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Welcome to SWEDBIRD HELICOPTERS. This site is dedicated to the design of
Gmax models for Microsoft Flight Simulator. At the present it is soley helicopters that are being designed, and
preferably unusual and older historic types, although a few modern ones manage to sneak in. |
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On Hold due to astaronomical activity
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Iīm in the middle of a very intense astronomical activity envolving astrophotography at a dark site
and have very little time and ability to answer questions and do anything releated to helicopter and design.
have patience, Iīll return to active duty soon.
Anyone interested, please check my astronomy site and
Latest Images, showing the most recent ones.
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Click on image to enlarge.
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I reopned my old S-76 (same one as in HC OSD) and have played around a little with it. It turnes out
that I could salvage a whole lot and have manage to get it fairly accurate. This is no promise that
there will be a S-76 coming from my workshop. It might end up like one of my own never released helicopters
Another one that has been salvage is the Masquito which will hopefully be released as a low quality model.
(check Project Page)
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Helicopter Release! Fiat 7002
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Download it here (15 Mb)
Click on image to enlarge.
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It never was suppose to be released, but after a few images from Mario Bazzani, a year ago, I desided
upon my return to design to finish this unknown italian helicopter from 1961. It never entered service
and was cancelled. However it is an important historical helicopter and deserves not to be forgotten.
Note that this is a low quality beta release. It is based on four very bad b/w images.
The only ones available on the internet.It will be upgraded when more information and better images
are available.
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The work on the Cougar is in full swing. It has got a few updates on the 3D design and Dirk is working on the
gauges and animation control from xml programing.
Check the Cougar project page for more info.
Click on image to enlarge.
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A year ago Dirk Fassbender suggested that I designed the TH-55 he flew when he started his career as a helicopter
pilot. I began to draw the lines and manage to design some 50% of the body. But it never went beyond that.
Well.. never say never.
Dirkīs real life TH-55 is now in my Gmax workshop and between the session test flown. Dirk is providing material,
images, info and a few customized TH-55 gauges. Even though it looks more or less finished, there are still a
lot to add and adjust. Basically there will be two versions, with and without floats. What beyond that I cannot say today.
More... VC image with TH55-panel Click on image to enlarge.
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UPDATE 2005-08-16 Project Page has been updated with latest info
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A short video showing the pre beta version of the Kiowa has been made on request. Sound is
unfortunately a bit low, so crank it up a bit.
The OH-58D video (22 Mb)
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Dirk Fassbender has worked on some of the unique Kiowa bar gauges and crt screens. The crt is not
quite finished yet. It looks very good and it will increase the rwalism of the Kiowa. Marty Miller has
got a pre beta of the Kiowa and made a few test flights.
Click on image to enlarge.
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Just a quick video showing the MD-600N in itīs present state. Still pilotless and a few bits and pieces
that needs care and adjustments.
Download the MD-600N Video (18 Mb)
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Going through some of my earlier designs on a backup CD I found this one. The MD Helicopters 600N.
I checked it and found out that it really only needs a few adjustments and improvements to get
flight clearance. New photo realistic textures and some work on the VC and it will show up before
you know it. It will not have openable doors though.
Click on image to enlarge.
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New better images makes body texture even better than the previous photo realistic ones. Thanks to Marty Millers
images this bird looks even better.
More info on the
OH-58D project page
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The Bell 206B is planned to come out in at least five or six different versions. One might be the Medevac, if I can
get enough information and images to fairly accuratly model the interior. As for now I only have one
image of a 206B Medevac (itīs not the 206L).
More info on the
Bell 206 project page
Click on image to enlarge.
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The Cougar project. A joint cooperation between myself and Dirk Fassbender to model his own real life
Cougar have resumed after allmost a year.
More info on the
Cougar Project page
Click on image to enlarge.
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Iīm currently looking into the possibility to somehow continue with the work on the Jetranger.
I need to evaluate the model and if it can contribute something to the community.
More info on the
Bell 206 project page
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Piasecki HRP-1 needs a lot of reshaping
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The Piasecki HRP-1 needs a lot of reshaping to be accurate. It was one of the first helicopter that was designed
and it showed a lot of errors. Although a high priority model, it will take time to get it into shape.
