In my opinion, the Ninjago Rattlecopter (Brickset link) is one of the coolest-looking sets LEGO has ever made. However, there were a few aspects of this model that needed some improvement.

Click any of the following photos to enlarge them.

Here's an overall picture of all the modifications I made to modifications I made to the Rattlecopter.

For starters, the front fangs were loose, due to being mounted on 3/4 frictionless pins. I really wish LEGO made 3/4 friction pins, but since they don't, I just replaced the 3/4 frictionless pins with standard friction pins.

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I was surprised to find out that just like Jay's Storm Fighter (which I didn't modify; Brickset link), the Rattlecopter had no obvious landing gear--it just landed flat on its belly. I fixed this by adding some wheels (I didn't think skids would be appropriate for this model).

EDIT: See my next post for landing skids!

I'll start with the front.

I took the opportunity to add search lights as well.

For the underside pictures, I removed the main rotor so it wouldn't get damaged.

Here's a semi-exploded view so you can build it too.

Moving on to the rear...

Here's a cutaway shot, revealing how I installed the mount for the rear landing gear. (I also took the opportunity to add some support underneath the gray handle piece, which kept falling off as I was modifying the Rattlecopter. )

Here's a semi-exploded view so you can build it too.

I made the landing gear and surrounding elements available in an LXF file, from which instructions can be generated.

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I can't understand how a helicopter can take off straight upward if its main rotor is permanently tilted forward. While that looked cool on the box, I wanted an option to un-tilt it. Here is my modified main rotor mount and other details.

Close-up of my modified main rotor mount.

Thanks to my design, the rotor can tilt back and forth between two positions. If I spent much more time on it, I might be able to make it tilt backwards as well. However, my design keeps the rotor well-supported in the upright position, and allowing backwards tilt could compromise that advantage...

Here's a semi-exploded view so you can build it too. A top view of the Rattlecopter with my other details clearly visible is to the left.

I made my modified main rotor mount and surrounding elements available in an LXF file, from which instructions can be generated.

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Finally, here's a brief list of the other details I added to the Rattlecopter:

• I removed the missile caps and placed them on the black bits holding the missile blocks up (to copy the details surrounding the engine on Jay's Storm Fighter).
  
• Since Jay's Storm Fighter came with extra trans-red and trans-green 1x1 round tiles, I added them to the side flaps.
  
• To help explain why a Fangpyre tribesman is helping to protect a Constrictai staff, I added the extra translucent printed 1x1 round tiles from both Jay's Storm Fighter and Rattlecopter to my model. (This is to show that the two tribes are allied. I'm not sure whether they are allies in the actual story.)
  
• Since I don't have any other spare medium lilac 1x1 round plates or dark green 1x1 cheese slopes, I thought those two extra pieces would look good sitting on top of the dark green 4x6 rounded wedge.
  

Here's the Brickshelf gallery (when public).

-Toa Of Justice

P.S. I apologize for mixing some old gray parts in with this set, but those were the only colors I could spare.

Edited December 20, 201113 yr by Toa_Of_Justice

Well I like the fang modifications and the Cockpit but that landing gear needs to be worked on.

I really think that skids would be better.

Well I like the fang modifications and the Cockpit but that landing gear needs to be worked on.

I really think that skids would be better.

Hmm...I see what you mean. Here's a design for landing skids I just came up with.

Click any of the following photos to enlarge them.

Do you like it?

-Toa Of Justice

This isn't an ordinary helicopter in my opinion. Cockpit MOD is fine but landing gear is unnecessary. Still nice effort tho.

Those are some nice, clean and practical modifications you've made there, Toa of Justice! I personally prefer the Wheels for landing gear, myself. The reasons are not only do they look better, in my opinion, but based on my experience in the Navy, all military helicopters use wheels for landing gear (whether they are Chinooks, Cobras or Sea/Black Hawks), and since this helo (the REAL military term for a helicopter) is supposed to be for a military of sorts, then the wheels would be more fitting, at least to me.

You, of course are free to go with whatever you think is best, but that's just my $0.02. Otherwise, it's perfect.

Great modifications Toa! I agree that the wheels look better than the skids, and the ability to modify the angle of the main rotor is well thought out. I'll have to come back and check out these mods some more once i get my hands on this set. (Which could be a while, mind you!)

Thanks for the comments, everyone!

This isn't an ordinary helicopter in my opinion. Cockpit MOD is fine but landing gear is unnecessary. Still nice effort tho.

The original Rattlecopter could land flat without landing gear, but I've never heard of a real helicopter doing that.

Those are some nice, clean and practical modifications you've made there, Toa of Justice! I personally prefer the Wheels for landing gear, myself. The reasons are not only do they look better, in my opinion, but based on my experience in the Navy, all military helicopters use wheels for landing gear (whether they are Chinooks, Cobras or Sea/Black Hawks), and since this helo (the REAL military term for a helicopter) is supposed to be for a military of sorts, then the wheels would be more fitting, at least to me.

You, of course are free to go with whatever you think is best, but that's just my $0.02. Otherwise, it's perfect.

I agree with you, and I prefer the wheels as well.

Great modifications Toa! I agree that the wheels look better than the skids, and the ability to modify the angle of the main rotor is well thought out. I'll have to come back and check out these mods some more once i get my hands on this set. (Which could be a while, mind you!)

That's all right, take your time! Perhaps you might even find better ways of implementing my modifications.

-Toa Of Justice

The original rattlecopter is in Ninjago universe, not the Earth we live on. :D

Wow, that's really cool!!!! I didn't even know about this set!