Another Skymaster Viper
 

Yep sorry if you guys are getting bored of them by now, but I am still loving these great models. This is one we are just finishing off as a Turn key for a customer overseas. Part of the service is a test flight, shakedown and set up service.
All pretty high spec ( as per customers request ) Jet Cat P-160Sx, JR DSX 12, all 8411 and 8711 servos,Lights, Smoke, Airpower valve. Two of the new 1/4 scale pilots etc etc. All going well so far apart from the need to increase the venting to the main tanks.
This one is so good that I might have to keep it for my own demo model and do another one for the customer?? :eek:
Regards Al

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

some more

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

A few of the internals

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Beautiful, veruy nice.

Hi! Ali, Hector from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Ali,

Very nice! love the color too.


Ron

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Nice, are those festo fittings for the fuel/smoke or something else?

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

They are the fillers for the smoke and fuel.
I have just started using them again and hoping that with some regular oiling they should not stick. I hope so as they are a much neater way of filling liquids..
Ron, Thanks for the compliments on the colour. I kinda guessed you would like it. I am thinking on the next one I might use the same scheme but play around with colours a little.
Regards Al
Thanks Hector.

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

I did not mention it but the install is very nice as well Ali. You customer should be very happy. Love the pilots too.


Ron

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Cheers Ron,
Yep we tried to get it a good a blend of neatness and practicality. I have seen a few installs now where if something goes wrong or needs to be accessed it becomes a nightmare to work on.
I even thought about cramming a P-200 in it for laughs, but decided to leave that to you Arizonian's ;)
Regards Al

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

THE NEED FOR SPEED:D:D:D (HUNGRY)


Ron

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Hi
Congratulations for the model Ali , is good flight?

This is my Viper Jet, I hope to finish it in fifteen days, which a Merlin 160 (17.5 Kg Thrust), no smoke system, Airpower valve, Hitec 5955 in all controls and a 2.4 system ACT /Graupner mc-24.

Regards

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Looks great ALi, I may be getting another one. Joe C!!

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Do it Joe.
Your USC one is just too nice to fly every weekend. Get a stock scheme beater with a P-160SX. Keep it light and simple and you will love it for an everyday plane that flies superbly. Resist the urge to put a P-200 in it ( You already beat Ron in the Pi$$ing comp with your smoke fluid holding power :D ) Hell.... let me know and I will get a turn key assembled and test flown as well Ali Spec! ;)

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Keep that up Ali and I will by two more beaters for a total of three and beat you both out.:D:D:D and still put P-200 in them just for bragging rights!


Ron

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Congrats on your new Viper. You will love this jet. I am also a new owner of a Skymaster Viper Jet with a P-200 and smoker system.
I LOVE IT!! The best flying jet on the planet.

Have fun with it.

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Ron, i would be more that happy to get you 2 more vipers. You just let me know.

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Ron. I know I will never be anywhere near the same league as you and Joe for bragging rights. I am just the kid that likes playing with nice toys. having said that I still say you should get another two beaters. That way next time I am over you and I can have a little bit of Viper Reno! I just know you must have the connections to get a few 1/5th scale pylons made up :D Shall I tell Jason to get the kits sent to Wayne now:eek:

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

I have him on the phone now! It is always a pleasure, Ali. Looking forward to the next time you are out here.


Ron

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Ali,
I will get that viper, but just to up Ron, I will get the new AMT Titan, I think that has 80lbs of thrust. (JK), you are right, I need something that has no scale items like my USC has, just fuel and fly. I have a Jetcat Titan that I will use. Joe C!!

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Great Install Ali I am sure your customer will be more than pleased. :D

Mine is almost ready for shipping, here are a few pics...;) My guess is it will be here sometime next week.

Michel

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Very nice Joe C!!

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Hi Ali,

I was at California Jets this year and I saw your Viper Jet in action! out of this world, your skills as a pilot!!! simply superb! I was telling my friends here in Northern California if I have to choose between watching a show of the Blue Angels or to see you flying your jets I go for you! I was so impress, that I decided to go for the Skymaster Viper Jet same colors as yours! LOVE IT!!! It was a pleasure to talk you at the event. I am the guy who flies large ¼ scale turbine choppers. Next CA jets I would bring the Viper and the chopper too.

Thank you for the inspiration and looking forward to see you again,

Gonzalo

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

they look like the ones i use on my flash, even have them between the wing tank/main tank/vent, I've had no problems with leaks and it's allot quicker connecting/disconnecting the wing tank with them and once the wing is disconnected just snap the vent/fill together and it's leak free too. also when filling i disconnect the wing tank from the main and fill it first then hook it back up before filling the main, with only air being pushed out of the main into the wing tank it puts less stress on the main tank when filling it.

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Nice Blue Viper... I want!!!!

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

That blue scheme is totally hawt....

