Vario Bell 412 R/C Helicopter Electric Conversion

The fuselage is a Vario Bell 412 painted in PHI (Petroleum Helicopters Inc) colors. Mechanics are Vario Skyfox custom-converted from a nitro engine to electric power. Motor is a Kohler Actro 32-4, battery pack is 12S LiPo, 4900mAH. To let the four-blade main rotor handle easily in forward flight and wind, a Helicommand gyro 'virtual flybar' is connected on the cyclic. Flying weight is somewhere between 16-19lbs. The slow windup of the rotor system is due almost entirely to the smart idea of leaving the original centrifugal clutch in the new electric drive train. Combined with the programmed slow start of the Castle Creations 85HV brushless motor electronic speed control and you now have a very close simulation to a true gas turbine start - without the gas turbine price tag. The electric conversion is a product of Unique Aircraft, owned and operated by master scale heli builder, Darrell Sprayberry.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Radio
• Control
• aviation
• space
• model
• aircraft
• helicopter

[firemanbonkie]

Well hello thre,

Can you plz tell me what kind of setup you were using in this very nice helikopter??

My friend is bilding a Vario to and i think he wants to no to so if you can tell me i can tel it to him.

Thanks and regards. (sorry for the bad englisch i am a dutch guy)

[StormyMaxPerry]

@firemanbonkie

Sorry, not my helicopter. I'm the one shooting the video. The motor and other info is described in the drop-down section directly below the video player window.

[smallblockandy]

Damn, your good at controling this Chopper.

[StormyMaxPerry]

@smallblockandy

Thanks but I'm shooting the video, not twiddling the sticks. Darrell was doing the flying.

[Hawaiifive01]

What inspired the mid-80's PHI livery? Did you fly in this ship? It looks almost exactly like I remember it.

My dad used to turn wrenches on the full-scale ship. Seen it many times in LFT, on the ramp, in the hangar, flying over the house, etc.

[StormyMaxPerry]

@Hawaiifive01

It's not my heli, I just wrench on it occasionally and shoot the videos :-) The paint scheme was applied by an owner prior to the current owner/pilot. I like it - it's a sharp, contrasty and striking paint pattern.

[HardlyDidHerSome]

@StormyMaxPerry Hello. I need to be in touch with Mr. Sprayberry for build or parts. Can you make the connection pretty soon? Thanks.

[DJBOEING]

Great Flight! perfect description

[175firefighter]

I want to make a heli in dedication to someone but they fly Bell 212s. I can't find a bell 212 fuselage anywhere! This is a good looking ship though. Great job.

[SIGNALSTAT]

very nice job filming and flying this is a very realistic looking chopper.

[MCDEVVOMAN]

1:19 you would think its an actuall helicopter