Viper Jet 2M Pointers/ tips.
12-04-2012, 10:16 AM
#477
Senior Member
My Feedback: (32)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Pasadena, MD
Posts: 2,587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Viper Jet 2M Pointers/ tips.
I have one on order that should be here in a couple of weeks. Plan to start a build thread once I've finished the CARFMustangI'm working on.
Kirk
Kirk
12-04-2012, 10:41 AM
#478
Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: villahermosa, MEXICO
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Viper Jet 2M Pointers/ tips.
Eight months ago I had a minor crash with my Viper because for some reason the carbon tube of the elevator broke in flight causing flutter. Now she is flying better than before 
. Take a look at this video of the 2nd maiden flight.
http://youtu.be/E5hLXaI5KRQ
. Take a look at this video of the 2nd maiden flight.http://youtu.be/E5hLXaI5KRQ
12-05-2012, 12:57 PM
#479
RE: Viper Jet 2M Pointers/ tips.
I am planning on buying one of these 2M Viper Skymaster Jets! I have read the entire thread - lots of good info in here, thanks to all of you. This will be my first jet. I have a quite a bit of experience flying helicopters and large scale prop planes. My 80" span WWII Zero does ~ 130mph, so I am used to flying fast and flying "the silhouette."
What color schemes do you guys recommend? I like the paint in the mold red and white. I understand paint post-mold can add more weight.
I am planning to install a 100 class turbine.
Any thoughts ore ideas will be appreciated! Thanks in advance.
04-19-2013, 07:43 AM
#484
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Carlsbad,
NM
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Viper Jet 2M Pointers/ tips.
Has anyone replaced their Viper's aluminum (12 oz) wing tube with a lighter carbon fiber tube? graph tech rc has one with a .040 wall thickness that weighs 5.2 oz
04-21-2013, 02:27 AM
#488
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: St.Columb Major, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Viper Jet 2M Pointers/ tips.
Guys I need to warn you all about the clearance between the flaps/ailerons and the wing when they close.- Last July (the hottest day of the year) I had my viper set up at our club in the blazing sunshine, - turned on the rx and did the usual checks. Only to find when lowering the flaps the left one would not go back up! - it was catching on the wing!- the heat of the sun was doing its work.- I spent ages sanding down these issues on the build but obviously not enough. I then noticed the right aileron was doing exactly the same thing! - out with a scuff board and some grease and problem solved ( I thought!!) - I had a flight and it was probably my best to date - half hour later and flight No 2, - took off as normal, plenty of power then went into a right bank - as soon as I went to tuck the flaps up I knew something was wrong - there was a slight hesitation, the nose dropped and she spiralled to the ground!!! - huge explosion I lost everything! ( my worst nightmare come true!.....gutted!)
So when I went to put the flaps back home I can only assume the left one stayed stuck down which caused an aileron effect etc (Ali has confirmed this ) so be warned guys - make sure those gaps are well sanded down!
So here I am now with out a jet, ( yes its taken me all this time to recover!)- ive been in touch with Ali and im very interested in the Futura 1.9m. My only gripe with the viper was it took plenty long enough to get off the ground (p80se) - it seems the futura by all accounts might rotate a little quicker ( I would use a p100rx) but I was wondering if any of you guys out there have any experience with the futura and particularly any one with experience in flying the viper2m and the futura1.9m to give a good comparison?
Just want to get as much info as poss from everyone before I make the next big spend!
Best regards
Rich P
So when I went to put the flaps back home I can only assume the left one stayed stuck down which caused an aileron effect etc (Ali has confirmed this ) so be warned guys - make sure those gaps are well sanded down!
So here I am now with out a jet, ( yes its taken me all this time to recover!)- ive been in touch with Ali and im very interested in the Futura 1.9m. My only gripe with the viper was it took plenty long enough to get off the ground (p80se) - it seems the futura by all accounts might rotate a little quicker ( I would use a p100rx) but I was wondering if any of you guys out there have any experience with the futura and particularly any one with experience in flying the viper2m and the futura1.9m to give a good comparison?
