Century Bell 47 scale build

Well guys, I did it. Ordered a Century Bell 47 scale kit yesterday. Got a phone call about an hour ago from Heli-World saying it would ship today.

So I will soon be starting my first scale build (and only my third build of any kind) and I'm a nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs, but excited as well. It will probably take quite awhile because I'm going into it blind, so I'll have to be carefull and take it slow. Hopefully you guys can still help me thru it.

I'm gonna try to get this pic posting thing down this week so i can post pics of the build along the way, starting with what's in the box.

Wish me luck.

Donnie D

GOOD LUCK!!! Will you do it on nitro engine? Have you decided about the motor? Or is the engine in the kit?
P.S. Don't forget photos, because this thread is worthless without any

I'm trying to figure out how to post pics now using Blazemobs post.

I want to convert it to electric, but I'm not sure yet, need to get a look at the kit first to be sure.

Don't really want to go the glo fuel route because of the mess, extra equipment and all that smoke. Makes it look like the heli need a ring job.

Can't wait to get started. When someone says the word helicopter, the Bell 47 is what pops into my head. Guess I'm showing my age.

Donnie D

And what size is that heli? 600 as e-smart? You can also use http://imageshack.us/ to upload pictures. Just choose a file, click on the resize box and choose 640x480. Then click upload. After uploading you should get links

Good luck DD,
I agree I would go electric also.......

I use photobucket like Nuttcaze does.

Yeah, I,m trying to use it now, with not much sucess, But I'll figure it out.

Donnie D

Think I have the picture thing figured out.

By the way, this is the kit:

http://www.centuryheli.com/products/helikits/cn1074Bell47G/index.html?currentid=101

Purty ain't it?

Donnie D

WoooHooo Way to go DD!!!! Any thing you need let me know!!

I expect you'll be hearing from me soon, FD. Maybe I'll have it ready by next years Funfly.

Donnie D

No problem bud!! Let me know what I can do!!

Got my Fed Ex tracking number a few minutes ago. Package is on the way!


Donnie D

http://www.micromark.com/

This looks like a good website for tools, accesseries, etc for model /helicopter building. Tons of neat stuff. Mostly geared toward model train/railroading, but may be useful to helicopter builds as well, especially scale.

I was looking a way to make my own custom decals and found it here.

Donnie D

Fed EX tried to deliver my Bell 47 kit today, but nobody was here to sign for the package. That means it should arrive tomorrow, and I plan to be here waiting for it.

Look for pictures of the build process, starting with "what's in the box."

Can't wait to get started.

Donnie D

OH BABY!!!! Can I come over and watch you open the box!!!!

Wish you could, That would be great, but I'm gonna try to cover the whole build process as best I can with pictures. Maybe I can figure out how to post video.

Donnie D

Well Dude, I have to make a trip to Buxton very soon to pick up a fishing rod so maybe I'll stop by and we can crash our Smarties together then!!!

IT"S HERE!!! Gotta go open this BIIIIIG box.

Donnie D

You are the MAN!!!!

Ok, here is the begining of my Century Bell 47 build.

These first pics are to show you the size and scale of the kit and to show what's in the box.
this is obviously the box the kit came in.


Here are all the parts on my bench except for the manuels. I had allready taken those into the house to look them over.


Canopy frame, windscreen bubble, tail truss, cabin door windows and a 12" rule to give you a sense of scale.


Main frame and gear assy, 12" ruler for scale, main blades, linkages, tail rotor drive rod, etc.


12" ruler for scale, Horiz stabilizer, fuel tanks, skid tires, decals, door frames. hinge and bracket sheet, etc.


Miscalanious small parts, bolts, screws, links, etc.


First of all, I'm sorry about the size of the pics. I'm still learning about this stuff, and I will try to get better. Maybe someone can chime in with tips on how to make them a bit bigger. I'm trying to use Photo Bucket.

Anyway, I'm very impressed with this kit. I really haven't had time to look it oiver much, but the quality of everything is just top notch. It is clearly a quality product.

The thing however that has impressed me the most is the quality of the manuels. There are two of them. One for the 50 size mechanics assy which covers everything from basic assembly to setting the theottle and pitch curves. The other manuel is for the scale body assembly. Both are very comprehensive. But best of all, they both are written in good ole plain, easily understandable ENGLISH. No Chinglish.

