AH-6Z Littlebird Night-Ops build project

[Zeeflyboy]

clearly you gots more skills than me...

Surely vacuum forming wouldn't manage to get all those little details? Machining I hadn't even thought of...

The shapeways thing seems pretty cheap, might give it a whizz and see how it goes - the ultra fine stuff looks incredible. I was looking at this stuff, specifically the ultra detail.

http://www.shapeways.com/materials/frosted-detail

Cheers for the thoughts, it certainly doesn't hurt to have options in case the plan doesn't work out.

Here's where I'm up to now

[g.collins]

That dose look good, technology is certainly moving on.
;) G

[Zeeflyboy]

So I was reading up on my material of choice, and the specs say a minimum detail size of 0.1mm for embossed/engraved detail - so lets put that to the test I suppose! Some of these finer details are 0.2mm deep (eg the arrows on the buttons).

Anyway, pretty happy with what I've got so far. I might have to wait to get detailed screen dimensions before ordering though so I can make a specially sized pocket to seat each module in in the back.

What do you think?

[Zeeflyboy]

Yeah the idea is to get the cockpit as detailed as possible since that's where the show is for FPV!

I'll be painting/weathering everything.

I finalised my design and uploaded it to shapeways - passes their automated checks so that's one step closer to reality! Don't know why it's upside down though lol

Looks like it'll be a little over $40 in their ultra detail frosted... you can check out a 3D render here (click to the next image for a spinning 3D model)

http://www.shapeways.com/model/700695/9018113e0d902276804a9ac8b0120900

As you can see I've added cutouts just to help position the screens and reduce wall thickness slightly so they don't appear too deep. I also added the cut outs for 3 x 1.8mm miniature LEDs for my mode indicator panel and cut pockets for screen inserts for the upper 2 displays and lower display which will be printed on backlit paper like my Eurofighter, and then backlit by LED's.

I'm toying with the idea of whether I should add another LED cut out for a low voltage warning.

[Zeeflyboy]

So Just had the pleasure of paying the courier a butt load of cash for import duties but look what he brought me! Of course I had to open it to "check everything was there", but now I'm not allowed to have it until my Birthday... Arggghhh!

Quality looks pretty awesome actually, it's going to be a good base to start from. The cockpit is not a direct fit annoyingly enough despite being designed for it, I have already "massaged" some edges to make it fit better but it'll take some work to make it perfect. Regardless, I can't really start playing until I'm allowed to have the fuselage lol.

It's a good size, not too big so as to be difficult to handle but lots and lots of space inside for equipment, I've put a 20cm rule in one of the pics, and the most ubiquitous item known to man - the iPhone - in another, for scale... there's a cavernous area below the floor as well which will be able to hide some kit.









The bad news is, I'm definitely going to have to pull my own canopy... the good news is the vacuum forming rig I'm going to have to build to do it will also let me pull one for my eurofighter. Every cloud has a silver lining and all that!

[CurryKitten]

This is absolutely awesome.... as was your last project.  I hope you lack of birthday in the next few days doesn't halt progress too much.

[Zeeflyboy]

Thanks, gonna be a lot of work though!

I tweaked the design again - I've cut more material out in places on the back so managed to save about $4-5 while keeping all the walls sufficiently thick for strength. I also added a 3mm hole and detail panel for a low voltage warning LED.

Think it's good to go now, just need to see if it passes the manual checks when I try to order.

btw guys, when you click across to the next image on the link you can manipulate the 3D view with your mouse

http://www.shapeways.com/model/700775


here's a couple of shots (just missing some fixing screw details from the final)








I also had a quick look at how the cockpit fits, I think I've got some ideas for how to mount it better and make it look spot on. Now I have to put the Fuselage away though for another 12 days :(, at least I now know what I'm working with though.

Edit - just took the plunge and ordered my final one in the link using frosted ultra detail.... a cool €46 delivered in that material but (if it works) I think it'll be worth it since it's such a visible and fundamental part. Hope it passes all the checks it has to before it gets printed!

[FPVSteve]

You, Sir, are an artist.

I doff my baseball cap.

[W0LF]

for what its worth shapeways stuff is very precise. when i was into my airsofting we had special hop up units made and they were within something like .02 of a mm

[Zeeflyboy]

That's great to hear... I think it'll come out quite well.

I used to play a lot of airsoft too, great fun. I still have some of my guns actually... my favourite is a fully decked out G&P M4 Special OPS with M203.

I'm trying to get the hang of some more complicated modelling software at the moment but it's kicking my arse. I hope to be able to make some more parts for this project using 3D printing but if I can't get a grip of this more advanced software then I won't be able to lol.

[W0LF]

I've only got one left. Was originally a king arms m4a1 but it's been turned into a DMR. Long barrel, sniper scope, solid stock etc. nothing better than raining down plastic death on a load of teenagers and office workers. ...back on topic (sort of) what cad software are you using? And is it free? I used to be good at it when I did manufacturing in high school but never touched it since.

[Zeeflyboy]

For the above I used google sketchup which is free and easy to use at a basic level.

However, I then took a look at blender which is also free but incredibly powerful. The interface just does my nut in however and I can't wrap my thick skull around it. I'm currently playing with a free demo version of Cheetah 3D which seems to have a much better interface for me and will be more than powerful enough to do everything I want. I just need to figure out how to use it.

[Zeeflyboy]

Just got my all important figures! the hyper observant may notice they are sat on top of an HK600GT box too....

[CurryKitten]

I think in future updates, we should see you two figures actually assembling the heli and fitting the control panel :D

[Zeeflyboy]

That may take quite some time lol...