Just want to get as much info as poss from everyone before I make the next big spend!
Best regards
Rich P
05-03-2013, 06:41 AM
#489
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Carlsbad,
NM
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Viper Jet 2M Pointers/ tips.
To the folks that have built the Viper, do you epoxy the keying slots on the rails that the turbine mounts to or is the turbine its self used to hold the rails in their keying slots?
05-03-2013, 08:02 AM
#490
My Feedback: (10)
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: North Port,
FL
Posts: 1,109
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Viper Jet 2M Pointers/ tips.
Mark:
With the three 2m Vipers built by Bill Hatcher and myself, (make that 4) we trial fit the turbine mount rails then Hysol in place. We put aside for 24 hours. This completes the rigid bond/assembly between the two formers/bulkheads.
BTW, when installing your Cheetah, place the turbine on the rails with the name Cheetah toward the top of the fuselage. Therefore, from the bottom through the hatch, you will see the turbine but not the turbine name. Nozzle should be no more than 1" from the entrance to the metal pipe. . .no less than 3/4." This will give you optimum performance and proper cooling for the pipe.
Regards,
Eric
With the three 2m Vipers built by Bill Hatcher and myself, (make that 4) we trial fit the turbine mount rails then Hysol in place. We put aside for 24 hours. This completes the rigid bond/assembly between the two formers/bulkheads.
BTW, when installing your Cheetah, place the turbine on the rails with the name Cheetah toward the top of the fuselage. Therefore, from the bottom through the hatch, you will see the turbine but not the turbine name. Nozzle should be no more than 1" from the entrance to the metal pipe. . .no less than 3/4." This will give you optimum performance and proper cooling for the pipe.
Regards,
Eric
05-03-2013, 05:10 PM
#492
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Carlsbad,
NM
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Viper Jet 2M Pointers/ tips.
It seems that the bell mouth supplied by SM on my Viper is noticeably different than the other SM supplied bell mouths . The large end opening is a whopping 5.5 inches across and 2.5 inches long. I'm thinking of cutting it back some because its so wide it interferes with the mounting rails.[img]
07-17-2013, 12:48 PM
#494
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Tobaccoville , NC
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Viper Jet 2M Pointers/ tips.
Hi Bill,
I'll be ordering my Viper from Eric shortly. Regarding the use of the BVM Micro Switch for the nose wheel door, does the nose gear physically move the switch or are you using a servo? If not, how are you sequencing it with the nose gear itself?
Thanks,
Ken
I'll be ordering my Viper from Eric shortly. Regarding the use of the BVM Micro Switch for the nose wheel door, does the nose gear physically move the switch or are you using a servo? If not, how are you sequencing it with the nose gear itself?
Thanks,
Ken
07-24-2013, 11:52 AM
#495
RE: Viper Jet 2M Pointers/ tips.
I used a micro pneumatic switch that is activated by a cap screw that I inserted on the side of the front strut. The head of the screw hits the lever of the micro pneumatic switch to activate the door closing sequence when the nose gear is in the full up position.
I plumbed the opening of the doors on the down line to the retracts, i.e. doors open with the deployment of the retracts, you don't need a delay in this scenario...
I plumbed the opening of the doors on the down line to the retracts, i.e. doors open with the deployment of the retracts, you don't need a delay in this scenario...
07-24-2013, 12:01 PM
#496
RE: Viper Jet 2M Pointers/ tips.
ORIGINAL: [email protected]
Guys I need to warn you all about the clearance between the flaps/ailerons and the wing when they close.- Last July (the hottest day of the year) I had my viper set up at our club in the blazing sunshine, - turned on the rx and did the usual checks. Only to find when lowering the flaps the left one would not go back up! - it was catching on the wing!- the heat of the sun was doing its work.- I spent ages sanding down these issues on the build but obviously not enough. I then noticed the right aileron was doing exactly the same thing! - out with a scuff board and some grease and problem solved ( I thought!!) - I had a flight and it was probably my best to date - half hour later and flight No 2, - took off as normal, plenty of power then went into a right bank - as soon as I went to tuck the flaps up I knew something was wrong - there was a slight hesitation, the nose dropped and she spiralled to the ground!!! - huge explosion I lost everything! ( my worst nightmare come true!.....gutted!)