I plan to build the kit pretty much by the books except for the electric conversion work,. Then when the heli is finished and test flown, I will concentrate on redoing some of the mechanics to clear out the cockpit so I can scale it with seats, instrument console, etc.

About 25 years ago I did a short stint as a wildlife officer (game warden) with the North Carolina Wildlife Rescources Commission, and we used aircraft sometimes in our enforcement details. I am planning to do this heli as what I would percieve it would have looked like if they had used a Bell 47 as an enforcement aircraft.

This is gonna be quite a challenging build for me as it is my first scale build and only my third build period. It will take me a few days to go thru the manuels before I actually get started, but I'll post pics along the way, hopefully better ones. Hopefully this thread will turn out good and be helpfull to other members and maybe stir up some interest in scale helis.

I'll also be asking you folks for advice from time to time, so be there for me.

Wish me luck.

Donnie D

By the way, if it is possable for someone else to make these pics larger, I wish you would.

Sweet! Good luck on this heli. DD........
I will watch your post, this is interesting to me. I want to
go scale also...

Also, can you post bigger pictures. I mean yeah my moniter is 52" but I still
cant see the details.....

Way to go DD!!!! I can't wait to see it done!!!!! If it would be ok with you!! I would like to stop by when you are gonna have first flight!!!! And give you any needed moral support... And I'd love to vid it for you!!!! Think about it, I can make it a side trip to my moms on the Outter Banks!!
I know its gonna be a short while but I'm there!!!! I'll bring the beer and cigars!!!

AND MAYBe I'll have my Thunder Tiger Raptor 90SE!!!! I just gotta have one!!!!!

Fatdaddy wrote:

Well Dude, I have to make a trip to Buxton very soon to pick up a fishing rod so maybe I'll stop by and we can crash our Smarties together then!!!

You posted this just about the time the Fed Ex man showed up, and I got so excited about gettin that box open that I forgot to respond.

Fatdaddy, I would love for you to stop by ANYTIME. Please don't wait till the Bell is finished. Who knows how long that will be. I've got 3 really freat places to fly (none are nearly as nice as your place, but they're pretty good). Please stop by ANY time you're are gonna be in the area. I'm only a couple hours from Kitty Hawk, Kill Devel Hill area.

But let's talk about something besides balls.

I'll PM you with some info in a few minutes.

Donnie D

Suriano, Yeah, I'm trying to get the pics larger, but I'm not having much luck. I resized some the other night of my E-Smart, and made them too small, like the ones I just posted for this and I can't figure out how to mak them bigger. I would like them to fit the screen so they are plenty big, but you won't have to scroll to view them. Im using Photo Bucket.

Someone help me please. I want you all to be able to see this beautiful heli kit going together.

Maybe these will be easier to see. Same pics from earlier post, only larger. I didn't retype the text over but it is in the earlier post. I'm slowly figuring this stuff out.


By d148521 at 2009-08-27


By d148521 at 2009-08-27


By d148521 at 2009-08-27


By d148521 at 2009-08-27


By d148521 at 2009-08-27


By d148521 at 2009-08-27

More detail in future pics. I'm still learning.

Partially assembled canopy shown with remaining parts to be added and old E-Smart canopy for scale. Steps involved is cutting out windscreen bubble from blank and fitting and glueing to canopy frame, adding mount and rubber grommets. There are some lights that will cover the grommets and the doors will be installed, which looks to be a rarher involved process, Lots of very small screws and such.
By the way, the Bell 47 canopy as resting on it's rear bulkhead area. The floor of the canopy is next to the E-Smart canopy.

By d148521 at 2009-08-29


Main frame with main shaft installed. 12" ruler for scale.

By d148521 at 2009-08-29

Tail rotor assembly

By d148521 at 2009-08-29


Partially assembled rotorhead assembly.

By d148521 at 2009-08-29

By d148521 at 2009-08-29

Also for a point of reference for scale, the main blade size for this heli is main blade width is 60mm and length is 600mm.

More later

Donnie D

Looks nice!

wow that things gonna be big, you need to take more pics for us, lol

Keep it coming!! The new pics are way better.

Thanks, I'm getting a little bit better with the pics. I'm working on the canopy now , getting it assembled, but no scale detail work yet. I'll wait till the heli is completely built and tested, then I'll do my scale detailing and try to figure a way to clear the cockpit so I can scale it out. Having a lot of fun. I'm really impressed with the kit. I believe it is a USA based company. I know the manuels are much easier to understand than the Esky ones. More pics in a day or two.

Donnie D