> Approach Fuselage Kit  >  AH-1W SuperCobra Electric	Printable Version

AH-1W SuperCobra Electric AP104 This fuselage was designed for the Swift electric mechanics. The finished fuselage weighs in at 21ozs which makes it very comfortable to fly with the Swift using the 530mm or 550mm main blades. The fuselage can be detailed to any degree and there are plenty of detailing possible. The only concern is making sure the electric motor and controller are receiving enough cooling from openings in the fuselage. AP104  AH-1W eSuperCobra Scale Fuselage Assembly Kit  $316.00

When you first open this fuselage, it is well organized into assembly sections. All wood parts are identified using a key number that is shown in the manual and is referenced in the accompanying text. Approach Engineering has used modern CAD (computer aided design) to model the entire fuselage virtually before any wood was cut and as your start building this fuselage, you will start to see why this design approach is so effective. Major fuselage sections are constructed from an interlocking plywood box frame design that integrates the elevated tail and main mechanics sub-frame together in a very lightweight structure. Aesthetic details are then built on top of this base frame that form the rounded surfaces of the fuselage.

As the Swift has a belt driven tail system, Approach Engineering includes all the necessary tail components to install the longer tail belt over the ball bearing pulleys that allow the belt system to function in the elevated tail section. Tail belt tensioning is done at the very end of the tail boom section which is accessed by removing screws from the fairing installed just below the exposed tail gearbox. The elevated tail section uses two telescoping sections of tail boom, the outer is bonded into the tail section allowing the inner to be adjustable. Set the desired tension, then tighten the tail boom clamp to secure it place. A flexible rudder pushrod is provided to connect the tail bellcrank to the tail servo. This pushrod is heavy duty in this application, however it will handle the extra loads imposed by heading lock gyros and their high speed tail servos when properly supported through the tail boom.

The modeler can choose to actuate the rotation of the 20mm cannon. This can be mechanically slaved to tail servo or operated on a separate proportional channel. The parts to assemble the cannon include the actuator arm and are installed anyway, all that is left then is to make the servo connection. Other possible areas to further detail would be actuating the TSU on the nose, openable battery and ammunition bays, and engine hatches. The Approach Engineering models are just packed full of great scale accessories that normally are not included with many fiberglass fuselages.

Wood Components:

Key coded plywood and balsa laser-cut components with balsa sheeting and stock for the fuselage.

Clear Components:

Clear vacuum formed windows provided for the cockpit.

Other Components:

Longer tail belt, flexible tail pushrod, ball bearing timing pulley and idler pulley, molded landing gear and skid carriers.

Documentation:

Construction manual with step by step photographs.

The following photos show a selection of photos from the instruction manual to give you a better idea of exactly what you will be involved with as you build this fuselage. Construction photos are clear and include numbered keys to help you find the correct pre-cut part on the sheets.

	Left & right eSuperCobra plywood fuselage sides bonded to balsa sheeting.			Framed up lower mechanics with interlocking parts to form the box frame.
	Marking and drilling the main mechanics mounts in the hardwood rails.			Scale landing gear doubler blocks bonded to inside of main fuselage.
	Battery access hatch assembled with magnets for easy removal.			Detail of nose section with formers and curved balsa sheeting.
	Front view of fuselage with base installed for nose avionics.			Details of the front of the fuselage sheeting on the eSuperCobra.
	Exhaust frame assembled and capped with balsa to form the divider.			Upper fuselage sides with interlocking transmission rails attached.
	Upper fuselage framed up with engine nacelle bulkheads.			Stringers attached to the engine nacelle before sheeting.
	Top doghouse framed up and installed on the upper fuselage.			Engine nacelles with balsa sheeting and rough sanding completed.
	Assembled toothed and smooth pulleys to bend the belt into the elevated tail.			Outer portion of the adjustable tail tube bonded into the tail formers.
	Assembled tail section with formers and pulleys installed with tail boom.			Tail gear box assembled and positioned into the inner tail boom section.
	Final sheeting on tail boom and elevated tail, fins are not bonded yet.			Exhausts are assembled and shaped before attachment to the upper fuselage.
	Overall shot of the sheeted doghouse and upper fuselage with rotorhead cutout.			Close up shot of the finished and detailed engine exhausts after painting.
	Overall shot of the canopy structural formers before assembly.			Canopy bulkheads assembled on to the canopy side skin and mount rails.
	Shot of the rear canopy formers installed under the front of the doghouse.			Front of the cockpit with balsa sheeting and mount slots for canopy formers.
	Finished formers with clear canopy installed for final trimming.			Stub wings formers are framed up on main spars, note the alignment guides.
	Completed stub wings after sheeting and the wing tip armament mounts attached.			Stub wings test fitted to fuselage side without armament provisions.
	20mm three barrel cannon with barrel separators and turret cover.			Completed 7 tube FFAR rocket pod and adjustable weapons pilon.
	Completed Tow missile mount and adjustable weapons pilon.			Assembled scale landing gear mounted to lower fuselage.
	Detail of the installed tail belt exiting the Swift 16 mechanics.			Detail of the main mechanics precision fit into the fuselage.
	Finished tail rotor pilon with rear access panel removed.			Overall shot of the assembled eSuperCobra before finishing work.