wellsprop Posted August 21, 2018 Author Share Posted August 21, 2018 Unfortunately I haven't done any more on the lynx or whirlwind today. I've been too busy doing HR induction assessments online ahead of starting work next week. What I have learnt is that I mustn't consume hazardous chemicals, put my hands in machinery or walk into spinning helicopter rotors. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted August 22, 2018 Author Share Posted August 22, 2018 It seems I take one step forward and two back. I fixed the rotor that fell off and, in the process, snapped off one of the BERP tips. That's a real pain because the join between rotor and BERP will have to be sanded smooth again Here's how shes looking, painted the main colours on the rotor (still got to sort the leading edges - and sort out the ugly join between the BERP I broke off), the tail rotor has also had the fiddly colours applied, though they need a lot of touching up. IMG_20180822_175003 by Ben Standen, on Flickr I also added so very thin walled metal tubing for the exhausts IMG_20180822_175021 by Ben Standen, on Flickr 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 On 21/08/2018 at 20:44, wellsprop said: What I have learnt is that I mustn't consume hazardous chemicals, put my hands in machinery or walk into spinning helicopter rotors. Always good to know these things Ben, otherwise who KNOWS what could happen eh? I assume you'll be moving on to advanced topics such as 'avoiding deep holes' at a later date... Nice work on the Lynx, she's looking very smart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted August 23, 2018 Author Share Posted August 23, 2018 Thanks CedB. I've nearly finished painting the rotors, so the Lynx is close to being finished. I've also been doing some more learning today (or at least topping up my knowledge - there's still a long way to go though!). Destin from Smarter Everday has some great videos on youtube about helicopter physics Helicopter physics is, in short, horrible. Through uni, my engineering specialisms have been design and aerodynamics; aerodynamics is a pretty tough subject, helicopter aerodynamics is a step further into horrible overly complicated things. Helicopter aerodynamics are so horrendous in fact, that most supercomputers can't handle helicopter Computational Fluid Dynamics. I did try to run my own CFD studies at uni on a moving helicopter, however I had to make so many simplifications it doesn't tell you that much. Aerodynamic design of fixed-wing aircraft is a lot easier (transonic is pretty tough though, as CFD struggles to predict accurate shock waves). For those of you who are really interested in nerd stuff, the helicopter CFD didn't go to plan as I had to leave the rotors stationary in the CFD mesh (but give them an accurate wall velocity using angular momentum) and I also had to run a Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) turbulence model - this averages the time-dependent variables of the Navier Stokes equations into something much easier to handle (removes integrals). Trouble with this, is it doesn't show the transient behaviours caused by complex interactions around the messy bits of the rotors, but it is MUCH quicker and takes up less disk space. When I say quicker, I ran this simulation for 2 weeks distributed over 64 computer cores and only did several iterations (until the residuals stopped fluctuating too much). It also took up half a terabyte of my PC's storage. The simplified version of the above - helicopters are complex, weird, difficult - but altogether a pretty clever solution. Normal service of mediocre modelling will resume shortly. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted August 25, 2018 Author Share Posted August 25, 2018 I've finished painting the main rotor colours and I began masking and painting the leading edge of the rotors. I noticed that one of the BERP tips wasn't glued on at the correct angle, so it had to be removed and shimmied out with a slither of pasticard. Here's how its looking IMG_20180825_093326 by Ben Standen, on Flickr I drew a pencil line to indicate the correct orientation of the tip relative to the rotor, matching the other blades. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted August 26, 2018 Author Share Posted August 26, 2018 BERP tip fixed and rotors painted (main & tail), obviously needs a little touching up. IMG_20180826_143519 by Ben Standen, on Flickr Very nearly done now, just need to coat the rotors in a satin varnish and that's about it. The photos from my phone camera in the rubbish light really don't do it justice, sadly it also highlights the slight lumpiness of the black paint (made worst by the gloss finish) 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted August 30, 2018 Author Share Posted August 30, 2018 Not much progress on any of my models this week, been too busy starting my new job! I have managed to mask all the windows on the Whirlwind, so that will get primed, filled, sanded and re primed tomorrow, before receiving it's first lick of paint. Surprisingly, within my new department, I'm the only graduate designer - I've been going through training getting used to CATIA (having been very familiar with solidworks) and I've been assigned to work on a very exciting new project. Sadly, I can't reveal what it is 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 Teaser! That said, one of the benefits of this sort of secrecy is the ability to walk about at the launch with a smug look on your face... and, of course, the team photo! