just wondering how many of you paint those darn formation lights. i know from working with AA the only time that they were on was when the apu ran. i started thinking about it last night and i know we do it to try to look like the helo or aricraft is moving but what about when its not moving?[:D][:D]
I just paint them as if they are on, or there. If it is a separete clear piece, I will try to drill a small hole in the back and just color the bulb with clear green for port starboard, clear red for starboard port. If it is just a molded on bump, I will first coat it with silver, then a coat of clear red or clear green. They reflect light pretty well. Works for me.
Ga.modler,
Do you mean the luminated strips like on fixed wing jets or just the rotating “smack” lights?
the anti collosin light thats on the bottom of the helo and on the skids of the helo. and near the tail rotor thanks for that tip HA i usually just paint it clear red ore green whe i do them [:D]
HA, don’t you mean red for port, and green for starboard?
You are correct. Red is on Port side. “Stop, we just Left Port.” Stop is red. That is how I usually remember it. I guess my fingers were working quicker than my brain.
Red is on the left side.
Floor is what you walk on,
Walls are for pictures,
Stairs take you down or up.
It’s an aviator thing, makes boat drivers crazy when you visit.
Thinking at 12 knots tends to drive us crazy too though. . .
Don
Ga.modler asked about “Formation Lights”, everyone is describing “Navigation Lights”.
On a Chinook, there are three electro-luminescent “Formation Lights” mounted on top of the fuselage, just behind the forward pylon. They assist in the criticle art of night formation flying and provide excellent depth-of-field reference to fellow pilots.
The red & green Navigation Lights are on either side of the fuselage/wingtips, like on all rotary/fixed wing aircraft.
Take care,
Frank
I made some cool blinking nav.lights,first start with a blinking white L.E.D. and use fiber optics drilled to fit.I will also use the same for anti-collision beacons and strobes.I choose white L.E.D.s because of there brightness,if I need a different color I stain the fibers or acrylic rod or even the L.E.D.itself.(anti-collision),this will bring your copters to life.
Actually, Old Hooker, there are also 2 smaller slime lights on the aft pylon as well, just behind the upper anti-collision light. I’m not sure if this started with the D models, but that’s the only model I’ve ever worked on.
Depending on the aircraft, the color will vary when the lights are not on. On the -47, the lights are a very off-white, or a very pale light green. I’ve also seen lights that are tan when not on, like unpainted fiberglass. I’ve used radome tan for these lights. What particular aircraft are you building?
Chris “Middle Age Hooker” Ishmael
Ga. Modler:
Understand you’re referring to the Nav or “smack” lights. As Oldhooker and CH47Guy mentioned, the form lights are different set all together.
I do paint mine red and green as well.[:D]
I’m not sure when the Slimes on the aft pylon appeared, but I was there when they first put them on the fuselage, started with some of the “B” models, then all of the “C” models. The first I remember seeing them on the aft pylon was on the “D” model, maybe I’m mistaken?
“Middle Aged Hooker”
[(-D] Isn’t it something, the Chinook has been around long enough for there to be some “young”, “middle aged”, AND “old” hookers! [:)] They are good ole’ Birds!
Take care,
Frank
Anybody know which company makes an aftermarket lens for model lights? I heard here is on in mexico but I don’t know the name?
Just a note to you guy’s lenses(red and green) were colored not the bulbs same bulb was used in all nav lights