K'nex Helicopter

Been a minute since I last posted a helicopter on here. Been a minute since I last posted anything really. This helicopter comes complete with specific features, such as sliding doors, interior seats, and a decorative swashplate. For whose who do not know what that is, that's the thing that goes under the propellers that controls the helicopter movements. I'll explain at the end of this. This model is not super difficult to build, and, unlike most of my models, doesn't require an extreme number of pieces. I hope you enjoy.

All but a few of these pieces are relatively common. The only unique pieces are those used for the swashplate. There are three micro pieces necessary. If you do not have them, they can easily be replaced with a single blue spacer. Here's what you'll need:

Rods:

• Green: 129
• White: 86
• Blue: 28
• Yellow: 5
• Red: 2
• Gray: 12

Connectors:

• Purple (or Gray One-way): 10
• Gray 2-way: 12
• Orange: 18
• Red: 10
• Green: 21
• Yellow: 30
• Blue slider: 27
• White: 13
• Gray Slider: 22

Misc.

• Blue Spacer: 17
• Silver Spacer: 14
• Y-Clip: 14
• Black Cap: 3

Again, you'll also need the micro pieces shown above. Otherwise, you can add one more blue spacer to the count.

There aren't going to be that many steps in this, but this is a very big step with several smaller sections. So...be prepared.

Simply follow along with the templates and connect them together precisely as shown. After each step, double check to make sure everything is connected properly and secured.

You'll build the base, the seats, the front side panels, the window, the walls, and the roof. I did a poor job with the assembly and addition to the roof in the instructions, so if you want to take it apart and add it in sections, that's okay. Just whatever makes it easier, and as long as it looks like the final image.

This part is little more than templates and rods. Just make sure that A) the three connectors go on the bottom, B) the foremost purple/gray connector on the top is between the two top blue connectors, and C) the doors open and shut all the way. There should be little space left open when they shut, and little overlapping when open. The bottom gray rod also only has one connection point, so if it moves a little bit, that's fine.

When the doors are on and everything works right, slide the bottom gray rod as far back as it will go and slide the top gray rod to match it.

These probably aren't as strong as they should be, but they'll hold. Simply add the skid holders to the bottom as shown, and add the skids. Make sure they're even on both sides. I pushed them as far back as they would go, but you can slide them around if you wish.

This part can present a challenge. First, add the mount to the back of the body, making sure that the flat part is at the top. then build the center tail. the tail has three layers on it, so make sure you build the center section and keep it in the middle. To connect the three sections, add two white rods to the center as shown; one in the front, and one in the back. then attach the other two so that they all align. Attach the center pieces to the rear mount. Then, add the tail rotor to the far back.

The engine may look a little strange, but believe me when I say it is much better then the original prototype. The engine has two points of contact on the body. That being said, it still is pretty sturdy. It'll be a pain in the butt to add though.

Once the engine is on, add the gray rods and push them all forward as far as they'll go.

Then build the swashplate with the micro pieces, and the propeller. When all the pieces are pushed together, the two small gray rods should go in the small holes on the white connector. Next to those, in the connector spot, should go the blades to the helicopter. Connect the orange connector to the yellow rod, just in front of the front gray connector.

Once it's connected, you'll be finished, and now you have a model helicopter. This wasn't based on anything, but it looks sort of realistic.

You now have a model helicopter. If you do not wish to learn how a helicopter works, then don't read any more. Otherwise, here is a description (from what I know.)

A helicopter pilot has several sticks and levers they use to control the helicopter. One is the main control stick, which controls the pitch and roll (nose up and down, and rotation side to side). The second is the throttle lever, which controls how much power the engine is getting. Finally, there is the collective pitch lever. This controls the angle of attach of the rotor blades. In addition to these, there are also the yaw pedals, which controls how the heli nose turns from side to side.

The collective pitch of the helicopter increases the lift produced by the blades, but increases the drag produced by each blade. The engine can use momentum to maintain speed when the blades are at full pitch, but will eventually lose its power, and the helicopter will stall. The pilot must be careful to produce enough lift to fly, while also making sure not to create too much drag and stall the blades,

Collective pitch and helicopter orientation are both controlled by a swashplate. You might see on a helicopter a small, vertical stick beneath each of the blades. Those are what control the angle of attack of each blade. The swashplate can move up and down to produce lift, but can also rotate forward, back, and side to side to control each blade as it spins. As the blades rotate, they will be pushed slightly to achieve different angles of attack based on where they are, based on the controls. Each of these sticks is connected to a non-rotating plat further beneath the blades and moves based on each control. This is confusing, yes, but will make more sense with an example.

Let's say you're flying upward, and want to move the helicopter forward. You push the stick slightly forward, which will cause the helicopter to go forward. The fixed section of the plate will lean forward, and push the free-rotating disc above it forward as well. As the blades pass by, they will be forced upward slightly as they go toward the back, then down as they go forward. This will produce less lift in the front and more in the back, causing the helicopter to lean forward. This works the same for all pitch and roll controls.

Helicopters don't automatically correct themselves either, like you see in games. The pilot is in charge of balancing the helicopter and keeping it in control.

This is a lot, and there are probably better explanations for how this works. If you have any accountability and want to add any information, know something is wrong about this information, or have a better way of explaining it, please say something in the comments.

Thank you.