Balsa Hyper Viper

I hope he does a Spook to , i would probably get one to say i have one

Plans price didn't seem awful...but I never saw pictures clear enough to pick what I wanted. The SH post of the Umland plans was a jacked-up picture...as in a photograph of someone's screen.

I just called Southridge CNC and ordered a Quik Kit.  Talking to Greg Rodney, he said he got really slammed on orders for this kit, much more than he'd expected.  He said he had to call in a balsa order to his supplier yesterday to fill the demand, and it'll be at least two weeks before he could cut my kit.  No biggie.  I can wait.

I also emailed him the .pdf of the Spook that's been circulating and he'll see what he thinks.  If he could do it, it'd probably be pretty nose heavy, so it might take some creative thinking to get it done.

944_Jim wrote:Plans price didn't seem awful...but I never saw pictures clear enough to pick what I wanted. The SH post of the Umland plans was a jacked-up picture...as in a photograph of someone's screen.

I bought a set of the Little Legends plans, they're very good.  Some day I'll get started on them.  Knowing me, I'll cut out all 5 fuses and tail groups at once, and bulk cut the ribs to make 5 kits for myself.

The Assembly Line Mark

Mark,
If I remember right, there was a lot of commonality between the planes. ISTR something like the wings were the same, as were moments.
Can you provide details since you have a set of plans?
TIA

Ordered a Quick Kit

Greg e-mailed me...got slammed will be a bit before he can get to mine...no sweat I ain't going any where

Same thing happened a few years back Mike Griffen was building S-1 Ringmasters for the up coming Fly A Thon..... he and I are friends now and chat a bit...I put in my order for a ARF RM in June of that year...2015 got the plane just after Christmas around 7 Jan 2016

Mike expected maybe get 5 or 9 orders--- got over 20.....By the time he got to mine he was sick n tired of building and finishing RMs . He and I laugh about how it shows on mine his 23rd build

Anyone who's been around CEF long enough may recall I've always been fascinated with the Cox Hyper Viper, even drawing plans for a faux profile version of it based on the Baby Flight Streak numbers... and posting a picture of that drawing a dozen or more times over the years. I always thought the photos I saw of the Viper had the look of a thoroughbred stunt ship.

The first one I saw in real life was in 2013 on 1/2-A Day at my C/L club in Huntersville, NC. It had a little hangar rash and a gummy product engine that refused to crank, so I've still only ever seen one fly on YouTube. I could not for the life of me understand why it didn't have a Tee Dee in it. A Medallion would have actually been even a better design from Cox, less finicky with a hard fuel tank, and more dependable for aerobatics.

Of course, back then I was a poorly skilled but hopeful Stunt pilot, a month away from entering my first contest, so my entertaining 1/2-A experiments, antics, and churchyard flight-report stories were beginning to move to the back burner to make room for bigger planes and my new sport. The old Viper drawing's pencil lines are dim and faded now as it still hangs in the BoneYard Room of my workshop, forever hoping to be built one day. Maybe scaled up for a Tee Dee .09

I heard it through the grapevine that some of you guys chipped in to purchase a Hyper Viper kit for me. A plane that is clearly far superior to its way cool progenitor. That is an unforgettable gesture of y'all's friendship. After all you guys have given to me, like engines new and old, or gear to kick start whatever was the latest addition to my C/L hobby- which keeps me off the couch and still Rockin'... and using my brain cells. And this isn't nearly the first time, because I've said stuff like, "Wow, I'd sure love to own one of those." Let's see, there's the RR1, the Cox Conquest, an OSfp.25, LA.46, Fox .35, Bladder supplies, custom wheels, Stirling Yak-9 kit, things to experiment with, way more than I can list. And then the occasional item for no other reason than just "because it's cool."

And the intangibles go even deeper. Y'all have read my stories, come to visit and play with airplanes, kept in touch when I go on another one of my medical adventures, and raised my spirits with an occasional phone call.

So, then... Thanks a Gazillion! I love it.
Sorry Mike, your old Sterling Mustang gets pushed back one project on the list, Lol. I keep hoping the modeling fairies are gonna build it while I sleep. But it never happens. The Viper looks like a pretty quick build, so it comes right after the Cardinal. And that will be pretty soon, because I just today got the go-ahead to transition from the walker to Real Walking at whatever pace is comfortable for me. YAAAAAZZOO! I've been walking around all day, Lol... with a cane when needed... Right now, I do need it. You know it's been over a year since I could walk!!
But I am NOT going to start another "Rusty's Back" thread.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention my old Buddy Ron Cribbs was in town this week. We had a good visit. Poked around in the shop and went out for seafood. He's sporting a new beard and moustache, looks really cool now.

