Motorized Huey

[batmex1]

Howdy! I was wondering if anyone has ever motorized a 1/18 Huey. Any advice, instructions, etc would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!!

[The_Helicopter_Pilot]

I can't remember what company it was, but they took some BBI Blackhawks, and AH-64, and made them R/C, I do believe they had some Huey's done too.

[granch]

Not a Huey, but a BBI Little Bird. Long job...
I wanted to make the same with my Huey, but gave up: still have an UH-60 on the bench, started it 2 years ago... will try to give light and motion to my Kiowa, should be much easier, there is anough place in the cabin (which does'nt have any windshield) for a powerpack and engine, . Problem is to move the heavy main propeller of the Huey, it needs a powerfull e-motor, so a consequent battery, but where can you house it? behind the cabin will move the center of gravity too aft, so you'll have to put a heavy conterbalance in the nose. Or you can make an amo/battery case to be put under the passenger seat. Less power would be needed if you replace the main prop blades with home made wooden blades, its the way I took for my OH-6 and it works well. At the time I made my Little Bird (with 4 weak AAA batteries under the cabin floor), I had no idea about LED lights, so when all lights are on, the main rotor slows down very quickly. But the global impression is nice... for the rear rotor, I used the very thin e-motor taken out of the wreck of a cheap RC toy plane (Silverlit 2 channel) of my children. I think you could make the same with your Huey. Can show some picks of my MH-6, if you're interested.

[batmex1]

Thanks for the replies. I am interested in any photos you may have!! Thanks!!

[granch]

So: 1 detail of the battery housing. Sorry, no pick from the engine mount (it is completely hidden in the fuselage)

Static probe:

And how it does appear in scenaries:

Note that it is not a RC custom. When it seems to fly, it's just hanging to a fisherline with a bamboo scaffholding (or one of my children hold it with a fishing rod).

The nylon wire has been later erased from the pic, with MS paint, pixel by pixel (I don't have photoshop).

[Studly]

Wow love the pics granch. Well Done.

Cheers
Studly

[YT]

That's awesome Granch!

[granch]

Thank you guys. I wish I could see once somebody else's motorized bbi or 21st helicopter done... If somebody has an idea how to simply make the Blackhawks main (and heavy) rotor moves so I could finish mine, it would be great.

[granch]

The_Helicopter_Pilot, To tweek a BBI or 21st elicopter to a RC flying machine, you have to sand it a lot inside to make it light anough. it seems that it would not be possible to keep the cockpit/cabin, as you would have to house engine, battery pack and remote control... The flying models I saw on YouTube were mainly made with PET fuselage, some are pretty well detailled, but 250$ for just the Blackhawk fuselage...

[The_Helicopter_Pilot]

Granch, I just remember they were titled as Bbi birds, I didn't look to much into it, whatever the case the, they were pretty nice!

[slogan]

Very nicely done. I wish they would release these again.