The interior is quite good and the VC has all the panels and most of the instruments, but the exterior is far
from good.
Click on image to enlarge.
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Fiat 7002 - brought back to life
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The italian 1960-ies Fiat 7002 cold jet helicopter never went as far as being put into service. Now it has been
brought back to life again at Swedbird Helicopters. As one of those historical helicopters, were there
are very few existing images, it will be released as a low quality model.
Nevertheless, itīs of historical value and therefore it deserves to be in our hangar. Two more images:
fiat_4 and fiat_5
Click on image to enlarge.
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Video Hughes XH-17 Flying Crane
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It might come as a surprise to most, but the Hughes XH-17 Flying Crane is on the final stage for a release.
I have dedicated a few days to adjust and refine a few details and texture mapping on this big old bird.
Still it is ranked as a low quality historical model. Very little is known and this model is based on a few
b/w images of low quality.
Here is a short pre-release video (8.8 Mb).
Click on image to enlarge.
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Update 05-07-25 OH-58D body texture
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I have, hopefully, a large amount of images coming along from a source that Marty
Miller has provided. I cannot reveal itīs identity yet.
Both Marty and I are anxiously waiting for the first images to appear in our mailboxes.
Click on image to enlarge.
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Alek Jadkowski answered my prayers regarding a panel for the 58D. He sent me a Tiff image of 48 Mb
showing a diagram of the entire panel. Iīve just fixed it, cleaned it an properly aligned it to
my VC. Instruments are only temporary for flight testing. There are still a lot to do.
Click on image to enlarge.
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New Repaint for the R44 Police Helicopter version
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Marty Miller (Rotorwash.net) has produced an excellent repaint for the Robinson R44. It suitable for the Police version.
be sure to download it.
Download the Butler County Sheriff repaint
If you donīt have the R44 you can get it by donating a few $ to swedbird.com.
Click here
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Update 2005-07-20 OH-58D Kiowa
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Opened up the Kiowa and started to add a few details and some extensive reshaping.
Details might have wrong colors etc, but that only during the design.
Click on left images to enlarge
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Update 2005-07-18
Project Page updated |
Check the Project page
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Project page has been updated. There are still a few uncertainties, but in general it should hold.
A couple of models have vanished. Itīs the Masquito and the Enstrom 480e.
The Masquito is cancelled due to very little available information (no reply from manufacterer on my
request for info). It has not been scrapped and if additional info surface in the future, I might
reconsider open it again. But as for now it is cancelled. The Enstrom is cancelled since it is a popular
helicopter and my model does not meet expectations. A few large design errors makes itnecessarry to
remodel it more or less from scratch. Nothing I feel any desire to start with since there are
problably one or two under development. No need to send email trying to change my mind.
Both the Bell OH-58 and the Sikorsky MH53e is hanging on a thread. Both will probably be cancelled
due to lack of interest among users to help get them finished. We donīt have OH-58 and MH53īs here in sweden and
itīs a long way for me to travel to US just to photograph them. I refuse to finish them just by guessing and
later on get critiscism for them being inaccurate. All available images on the internet are not good enough to
use for modelling or use as texture.
Bell 206 was very close to be cancelled due to a recent release of a 206. I felt no need to push it and just make
a second model. The new released 206 is very good and I find it a waste of time just to make another one.
However I do have other thoughts about the 206 and might reconsider not to cancel it. It all depends on how it can be used
and if it will be as good as the new one. I doubt it. The 206 is a demanding model to make
since people have high expectation on this model. Even though a few nice details and animations is not enough to
make a good model.
The Hiller UH-12 will probalbly be scrapped if I cannot find a good reason to keep on working on it. A recently
released OH-23 makes further work a waste of time. Iīll keep it on ice for a while and see if it will survice
or be scrapped.
A few of the historical models will be finished in a wide variety of quality. From resonably good to low quality.
With quality means that the model might be in some ways inaccurate and details have been omitted due to that they cannot be
properly identified or remodeled from bad old images. Some of the models are just being finished for fun, others for being
significantly important historical helicopters.
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Update 2005-07-15
Computer are working! |
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Finally, things seem to work now after I have lowered the FSB frequency resulting in a lower CPU speed (approx 20 %)
and a bit cooler enviroment in the computer.
It now looks like I can resume design in a not far away future.
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