So when I went to put the flaps back home I can only assume the left one stayed stuck down which caused an aileron effect etc (Ali has confirmed this ) so be warned guys - make sure those gaps are well sanded down!
So here I am now with out a jet, ( yes its taken me all this time to recover!)- ive been in touch with Ali and im very interested in the Futura 1.9m. My only gripe with the viper was it took plenty long enough to get off the ground (p80se) - it seems the futura by all accounts might rotate a little quicker ( I would use a p100rx) but I was wondering if any of you guys out there have any experience with the futura and particularly any one with experience in flying the viper2m and the futura1.9m to give a good comparison?
Just want to get as much info as poss from everyone before I make the next big spend!
Best regards
Rich P
Guys I need to warn you all about the clearance between the flaps/ailerons and the wing when they close.- Last July (the hottest day of the year) I had my viper set up at our club in the blazing sunshine, - turned on the rx and did the usual checks. Only to find when lowering the flaps the left one would not go back up! - it was catching on the wing!- the heat of the sun was doing its work.- I spent ages sanding down these issues on the build but obviously not enough. I then noticed the right aileron was doing exactly the same thing! - out with a scuff board and some grease and problem solved ( I thought!!) - I had a flight and it was probably my best to date - half hour later and flight No 2, - took off as normal, plenty of power then went into a right bank - as soon as I went to tuck the flaps up I knew something was wrong - there was a slight hesitation, the nose dropped and she spiralled to the ground!!! - huge explosion I lost everything! ( my worst nightmare come true!.....gutted!)
So when I went to put the flaps back home I can only assume the left one stayed stuck down which caused an aileron effect etc (Ali has confirmed this ) so be warned guys - make sure those gaps are well sanded down!
So here I am now with out a jet, ( yes its taken me all this time to recover!)- ive been in touch with Ali and im very interested in the Futura 1.9m. My only gripe with the viper was it took plenty long enough to get off the ground (p80se) - it seems the futura by all accounts might rotate a little quicker ( I would use a p100rx) but I was wondering if any of you guys out there have any experience with the futura and particularly any one with experience in flying the viper2m and the futura1.9m to give a good comparison?
Just want to get as much info as poss from everyone before I make the next big spend!
Best regards
Rich P
I had the same issue prior for leaving for KY Jets, I took a dremel fiber cutoff wheel and used the side area of the wheel to make a sharp bevel on the leading edge of the flap filler panel, it will not catch now, as a matter of fact Ali inspected my flaps prior to the maiden flight. He did so by having two people support the total weight of the airframe by the wing tips, then moving the airframe up and down to create flexing loads while I deployed and retraced the flaps numerous times, they did not stick!.
Speaking of flaps I had an issue with the geometry of the linkages with the supplied external control horn (i.e. i could move the flaps quite easily by hand when the digital servos were powered up), I decided to go with an internal (hidden) linkage, see attached PDF drawing.This increased the mechanical advantage of the servo dramatically.
07-24-2013, 01:24 PM
#497
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Tobaccoville , NC
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Viper Jet 2M Pointers/ tips.
Hey Rich, Nice idea on the nose gear door. I spoke to you at length at Kentucky about the Viper. Ordered one from Eric to go with the Cheetah I bought from him at the event. Will be re-reading this thread several times until it gets here.
Regards,
Ken
Regards,
Ken
09-27-2013, 12:41 AM
#499
My Feedback: (12)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Dorado, PUERTO RICO (USA)
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For me the best engine combination for this jet in my case is the JC Cheetah, I have 9 minutes of flight with plenty of power capable of doing everything I want .
I used to flight it with a 22 pounder turbine but in some maneuvers were lack of power, but that's my case.
I used to flight it with a 22 pounder turbine but in some maneuvers were lack of power, but that's my case.