It's not my fault... I was just looking at full scale helis on the Internet and stumbled across one that I really, really liked. It was the MD 500E body and the paint job was a custom Breitling Swiss Chronograph design. It was love at first site.
I realized I had found the subject for my scale project. I had always wanted to build a MD 500E and when I saw this one, I knew I had to build it. At first I considered a 46 size to go on my little Raptor 46. After looking at the kit and thinking about it I decided to make the Raptor 60 the scale project and keep the Raptor 46 for 3D and hot dogging.
I'm fortunate enough to have a hobby shop like Aerohobbies locally. I called Andy and ordered the body. A few days later I go pickup the 500 and Andy tells me that we having the Hirobo Cup South here in Dallas this summer, June 21-23..... good karma! Come on down and enjoy the Cup with us!
Anyway, I thought about all the work ahead and decided it would make a good web topic so here goes...
Jan. 14th, The Hughes 500 Arrives!
Jan. 19th, Too windy to fly. Let's build!
Jan 26th, Adding some detail, lights, etc.
Feb. 9th, Engine, pipe, carbon fiber, rivets...
Feb. 16th, First Coat of Primer.
Feb. 24th, First Coat of Paint.
March 5th, Shooting the Red Trim.
March 9th, Finally finished the painting
March 17th, Decals are finished, mechs in place
March 23rd, 30MPH wind... more hanger pics...
March 27th, First Flight...first impressions.
MD500E at the Southern Rotary Classic