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Ali, the pilots look great! I'll get some more out to you and also find out about the military version. You sure make 'em look good!
Talk to you soon,
Lowell

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

We finished up Joey Tamez Viper Jet and took it out this weekend for the maiden.
Very uneventful and we were surprised that the gear seemed to work no problem(we have seen some struggle). We used BVM high flow valve and two air tanks. Worked great. One door did manage to depart in flight.
We installed a P200 since we had one available and we used a BVM P200 bypass and a BVM F100F tailpipe I had from a F100. They dropped right in, perfect fit. Very low temps, in the low 4's.
The airplane is very nice, just a bunch of little aggravating issues that are easily corrected.
Couple of things to look out for:
MOST IMPORTANT!! After only 4 flight the wing retaining aluminum sleeves were nearly pulled out of wings. Couple more flights and the wing might have slipped off!!! Wing gap kept growing after each flight.
Wing tubes and stab dowels can slide into wings unevenly. We glued the stab dowels permanent.
Been mentioned here ALOT, but there are many hard points missing in flying surfaces.
Cockpits look great but are made out of some low grade plastic and wont last. Before the first flight they were pretty beat up.
canopy glass very low grade soft plastic
fin missing most of glue inside and main former was detached. We changed to pull pull with solid carbon plate through rudder.
cockpit started deforming in sun
Landing gear mounts are insufficient. One wing had a broken former glued in place. No support at all. We added carbon support braces.
Some of the pro version work was a little sloppy and our white version had white spray paint covering the proversion work done. Fit was good, but whats up with the white pray paint?
Nose gear door cylinder was just glued to fuse wall with no support. Popped off before was even flown.
Winglet holes too big on one side so when tightened they gapped really big.
Tanks create alot of back pressure when installed per plans. Have to pump very slow. Bottom tank want to start balooning.
Intakes glued very sloppy and look nasty(INSIDE). They are very rigid though and feel very solid.
PROS:
plane comes out CG perfect with little to no weight with batteries in nose.
Big and pretty
Wings stabs and fin fit to fuse and front to aft fit perfect. Overall excellent fitment of all parts. Canopy little off.
Nice gear, struts wheels and brakes
BIG!
Flies beautiful and very stable. Very wide envelope.
Breeze to land.
Easy to assemble.

Overall very nice aircraft, would probably fly great even with P120, Joey took off half power and flew there the whole flight. Half power take off climbed out very nice. She needs alot of flap deflection to slow down well for landing.

Hope to get it in the air again this weekend.
Scott

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Congrats on the maiden Scott, I flew mine at Cal jets, they are nice jets. Take Care. Joe C!!

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Hi, Scott

Thank you very much for the review with suggested, I will meeting with my staffs as soon, and we will check out all your points..and I will promise to you for Improve these points ....Thank you again.

Best regards

Anton

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Scott/JT,

Did you had to do any major structural mods, specially for the wing/stab attachment?
I have a friend who asked me to post the question, he is building one right now.

Thanks guys,

David

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Ali

I did 2 flights last weekend with the Viper that i bought from you..
I have to agree with you.. the jet is amazing and i recommended for every pilot and very easy to fly....

Thanks again for everything...

Regards

Heraldo

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

OMG the vipers are reproducing!!! http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/o...led/scared.gif

Snakes on a plane!!!

Darn nice airplanes too...http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/o...villed/yup.gif

Raf

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

MOST IMPORTANT!! After only 4 flight the wing retaining aluminum sleeves were nearly pulled out of wings. Couple more flights and the wing might have slipped off!!! Wing gap kept growing after each flight.

Scott can you please explain how you repaired this? I've noticed one of mine after 8 flights is loose [>:]

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

I would just add a few more points to what Scott has said about the build:
1) Watch your live hinge lines on the flaps and ailerons carefully. Both of mine have "stuck" due to cracks during flight. I've had to cut back the wing surface twice to prevent this. I think air pressure pushes them tight and the control surface catches a small part of the wing surface. Cut back enough skin to prevent this. The plastic used on the live hinge cracks very easy and will stick up just enough to get stuck on the wing skin.
2) Recheck the glue holding the front windshield in place. Mine blew into the fuse on the 8th flight and made the plane very difficult to fly. Upon inspection there was only 1/16" of an inch of windshield holding it in place. The windshield was cut so close to the opening size it just did not have enough surface to glue to the fuse. Sitting out in the sun made it weak and I nearly lost a plane because of it. I have always cut canopies 1/4" more minimum around the edge to make sure enough glue is used.
3) Hysol a piece of 1/4" aircraft ply directly under the existing landing gear plate and use blind nuts instead of wood screws to hold the gear. The wood screws will easily tear out with a hard landing and take the plates out with it.
4) The glue joints holding the main gear doors air cylinders in place are very weak. Put some Hysol around them and they will stay put.
It flies great! I'm sure Anton will make the changes so it flies many times.

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

I had to cut out a box surrounding the aluminum sleeve, then I glued in some plywood and sandwiched the sleeve back in. There was very little glue and nothing else holding them in. They had nothing to hold on to except a little of that brittle glue.
Scott

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

hi,
jclittle and Scott
You can document with a photograph of the items noted, because I'm building two Vipers and I am interested in these issues
Thanks again for these comments very interesting

Regards
Norbert

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Norbert - is there something specific you want a photo of? I think the words in the posts are pretty easy to follow. Please let me now.

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

some pics
pic one is wing sleeve repair
pic two is carbon plate to reinforce landing gear mount

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

pics
pic one is internal of rudder showing no glue and former not attached
pic two is fitment of bvm bypass and tailpipe

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

pic