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted September 1, 2018 Author Share Posted September 1, 2018 (edited) On 8/30/2018 at 10:56 PM, CedB said: Teaser! That said, one of the benefits of this sort of secrecy is the ability to walk about at the launch with a smug look on your face... and, of course, the team photo! Haha, yes, I have found it a little odd to walk straight out of work at the end of the day then do mundane things (shopping) just pondering the fact I'm one of a (relatively) small group of engineers who know what is going on the other side of the site's fence. It also explains why I was told/could find out very little about what the company is actually up to. What I can say is that I was allowed to climb all over the top of a Merlin yesterday to get a good look at the rotor controls as my manager gave me a tour of the build hall. I also got a good look around a CSAR HH101 Ceasar, which is an awesome bit of kit. I've got a tour of the Lynx/Wildcat too soon, which I'm greatly looking forward to as I'm rather a sucker for the AW159. The good news is, my colleagues were impressed with my Airfix 1/48 Lynx AH7 which is sat atop my computer - in fact, one of my colleagues actually assembled parts of XZ180 when it was in for a refit. How's my modelling going anyway?! G-LYNX is done Hopefully it'll be bright enough tomorrow to get some decent pictures, but here's a preview. Funnily enough, a number of my new colleagues actually worked on the design of G-LYNX. IMGP0164 by Ben Standen, on Flickr And here's how the Whirlwind is progressing, primer on, seems very little filler will be needed, nearly ready for gloss white! IMGP0186 by Ben Standen, on Flickr I might get a little more done tomorrow, but, for now, I'm off down the pub, with the other half, to have a strong Somerset cider (hopefully something vintage/oak aged)! Edited September 1, 2018 by wellsprop 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted September 2, 2018 Author Share Posted September 2, 2018 Managed to get a few pictures of the Lynx, check out the RFI IMGP0194 by Ben Standen, on Flickr 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted September 2, 2018 Share Posted September 2, 2018 On 8/23/2018 at 1:37 PM, wellsprop said: Helicopter physics is, in short, horrible. Through uni, my engineering specialisms have been design and aerodynamics; aerodynamics is a pretty tough subject, helicopter aerodynamics is a step further into horrible overly complicated things. Helicopter aerodynamics are so horrendous in fact, that most supercomputers can't handle helicopter Computational Fluid Dynamics. I did try to run my own CFD studies at uni on a moving helicopter, however I had to make so many simplifications it doesn't tell you that much. Aerodynamic design of fixed-wing aircraft is a lot easier (transonic is pretty tough though, as CFD struggles to predict accurate shock waves). For those of you who are really interested in nerd stuff, the helicopter CFD didn't go to plan as I had to leave the rotors stationary in the CFD mesh (but give them an accurate wall velocity using angular momentum) and I also had to run a Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) turbulence model - this averages the time-dependent variables of the Navier Stokes equations into something much easier to handle (removes integrals). Trouble with this, is it doesn't show the transient behaviours caused by complex interactions around the messy bits of the rotors, but it is MUCH quicker and takes up less disk space. When I say quicker, I ran this simulation for 2 weeks distributed over 64 computer cores and only did several iterations (until the residuals stopped fluctuating too much). It also took up half a terabyte of my PC's storage. The simplified version of the above - helicopters are complex, weird, difficult - but altogether a pretty clever solution. Normal service of mediocre modelling will resume shortly. They got Airwolf doing Mach 2 in the late 80’s so helicopter dynamics can’t be that difficult 🤪 lovely progress on the builds 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted September 2, 2018 Share Posted September 2, 2018 Don’t forget Whisper Mode, either. Or was that the other one? Ye cannae change the laws of physics, Captain... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted September 7, 2018 Author Share Posted September 7, 2018 Been a busy week, getting familiar with CATIA and the way things work, starting some actual useful (I hope) work next week. Back to modelling, I'm hoping to get some done this evening (going to make the most of the sun and get out on my [pedal powered] two-wheeler 🚴♂️), after that, it's the boring bit for the Whirlwind - cleaning up the final few rivets, filling and sanding. I've already got my eyes on my next conversion (still got a Wessex to build yet!), I'm going to convert a 1/72 Lynx HMA8 to an AW159 Wildcat! It's not actually a terribly hard conversion, in 1/72 scale, all I'll need to do (from front to back) is; scratchbuild the nose and FLIR modify the footwell window modify the doors scratchbuild the T800 engine cowl (more or less the same as the Super Lynx 300) scratchbuild the IR exhaust diffuser scratchbuild the entire rear fuselage, tail boom and horizontal/vertical stabilisers Fortunately, I have literally every CAD model for every component and assembly of all the AW aircraft, so it should be a case of scaling down drawings and making the panels from plasticard The monolithic construction of the rear fuselage and tail boom means modelling it should be fairly simple, there are also no panel lines. The hard part will be the T800 cowl! