Articulated Aérospatiale SA-2 Samson (OUTDATED)

Update 1/27/25: This model is now OUTDATED! I redesigned it, and it's available here: 

https://www.printables.com/model/1169011-articulated-aerospatiale-sa-2-samson-redux

I haven't watched any of the avatar movies, but I really like the design for the Samson, and since I didn't find any good models, I decided to make one myself. I designed it articulated, since the tilt-rotors are such an iconic part of the aircraft. I have test printed it myself and it works lovely, just be careful to not glue any of the parts that move by accident. I did notice that the original pin for the rotor assembly can be too tight, so I have included a looser one.

Assembling each rotor is quite simple, first you grab all the parts you need-

2 Propeller hubs
2 Propellers
1 Pin
1 Rotor Casing

Step 1. Glue one propeller hub to one side of the pin. Let it dry.
Step 2. Slide a propeller onto the pin. letting it rest on top of the hub as a stopper. Do not glue it.
Step 3. Slide this assembly through the center hole of the Rotor casing, and do not glue it.
Step 4. Place another propeller onto the exposed pin, do not glue.
Step 5. Glue the second propeller hub on top of the pin, finishing the assembly.

Do these steps again for the second rotor. After assembly, the cross section of the model should be-  (in ascending order)
Hub
Propeller
Casing
Propeller
Hub
(The pin should run through the center of all of them.)

The last step would be to glue the skids onto the Samson, and just pop the rotors onto the fuselage, the joints work well.

Congratulations! You have built a Samson!

Leave a comment if you have any questions.