceptional service, availability and prices!

The particularity of this project is that the mechanism that I fit in the fuselage is not the one from Vario but a modified Align T-Rex 700E (Align RC Helicopters). I will give here details on the way that this is done with diagrams, photos, tips and tricks. This will cover the first part. The flight tests of the modified T-REX 700E have been conducted at the RC model field in Dizy, Switzerland that belongs to the Dizy RC Modelling Group (GAM Dizy). Big THANKS to all the members of the Club for the great friendliness since the first day I started there and for their help with advice and tips!

The second part will be dedicated to the scale model itself. Some photos of the Greek AB-206B can be found on the internet but they do not cover all the details. More photos of the aircraft with the Greek colors may be requested in the forum of modelclub.gr where I have gotten most of them thanks to the team spirit and great friendliness of the members (THANKS^1000 dsamba!!!). In order to complete the photographic part of the project I managed to get my own photos of a Jet Ranger III. This has been made possible thanks to the courtesy of the people from Heli-Lausanne (Heli-Lausanne) who have immediately accepted my request to get there and take as many photos as I needed. A big THANKS to them too!!!
At the last phase of construction, I have got invaluable help for the dimensions of the AB-206B landing gear from Iraklis Karailidis. Many-many thanks to you Iraklis!

So after this short introduction I will start publishing the steps I have already taken and will take during this quite challenging project (at least for me, it is my first scale RC helicopter).

I hope that you will find this blog helpful if you have a similar (or the same) project as mine and you will enjoy it as much as I do!

Welcome!
Hellenicopter

08/12/2019

Rivets with Silhouette Cameo

Hi,

While working on various techniques for riveting, I have tried a method using a vinyl film and the Cameo cutting machine from Silhouette.
You can see the results in the photos below.
One row of holes is 0.9mm in diameter and the other 0.95mm .
I think that I could go down to 0.8 or even 0.7mm.

The technique is inspired from what I have seen on this video.
You can directly buy stripes for riveting from Heli-Planet.

This is for sure the method I will use for my next scale RC helicopter!

Cheers,
Hellenicopter

27/08/2019

New Photos for 2019


Some new photos of the helicopter for 2019 from the RC helicopter meeting "Heli La Tchaux" that took place at La Chaux-de-Fonds  on August 24. The cockpit is still "work in progress" as I had almost no time for designing the missing parts in Fusion 360. 
There is a link to more photos at the end of this thread.

Cheers,
Hellenicopter







18/05/2019

Maybe my next project...

The Hellenic Army Aviation started receiving the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters from the US.

It could be much more challenging to make and fit new parts to the Vario 1004 model to make the OH-58D but it looks very interesting. But I need to find time (and space to store it)...

For the moment I need to finish the Jet Ranger's cockpit that I have left without any progress for ~6 months now.

Cheers,
Hellenicopter

More photos here.

08/01/2019

Working on the cockpit: part 1, avionics

Hi to whoever reads this blog and best Wishes for 2019!

I have entered the phase of the cockpit construction with scratch building of all the parts, seats, flight panels, sticks, pedals, avionics etc. Parts of the cockpit have already been printed in 3D some time ago (see previous article) to check the general fit.

The last 2-3 months I had little time, but I have nevertheless been experimenting with methods and processes to come up with as realistic as possible flight instruments and avionics.

I have used my customized mUVe 3D DLP SLA printer to fabricate the avionics of the helicopter of the Hellenic Army Aviation (HAA) that I have previously designed from scratch in Fusion360.

The work has started with various instruments for Radio Communication, ADF, IFF and various switches.

In the photos below you can see some pictures from my latest attempts to come up with relatively good models of the instruments. The first photos concern the most recent work on the panel of the  AN/ARC-159. I have used the white toner from Ghost to print decals for the markings on my HP LaserJet Pro 475dn. I have bought the decals from CustomDecal.fr, the decals have very good quality and the service is good as well.


The picture below is a photo of a real AN/ARC-159 (same model as the one on the helis of the HAA) that I had found some time ago on ebay (a place where sometimes you can find excellent photos for pieces of helis, airplanes, vehicles etc). Next to it is a snapshot from my Fusion360 project of the 3D model I made from scratch.



The model below is not finished. I am currently building new ones (more than one) to find the right process for making the decal show as less as possible.
For the story, I have painted the panel in black using Model Air Vallejo paint thinned with the Vallejo Airbrush thinner to a ratio 50:50 and sprayed with my H&S Evolution airbrush with a 0.2mm nozzle at ~12psi.
In the model below, by mistake I have used the Vallejo Satin Varnish instead of the gloss one before applying the decals. Anyway, the result is not so bad taking into account that the pictures have been taken before applying a new coat of varnish to seal the decals. The buttons and switches have been brush-painted with grey Model Air from Vallejo (also great colors to brush-paint with!).

I will post more articles on the making of the cockpit, which could be considered as a model on its own.

Cheers,
Hellenicopter