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted September 8, 2018 Author Share Posted September 8, 2018 More progress on the Whirlwind, I'm somewhat happy with the first layer of white paint... HOWEVER, an awful amount of the primer literally peeled off. In the 10 years I've been modelling, I've always used Halfords grey plastic primer, never have I had it peel off a model. Very frustrating, but I'm hoping the model will look ok from a distance. IMG_20180908_200807 by Ben Standen, on Flickr 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted September 22, 2018 Author Share Posted September 22, 2018 Hopefully going to wrap up the Whirlwind this weekend! Masked before painting the green. IMG_20180922_092345 by Ben Standen, on Flickr This is going to take a while... IMG_20180922_101202 by Ben Standen, on Flickr 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 G-LYNX and a Whirlwind, what's not to like! You are a brave soul, fantastic corrective and improvement work though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted September 22, 2018 Author Share Posted September 22, 2018 On the 7th coat of green now and it's STILL patchy... Humbrol 2 acrylic brush paints absolutely beautifully but its one of those glossy light coloured paints that takes forever to get a solid colour. Maybe I should have brush painted over grey primer (though this tends to leave a dull flat colour to the gloss 😕 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted September 22, 2018 Author Share Posted September 22, 2018 The paint has bled a little (despite oversparying the masking with the white base) and the cheatline is a little thick, but hopefully it'll look okish once touched up! IMG_20180922_184314 by Ben Standen, on Flickr 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted September 22, 2018 Author Share Posted September 22, 2018 Again, not exactly accurate, but I've scratch built some torque links for the front u/c. I've will also reposition the undercarriage from the sides (and too far back) to their correct position (still yet to glue on though). IMG_20180922_200922 by Ben Standen, on Flickr 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted September 22, 2018 Author Share Posted September 22, 2018 And the last bit of work for tonight, the front undercarriage is on and the rear u/c legs are attached. I scratchbuilt the pilots' steps from wire as well as a step for the cargo door, in addition, I've made the exhaust from a bit of cotton bud, as well as scratchbuilding a scissor link (that's the bit between the rotor head and the rotating swash plate - essentially a rotating torque link). IMG_20180922_220738 by Ben Standen, on Flickr 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Nice work Ben - giving me an urge to build a Whirlwind; for some reason I've always liked the look of them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted September 23, 2018 Author Share Posted September 23, 2018 11 hours ago, CedB said: Nice work Ben - giving me an urge to build a Whirlwind; for some reason I've always liked the look of them... Haha, I can't say I think much of the looks of the Whirlwind, the dumpy looks make it seem obvious why Harold the Helicopter was based on a Whirlwind! Here's (another rather low quality) picture showing the steps and the winch, I added a bit of detail with a scratch built hook and wire. IMG_20180923_100759 by Ben Standen, on Flickr 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted October 7, 2018 Author Share Posted October 7, 2018 A bit of an update, Been too busy to model (sadly) and I've been getting busier at work - which is great as I've got a fair few projects I'm working on I was given a go on the AW159 engineering simulator at work and managed to crash it (and I've got a Pilots License 😂 ) - I managed to get a tailstrike because I flared too much! I've got to know a few other engineering graduates, one of them has a 3D printer.... wildcatboom by Ben Standen, on Flickr Here's the two attempts at a 3D printed tailboom for a Wildcat in 1/72 scale 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 Crashing helicopters? Easily done… The 3D printing looks better than the attempts I had Ben, but the technology for (cheap) home printers still has a way to go IMHO. What do you think? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted January 26, 2019 Author Share Posted January 26, 2019 On 10/7/2018 at 11:27 PM, CedB said: Crashing helicopters? Easily done… The 3D printing looks better than the attempts I had Ben, but the technology for (cheap) home printers still has a way to go IMHO. What do you think? I can fly default helicopters on flight sim fine, but as soon as I use "realistic" flight models, no chance! Home 3d printers are pretty good from what I've seen, I yet to get one myself, but a few of my engineering graduate colleagues have home printers and they are getting pretty good. The surface finish isn't great, but it's not awful either, certainly nothing a little filler can't easily solve! I've finally managed to finish my Whirlwind! It's not perfect, but it looks ok it's technically and historically inaccurate, but it looks nice next to the Speed Lynx. Proper photos will be uploaded into an RFI at some point. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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