El Bandito----Autogyro

[tigger]

Still have not got back to my Big Stik but have found myself heading off on another Model that may have some appeal to anyone wanting to go slow and almost vertical. I googled the RCM&E plans service but they had folded so found a Shop named Coolwind that was selling some of Rich Harris's designs and bought the El Bandito plan and all the associated fibre glass parts.So far it's proving to be expensive as my building stock was swallowed up on Big Stik but have made a start so will gradually post up what i have achieved so far.
Tigger

[tigger]

Here is some of the 3mm ply pieces i have cut and glued [ epoxy ] to get rolling with. The little cradel affair is the top of the battery box and gets covered in 3mm balsa.
Tigger

[tigger]

Okay the next photo shows the formers glued to the belly skin which is 3mm ply also. The plan suggested gluing the formers to the
balsa side skin but i reckon i can keep thing more vertical and true this way. I tacked up with CA and then used epoxy, also had the mast in place.
Tigger

[tigger]

Next up was the u/carriage mount. The plan calls for a wire u/c mounted to the firewall but one of Rich's later designs shows an alloy blade type which is simpler to make. I used some 3mm 2024 alloy sheet.The mount was made up of 1/4 x 1/2 spruce sticks epoxied to the floor and the battery tray is waiting fitting.
Tigger

[tigger]

Okay i now have the tray in place complete with battery and the battery cover held in with a clamp. Also in place is the rudder servo, 9gram, and will run a push rod through the rear fuse.The two larger servos are for the rotor head fore and aft movement and the side to side, roll.These will be mounted to the mast. The ESC will live up front with the bat and the RX will go in the
rudder servo area.
Tigger

[tigger]

Just a quick mock up to show the wide stance of the U/C and a side skin to give you an idea of the fuse length.
Tigger

[tigger]

Hi there, now the mast is held in by two bolts through the belly skin and into the mast. This is a bonus as it allows the mast to be removed with the servos and control rods. The plan wanted you to use 6mm ply with the bolts glued in place and sandwiched between the ply sides of the mast, next photo will show this.
Tigger

[tigger]

This is the way i have gone about achieving the mast attachment. I have used 18mm Dowel as a barrell nut and drilled and taped them to suit the bolt. I have now gone a step further and will be using plastic wing bolts to secure the mast.
See what you think.
Tigger

[tigger]

A shot showing wing bolts and servo mounting hole.I have modified the plan as well to show new nuts. The barrell nuts now pull on the ply rather than the balsa and i won't bother gluing them in for a start at least.
Cheers Tigger

[tigger]

Hi there, thought i would make up the first part of the rotor head assy so here is the sketch from the plan showing what is needed. All the laminates i have cut from some 2mm Birch ply and now it's just a matter of gluing them all together. They do tend to move around once the epoxy is applied so in hind sight i should have drilled two aligning holes for a couple of T pins.Do remember to give all parts a light sanding if they have been around longer than a few days.
Cheers Tigger

[tigger]

All the pieces ready for gluing.I have glued up the bottom half and placed a long pin through both hinges. These hinges are large model ones and come supplied with split pins. The top piece is the fibre glass horn and i'll glue that in later. Now the hinges are 1mm thick so i cut some thin wire to help out as a spacer and sat that either side of the hinges
Cheers Tigger

[tigger]

Hi there , just a quick one of all the fibre glass parts that came with the plan, only a small extra charge but should save a lot of work. Missing is the mast doubler which is in place.
Cheers Tigger

[tigger]

Bit of gluing going on today and now have head assy with control horn finished.
Cheers Tigger

[tigger]

Have mocked up the head and servos just for a play around with and am also thinking along the lines of a pre rotator by using an old motor i have. The plans show an old gearbox and bearings taken from a brush type motor and this is used for the actual rotor bearing. My idea is to use the brushless motor for this and it can be made to spin up the blades as well. See what you think.also hooked up some power to the servos and can see that the large ones i have fitted will certainly be needed as there is quite a bit of weight to move around and the blades will add to this. Remember too that 1 or 2 left clicks will zoom up the photo.
Cheers Tigger