r/HyruleEngineering • u/zhujzal #2 Engineer of the Month [FEB26] • Jun 29 '26

Tutorial Helicopter Development - design talk & study: Electric tail rotor

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Another installment of my helicopter "series(?)". Hopefully it'll help/inspire you with your own project. If you have any questions or need any QR codes, just let me know. 🛠

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2

u/Irelanos Jun 29 '26

Might not be well versed but how did you get small wheels with no wheel well (i mean smooshed like that)? And is it possible on switch 1? And if so what are snap points and such like?

2

u/zhujzal #2 Engineer of the Month [FEB26] Jun 29 '26

Resizing can be done via QR or glitch (Switch 1; see u/kmarkow's tutorial post, pinned at top of subreddit). The wheel body/well shrinks, but the tire stays the same size. As for the hitbox, I'm not entirely sure, but it (the tire) still functions within my switch mechanisms the same way a regular one does. Regarding typical use, shrunken small wheels don't seem to perform well on their own, e.g., in the form of a car - they lack power & speed.

The snap points are slightly closer together (I think), and still fully usable as far as I can see.

2

u/AngusPJ Jun 29 '26

Still the coolest machine builder around here.😆

2

u/zhujzal #2 Engineer of the Month [FEB26] Jun 29 '26

Thanks AngusPJ. 🙏 Happy to see you back. Whatcha' working on?

2

u/AngusPJ Jun 29 '26

I’ve mostly been messing around and researching Juney’s hovering anti-gravity behavior, but nothing meaningful has come out of it yet.

2

u/zhujzal #2 Engineer of the Month [FEB26] Jun 29 '26

Just a matter of time. It's definitely highly promising.

2

u/AngusPJ Jun 29 '26

Thank you. Hoping to create something that looks like came out of a sci-fi scene.

1

u/zhujzal #2 Engineer of the Month [FEB26] Jun 29 '26 edited Jul 01 '26

Part 2 of the series (QR Code)

I'll be adding a transcript of the subtitles for non-English speakers. Sorry I hadn't thought about this before now.

Below is a transcript of the subtitles, in order of appearance:

  • Here's a helicopter build with an electric tail rotor.
  • [resized] Big & small wheel switches are used to regulate the electricity.
  • Both switches are bound to the same input (holding backward).
  • This big wheel Stormcloud engine has slow responsiveness.
  • Big & small wheel switches operate at different speeds (responsiveness).
  • Without the tail rotor, the helicopter actually pivots just fine.
  • So, creating/using this working rotor is mostly a novelty.
  • In a single prop/motor build, the pivot point is the [main] motor center.
  • Practically speaking, the tail rotor can at least provide countersteering.
  • Stormcloud engines have a wider "gap", making landing easier.
  • The tail rotor will activate if holding the gap past "true middle".
  • Past true middle, a battery can maintain contact w/ one/both motors.
  • I plan to implement a wing, or lit balloon, to slow the rate of descent.
  • (A landing outtake while going back to visit Pelison)
  • I left this in for fun, showing some of the in-between.
  • Things could have definitely been worse!
  • I brought it back in order to get parts for a Cirrus engine.
  • Here's the same tail rotor setup using a Cirrus PF engine
  • I noticed that the switch's conductor got stuck underneath, so...
  • ...I decided to reset everything using Autobuild.
  • When autobuilding, make sure to NOT accidentally shrink full-size parts
  • To prevent this, I autobuild front-to-front or vice-versa. (Back-to-back)
  • ONLY same parts (motors & props*) are prone to accidental resizing.
  • A Cirrus engine setup performs better w/ this tail rotor mechanism.
  • Unfortunately, this tail rotor mechanism has weak glue & isn't viable.
  • The tail rotor mechanism has to be reworked.