Here are a couple of shots of my BTE Venture 60 project. I wanted a cartoonish/psuedo-racer fantasy kinda aircraft so this is what I have so far. First, ALL kits should be as nice as Bruce Tharpe's stuff, how about a bipe, Bruce? Basic Mods to the plane have been strictly along the lines of those suggested here on RCU and by Bruce himself. Those being: shortened wing span by one bay each side and separate aileron servos. In addition: I wanted to smooth up the leading edge a little so false ribs were added between the full ribs at the leading edge. The cockpit was moved back 1 3/4" and the turtle deck stringers were bowed 1/8" to give a very gentle arch back to the tail. The flat looking foredeck (between the dash and firewall) was next on the list. A new dash was made approx. 1/2" taller than stock and a half former added to the top of the firewall that raised it approx. 1/2", another former was then installed midway between the dash and firewall to create a gentle arc all the way to the spinner then the whole foredeck was planked with 1/8" balsa. Next was a cowl to cover the horizontal mounted .80 Saito. A 1/8" plywood plate behind the spinner got things going and was attached to the fuselage by way of several 1/2" x 1/4" balsa sticks. Rough shaping was next to get things 'flowing' back to the fuse and then the open areas of the 'stick cowling' were filled with 1/4" balsa sheet pieces and then everything sanded to final shape. I'll post more pics as things progress. In the meantime- Get 'er done!!

The foredeck mod dimensions are rough, from memory...

Your modifications look great. Should be a nice model when you're finished !!!

Absolutely Awesome! The foredeck mod is really gonna have that bird looking sweet. I'm still in the process of building my V60, hopefully have it finished in another month or two . . . work seems to be getting in the way.

Thanks guys! Planning on covering the fuse and tail feathers with brushed chrome monokote, the wings will be corsair blue with a white sunburst on the bottom side. Kinda like a modern day Hughes H-1 racer. Here are some more pics...

BOO-HOO-HOO-HOO-HOO[&o]

I wish Bruce would make these available again [:'(] [:'(]

BOY YOU HAVE A LOT OF NERVE MODIFING ONE OF BRUCES BIRDS![sm=punching.gif]

That being said....It looks cool!

What's that sticker I've seen say? Oh yeah, "Ain't Skeered", that's me. The mods I did are really just cosmetic. Clipping the wingspan, I hear, quickens the roll rate but has marginal effect on landing speeds etc.

That's probably the one of the best looking V60's I've seen. I hope to start mine in the next few weeks - it will be my first kit. I'll be using a Saito 80 as well, so keep us posted on how it flies.

Yeah I second N7OR, I wish Bruce would make the kit again. Good luck getting him to make a Bi-Plane, course if he would I'd stand in line to buy one!

John

Hopefully, Bruce has only temporarily put the V60 out of production to concentrate on his Jet kit. He did tell me that a bipe is on his list to things to do but there is no time frame and I don't know how far down the list it is. A Starduster II clone would be my pick! As far as the V60 goes, it seems to me the market volume for the V60 would far out pace the demand for a jet. But, money isn't everything and I know the jet kit is Bruce's passion right now.

damifino - three words: "I love it!"

Wow! Thanks Bruce!! Jay in NC here. Sure am glad I waited so (im)patiently for my kit last year. As soon as it came out of the box I knew I had something special. Everything about the V-60 goes together perfectly. I can't leave anything 'stock' and V-60 seemed to be a perfect subject to modify because the flight performance is so solid. That's according to everything I've read and heard. Give us the straight scoop-are more Venture 60's in the future? Or can we expect a new generation V-60 with retractable gear option? Can you take a hint?

Jay, the straight scoop is that I consider the V60 kit to be on "hiatus". I have every intention of doing another run, eventually. Shooting for the end of the year, but don't hold me to it...

If anybody could put retracts in one, I would think you're a prime candidate!

Sounds good to me! Put me on your list for a Venture 60 out of the next run. Thanks, Jay

GREAT LOOKING VENTURE, do you have plans for that plane stand?

Dan

I do not have plans for the plane stand. The first one I made is of 3/4" blue foam epoxied together. I've used it for more than a year. The plywood stand holding the Venture is just a refined copy of my foam one. The difference being that the ply stand's ends slide onto the backbone 'egg-crate style' so it'll break down flat for storage or transport. The backbone is two pieces bolted together so the stand can be lengthened if needed. Works fine the way it is for my Super Sporster .40, a .60 size Skylane, a Waco .60 and the Venture.

Hey damifino,
How's the build coming along? Any pics??

Finished throttle linkage and started on control rods last night, slotted all hinge locations this week and assembled the wheel pants, they are very nice. Down to the 'short list,' I guess, before covering. I'll try to get a few new pics up this weekend...........

Here are a few new shots. Servo mounting is per instructions. Saito .80 is horizontal and on a Dave Brown mount. Throttle linkage is an aluminum arm pivoting off the side of the engine mount, actuated by the kit supplied cable. Linkage from that arm to the carb arm is a ball link and pivot link with a 2-56 rod in between. I plan to shorten the exhaust header pipe a little bit 3/8" to 1/2". Should have maiden flight in about 3 weeks..........

That is a wicked cool looking nose!

Sweet. I'm gonna try to side mount an O.S. 61FX with a Great Planes mount and a slimline pitts muffler and a built up balsa cowl...don't know if it's gonna work or not. This is my first kit, so it's mostly trail and error.

If you have a vision of what you want you'll make it work. It's only wood and glue. It will work.

Looks great.

Going to start my Venture 60 toight.

Damifino,
Any problems in balancing with the extra weight of the cowl and the stock servo locations?

hello Bruce

if you ship me aV60 kit for christmas WITH my reaction 54, I promise I'll put a retract in it

I have the plans and plan to scratch build a 120 size venture, but actualy I don't have the time, Order to sig a four star 120 wing would make the job going faster but as you know I have A BIG bird to build