Looking for Bell 222 rotorhead reference

[MayaAirwolf]

Hi! My name is Tom, and I'm a nerd who always loved planes and helicopters though I never got to fly myself. Currently I'm going back to school again to switch to another job field with hopefully a better future. I'm taking classes in 3D art. And the class assignment is to build a vehicle in 3D. But I could use some help.

I'm building Airwolf, basically a Bell 222a in a 3D program. I always loved that paintjob on her. I have lots of photos of that beautiful fuselage. But I need to understand how the rotors assembly is put together. Both the main rotorhead and the tail. Especially the top area. The finished project has to be professional quality, as good as any 3D model in any Hollywood film. It just has to have every nut and bolt in the right place. My teacher is a NUT for detail and well... he is brutal with grading.

I really could use help understanding the rotor assembly. Does anyone know of a place where I can take photos of a Bell 222's rotor assembly in the LA area? Or A museum in Los Angeles County. Or just a place where one is parked, maybe that has public access. Or just a place on the net that has some good shots of it? Or even schematics.

I found one great page, Aircraft in Detail - Helicopter Rotorhead Image Gallery Index and Airliners.net was helpful. But there's no information on what the top of the assembly looks like.

Any help would be VERY appreciated! Thank you!

[eivissa]

Some extracts from the maintenance and training manual...

This should give you a good idea of how it is all put together

[Phil77]

...and this guy here has the real life pictures that go with it (and MANY more - if you ever need to build a H-53 Sea Stallion with folding blades for example ):

Aircraft in Detail - Helicopter Rotorhead Image Gallery Index

...actually pictures from a Bell 230 to be precise - but they have the same rotorhead.

[MayaAirwolf]

OH WOW!!!!

Thank you eivissa and Phill77!! This just made my day!!! You two are great!

Eivissa! I love the scanned images! Thank you so much for those! They are beautiful. I think my neighbors heard me cheer when I saw them. Can I ask where did you get them from? Is there a book online I can buy from some tech bookstore? Those images are PERFECT for someone building an object in 3D. And I am very glad you went out of your way to help a stranger today!

Thanks again so much!


I can post what I make if anyone is interested. Though because I have multiple classes, from tues night to sunday afternoon I'm building characters in 3D. And Sunday night till tues afternoon I'm building this helicopter. So if anyone is interested, I can post images next tuesday.

The model will still be rough at that point, but I guarantee ya I WILL make it look like Airwolf. And if you like Airwolf, I can make you a nice desktop image when this model is finished. (in about 4 weeks I hope)

[MayaAirwolf]

Thanks to your help here, I was able to get a good start on the Airwolf.

I'm still blocking out shapes, but this is what I have sofar.






I've been working on the model alot yesterday. But now I'm wondering if I'm making her too skinny. What do you guys think?

[euroastar350]

Bell 222 questions

To all 222/230 drivers out there,

I am working on a flightsim version of this helicopter and I have some questions:

1.) What is the maximum angle of the blades when the collective is fully raised?

2.) What is the maximum angle of the tail blades with the pedals fully depressed (left/right)?

3.) How long does it takes for the landing gear to retract/extend?

Thanks all.