Hmmm, if I could only remember where I heard that grapevine Hyper Viper thing...
Okay, you guys are too cool, thanks again,
Rusty

Well the cats out of the bag?  Happy Hyper Viper Day Rusty!    Good to hear Fuzzy Faced Cribbs and you had a good get together. I don't think my kids or wife would recognize me if I had a clean shaved face. I gave up shaving back in 1975-76 for the Bi-Centennial celebration. Every time I start to look like I belong to ZZ Top she ( SHMBO ) comes up with a Gathering or Celebration of some kind to get me trimmed up to be decent, or at least presentable in public!!! SO glad to hear you are transitioning to walking, that's positive progress. I hope your viper arrives soon and you have the time to clear a spot on the building table to get 'r Done.  We will be waiting for pictures !!

Hey man good to hear your up on two and starting to get around better , i hope the Hyper Viper Kit puts a big smile on ur face and just maybe this summer get her in the air Glad you and Ron had a little fun time together .

disturbing as it will be ----we need a MUG shot thread

Get Back Eric Frightens me....6 months no smokes...Not the face..the desire to lite one up

I was able to convince Greg to make Rusty’s Viper a little quicker. I am hoping he makes good on it. Either way if it goes long it shouldn’t be any longer than a month.

My thoughts were that ‘Ol Rusty can build the HV in the house instead of going to the shop. However the new development with him be able to walk should make it a moot point.

I saw his Cardinal and it’s a good looking build. Way better than I could do. He has an awesome fuse jig that really makes work easier.

I plan on making a return visit on Monday Rusty.

fredvon4 wrote:disturbing as it will be ----we need a MUG shot thread

Get Back Eric Frightens me....6 months no smokes...Not the face..the desire to lite one up

That would bee disturbing All we have seen of you is long hair and back bone at the bar . Congratulations on the 6 months out !!

for the new members who do not know what Eric is saying

Dang, Fred, I pictured you with a ZZ Toppish goat on the chin. No doubt you've had one a time or two. Thanks for the mug, now I can watch out for you on the streets of Texas.

Ron, thanks for the nudge on the model production, but keep in mind, I'm supposed to take it sssllloooowly. I am using a cane now, and re-learning how to stand up straight but it sure is cool to walk again with no pain other than sleepy muscles in the hip.

In any case, I am looking forward to writing flying stories again. The carpal tunnel work from last spring is allowing me to use the keyboard much better now, and should keep improving for a few more months. And there are lots of new CEF members I have yet to get to know. Y'all keep your fingers crossed and I'll be back to my old self... for a good while this time.

See you Monday, Ron.

Rockin' Rusty

Kim wrote:BWAAAAAA!

FLY THAT DOG FUN BROTHER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, yeah, we are the FUN BROTHERS!

              Mike (Londke3), Kim, and RknRusty at Huntersville in May, 2017

Well Fred which one are you LOL Nice and Thank you Friend !!

I am glad you /we have some BIG friends Rusty

getback wrote:I am glad you /we have some BIG friends Rusty

Lol. No kidding, Eric. I'd feel safe anywhere with those two dudes flanking me.

getback wrote:Well Fred which one are you LOL Nice and Thank you Friend !!

I am glad you /we have some BIG friends Rusty

Eric you take the most hilarious photos. I guess they are called selfies these days, but you crack me up!

The Viper landed on my front doorstep yesterday. It's like an ARF with a fully built wing and stab. Both are built with a meticulous level of skill and perfectly straight. I may try the Doctor Paper on this wing, which will be my first dope and tissue wing job. It's time I earn the right to say I use the old school methods The fuse is cut out with a CNC router like a 2 piece hollow log, and all it needs is sanding to smooth the CNC ridges. And if I decide to remove more balsa I can thin some areas, but I don't think it's really necessary if I can keep the AUW in the sub-9 ounce range.

If it works as well as I think it will, then it'll be the plane I try my first competition quality patterns of my Rusty Return Tour. And I can fly it across the street without working as hard as a field trip would be. Before maidening it, I'll fly some beaters to wake up my basic flying skills.

Thanks again, Guys. And Greg.
Rusty

I featured it in my show and tell segment of the Monday night Hangout Show. I start showing it at about 57:42:00.
Btw, that's CEF member Gus the I.A. in the Drop Drones t-shirt. And Mike, Londke3, is the Guy in the plaid shirt.

Glad it arrived, that was really quick. You look pretty exited in the podcast!

I really appreciate Greg getting it out so fast!

I sent Greg the CAD file for the Spook (upon request) so I think that might be a reality soon.