Agusta Westland SkyHook UAV and a A Flying Parcel Machine - finished !

[Robomog]

Hi late to the party again, but hey what an excuse for a scratch build !

Here's the concept,  you've probably seen the Amazon locker, Inpost and those sort of things lurking outside supermarkets  and in shopping malls, but what about people in remote places and far flung islands that have to rely on slow boats or stretched lines of delivery?

Here's where the Flying Parcel Machine (proper name pending  ) will fill a gap, Flying direct from the depot or a staging point it speeds up parcel delivery no end, weather permitting  , I will admit the concept has some possible flaws but let's run with it 

Here's the story so far



I needed to design the parcel Machine first so that I can hang the drone around it, which I did on the computer. As you can see I have cut all the pieces for the box and found some propellors ( ironically they are replacement props for a mini drone  ), the plastic straps will form the cowlings for the props.

And that's the story so far, I have only a hazy vision of what the drone will look like,  this is going to be  very much seat of the pants build !

More when it happens........

Mog
>^-.-^<

[Kerick]

Hmmmm, flying by the seat of his pants! This will be cool!

[ChernayaAkula]

The idea is pretty cool and has merit. 
Is the drone copter part detachable? Sorta like the pod on the Skycrane? Then you could fly the filled parcel station to the remote site, drop it, pick up the empty parcel station and fly it back.
It probably needs anchoring to the site somehow. To prevent theft and to keep people from being crushed by tipping stations (cuz you know someone will climb it while intoxicated and eventually topple the thing  ).

[Robomog]

You are so much on my wavelength. 

The parcel Machine is detachable and that's exactly how I envisage the operation, as for the balance I am not sure to have extendable legs or fitting it to a pre prepared hardstanding

Mog
>^-.-^<

[LemonJello]

Interesting concept.

You could have locks similar to those used on the large shipping containers that secure it both to the delivery site and into the drone (top and bottom)...

[GTX_Admin]

Looking forward to this one.

[Robomog]

Hi All

Construction starts..........

Discovered that the tops of Tamiya acrylic paints is the exact diameter required to encase the props so I have set up a small production line to manufacture the shrouds



Also started on the Parcel Machine



I'm using magnets to attach the machine to the drone , which has the added advantages of lining everything up every time, also I have some ideas on alternative payloads should time permit so this will make it simple to swap them around.

Mind you working with these are quite fraught they are fairly powerful and keep flying together with little provocation but are great for holding things in position.



The box is complete, it just needs a visible fixing solution, I've gone for a motorised twist lock used on shipping containers. This will connect it safely to the drone and also provide a fixing solution when on the ground.

Still haven't a clue how to deal with the drone body but I'm sure something will occur to me while I work on the rotors.

More when it happens.....

Mog
>^-.-^<

[LemonJello]

The magnets are an ingenious solution.  This is coming along quite well.

[Robomog]

Thanks Mr Jello

The Parcel Machine is now all but complete, resplendent in its attachment points, there may be a few tweaks later on but for now it is finished awaiting primer,  paint and decals.

Now that the size of the payload is defined I have cut the base deck of the drone and attached the magnets



Which holds the payload quite well



And lines it up a treat every time.

While I'm still pondering the body design I have pushed forward with the lifting fans.



The basic units are complete I just have add some shock cones, the fit of the props is good but they will not get installed until after painting.

Thanks for looking.........


Mog
>^-.-^<

[Kerick]

Looking cool.

[Dr. YoKai]

I like your solution on the shrouds. Looking good.

[LemonJello]

Looking forward to the next update.  This is coming along really well.

[Robomog]

Thanks chaps,

Finally found the solution to my body design.



I think it's a 1/32 scale bulged bombay from a Mosquito, it's a bit long but the width is perfect.

So a couple of minutes with a razor saw and........



I will leave the openings, they will become the inlet and exhaust for the turbine engines.

More when it happens.....

Mog
>^-.-^<

[Robomog]

Hi all

Soldiering on with the body design.



The arms for the rotors are installed and the jet exhaust pipes.



A rather fancy air intake borrowed (on a permanent non return basis) from a one thirty second scale Spitfire tropical filter



The underneath isn't quite as fancy......

I will probably add a few other intakes/exhausts/unnecessary bumps later

I felt it needed a command module and camera up front.





Ooh look, cat hairs with everything   

The underdome has been placed in position, it will be fixed after the paint has gone on.

Undercarriage next, then painting, not quite sure of the colour scheme yet working on it ............

Thanks for looking......


Mog
>^-.-^<

[Buzzbomb]

Really like how this build is going together, plus the added element of mystery of the final form
 

[robunos]

Looking well good so far . . . 

not quite sure of the colour scheme yet working on it ............
Mog
>^-.-^<

The ones I've seen are either yellow, or white, with the appropriate logos on them.


cheers,
Robin.

[Robomog]

Yea  same here but also considering grey, black or dark blue.

It will not, repeat NOT, be dayglo orange, me and that colour have history  ..

White is the leading contender

Mog
>^-.-^<

[Robomog]

Hi all

Final(ish) assembly has come

First the undercarriage



This looked a bit whimpy and was easy to 'twang'



So I've added some bracing/shock absorbers to stiffen things up, 

Unexpected win:-  all the wheels balance and it does not rock 

The command module has been installed.

Temporarily installed the prop cowls to get some idea of the finished object.

First impression :- wierd



More when it happens........

Mog
>^-.-^<

[LemonJello]

Looking good!

[raafif]

Aerial Penguin ??

[Robomog]

Hmmmm,  black and white livery then ?   

[apophenia]

Dang this is looking good!

Somehow this shape calls out for a shiny red-and-white livery. As you said, no to orange ... dayglo or otherwise 

[Robomog]

 Thanks for the comments chaps 

Have decided the drone will  have an overall white finish, red undercarriage legs (apophenia we are so on the same wavelength ) and either a black or gray command module.

The parcel machine will be light blue

Both have now had their primer coat and i am sorting out  some  minor faults prior to painting

The decals still need to be finalised.

Thanks for looking ..........

Mog
>^-.-^<

[Robomog]

Hi all,

The Flying Parcel Machine is working its way slowly through the paintshop,




Trying to spray gloss white on white primer is very frustrating, you have to be VERY careful not to put to much paint down at once.

Results however are worth it.

One downside I've noticed with spraying is it stirs up the cat hair lying dormant in the room causing me to get more than the usual quantities of hair in the paint.

Mind you I can safely say that all the models I have built since taking up the hobby again will have added cat hair somewhere on them   

More when it happens.........


Mog
>^-.-^<

[GTX_Admin]

Looking good