Airwolf fuselage for 250 size heli

thingiverse

I design each piece individually using Sketchup, cleaning them up with Cleanup3 from the Extension warehouse before loading them into Autodesk Netfabb for error checking. I then load them back into Sketchup, making adjustments until my wife threatens divorce. Finally, I simplify the designs, preview the build, and remove any errors found by Simplify, repeating this process until my hair turns gray. The end result is printed with a 0 bottom layer and a single perimeter in Simplify on high setting or, if preferred, two perimeters for a more solid airframe. To create an Airwolf Fuselage for a 250-sized electric helicopter based on the HK250GT, I use a combination of 3D modeling software. This is still a work in progress, but I plan to add features such as a gun pod, missile pod, landing gear, vertical stabilizer, and horizontal stabilizer. For optimal print settings, I recommend printing with 0 bottom layers and a single perimeter in Simplify on high setting or two perimeters for a more solid airframe. Alternatively, you can choose a 5% infill to fill the fuselage with a large hexagonal mesh that serves as support. Windows and doors are designed to be easily removable if desired. Please note that this is a three-part model consisting of a forward section, middle, and tail section. When I finish adding the landing gear, the center section will undergo some modifications. In part two of my master plan, I aim to load the gcode from Simplify 3D into Sketchup so that I can edit the honeycomb hexagonal supports and remove sections where the heli's frame will be placed. This should make the design more accurate while also making the single perimeter print stronger and lighter. The HK250GT donor helicopter frame is a generic shape, which means the fuselage should require minimal modification to fit. I am currently increasing details on the machine gun pods and rocket launchers and will add holes to the fuselage where the empty pod sits so that you can choose to fly with or without visible weapons. I need to design two small grills for the intakes next to the doors, add turbine details, create a functional retractable wheel system, and design upper turbine exhausts and vertical and horizontal stabilizers. It would be great to see this in a low-poly version as it could look quite stealthy, similar to the stealth blackhawk. This will be my next challenge after completing the Airwolf Fuselage. This is my first upload, and I am eager for feedback from the community as I aim to become more proficient in 3D modeling and design. Thank you in advance for any advice or criticism you can provide!