Well it must have over 250 flights on it and the firewall finally came loose.
I was landing into a headwind and had just killed the engine, then at the snap of your fingers the wind died.
It ran off the end of the runway and the muffler snagged a clump of earth, it stopped so suddenly that it flipped upside down.
I was busy checking the V tail area, for that's a weak point and I thought it was unscathed, but I wrenched on the engine and I could move it down.

I pulled the engine mounting plate and loaded up some used insulin needles with CA and injected the glue into place. That worked like a champ.

Any anvise on clipping the wings on these planes??

Hi!
...Why!
They will only fly slower and land faster if you do that!

I clipped both my wings once when I flew through some corn.... it definately did not fly faster when it emerged from the corn.


dan

thanks guys. I won't be clipping wings. This is my first viper / fast plane except for warbirds. Which I thought was fast. But these are another world... Landings are taking some beatings..

thats a good looking color scheme! i like it!

btw i will post up pics in a day or so of what i do, it is very strong doenst add alot of wieght at all and very simple.

i cant find the pics of mine but i take some 1/4 ply laminate to pieces together to make a 1/2" thick, then i take a hobby knife and a dremel tool with a high speed cutting bit and remove the triangle stock/fiberglass in the firewall area. also remove the blind nuts. after the prep is complete i roughly measure the firewall area on the inside (it is tapered an all four sides) and cut and sand to make the 1/2" firewall fit iinside/behind the stock firewall. then i mix up some 30min epoxy and glue it in place. next drill holes for the fuel line/throttle cable/blind nuts( 1" or 1 1/4" 6-32 screws will be needed), if useing a bladder tank you can glue the lid on and wrap 2oz glass from top to bottom.

after mark the center of the firewall drill out the center with an 3/4" hole saw.

all said and done add litte wieght but alot of strength, still doing it this way i have never broken a firewall out

a couple guys at my local races showed me this.

I just glass the firewall inside with 4oz glass along with the landing gear block. The entire inside of the nose is glassed. Never lost a fire wall or lg block.

Glass the inside of the firewall, I like to use 2 layers of 2oz. cloth or even 1 oz carbon fiber cloth (if u got the $$$) twice and I glassed the tail with 1/4 oz cloth to about 1/2 way up the fuse. Balsarite (sp) the area you glassed so the monokote will stick or paint it like i did have had no probs.

Jett fire 50 with at least 75 flights on it and by flights I mean herky jerk kidney twister's...




BTW ANYBODY know where to find dodger kit or even plans... Will pay big for them . I really loved that plane.

flylikeyoulive:

I have the full sized plans, instruction sheets and an almost completed Doddger. I'd be happy to send the plans and instruction sheets for the cost to do so, say $10?

The Doddger fuselage is accurately assembled and the wing is sheeted and CF reinforced. All parts needed to complete are present and in the original box. I fly only Q-25 now and have three of my own design ready for the 2011 season and I'm working on a new T-tail version.

Let me know if youd like the plans or the airplane.

Jim

Can some tell me why the white one is ten more dollars than the red?

Shopping for a Viper myself and just noticed the ten-dollar price difference. I don't know for certain, but I speculate they're just trying to move (shift demand) some red ones.

Tim

It seems everyone that sells them is higher on the white ones

Madd Kitty!!!!

Well you know that the White covering weighs more than the the Red (This is true) due to the differences in pigment. So if it weighs more it should cost more. But, not for Q500 racers.

Ya know World Models is working on a Q500 ARF. It should be interesting.

When is it going to be out Barry? Good news for RC Pylon!

Yay! This thread is not dead! I just completed my Viper 500 ARF build. Plain vanilla with .46 OS (cheapest in class), and enhanced landing gear with 4" wheels which I hope will do fine for grass takeoffs and landings.

The gas tank area is glassed and seems decently reinforced from the factory. With this engine, I don't think it needs more, but I will go ahead and sneak some epoxy and glass around the landing gear block.

I just completed the engine break-in and am happy that there is minimal vibration and no fuel foaming.

Now I'm just waiting for decent weather for the maiden. Just need final balancing and range check...

Glad to hear it Markind. I like most others really like pics with the narrative. Keep us updated and best of luck.

Hey guys, any suggestions on how much the "bolt on tail" of a Viper should be shimmed during initial flights to later be made permanent? Chic

I had to shim mine 3/16" and it wasn't straight with the wing and fuselage. I had to make adjustment for the wing saddle and the tail feathers for it to be straight.

Thanks Barry. Was that 3/16" positive or negative. Will also check to see if I have triangulation with the wing and tail. Chic

Like Duh!! It was the trailing edge up 3/16". I can also give some pics if you would like.

​Hey Barry, I love pictures. Smile Chic