Building a Colonial MK II Viper - Life Size.

Blueadventures · November 13, 2022

40 minutes ago, Builds By Baz said:

Would anyone happen to have an unwanted tail strobe? Something small.

Baz.

There are good cheap ones on ebay for bikes and very bright both red or white; likely less than $10.

Builds By Baz · November 13, 2022

56 minutes ago, Blueadventures said:

There are good cheap ones on ebay for bikes and very bright both red or white; likely less than $10.

I've seen those. The challenge is the rate of firing. I believe aircraft strobes are once every 3 seconds or close?

Bikes are more than one per second.

Blueadventures · November 13, 2022

Example of aviation strobes.

Builds By Baz · November 13, 2022

4 minutes ago, Blueadventures said:

Example of aviation strobes.

Emu Park landing DSCN7899.MOV

Awesome! Thanks for that. Double flash every second.

Now to find a bike strobe that does the same. --- or someone's unwanted aricraft strobe. 😜

Blueadventures · November 13, 2022

Also I have seen small bright strobes for rescue, like marine and hiking to mark your location and there are net light for fishing net marking that are not real dear to buy.

Builds By Baz · November 13, 2022

3 minutes ago, Blueadventures said:

Also I have seen small bright strobes for rescue, like marine and hiking to mark your location and there are net light for fishing net marking that are not real dear to buy.

Thanks again mate.

onetrack · November 13, 2022

Baz, here's a Marine white strobe light, but it's handheld with an on-off switch. A flash rate of one flash every 1.5 secs.

https://www.theboatwarehouse.com.au/safety-sound-equipment/safety-lights/waterproof-led-flashing-light-4-x-battery/

EDIT - Ahh, just realised this one is photocell activated, so it only works when it's dark. There might be other strobes suitable on that site.

Whitworths is another good Marine sales site, too.

Edited November 13, 2022 by onetrack

Builds By Baz · November 13, 2022

3 minutes ago, onetrack said:

Baz, here's a Marine white strobe light, but it's handheld with an on-off switch. A flash rate of one flash every 1.5 secs.

https://www.theboatwarehouse.com.au/safety-sound-equipment/safety-lights/waterproof-led-flashing-light-4-x-battery/

Thanks mate. 🙂

Baz.

Blueadventures · November 13, 2022

Earlier video was down hill. The aborted landing before was due to approaching and looking for airfield and being just before sundown so up a little high. Had over flown the airfield a few days before so had a ruf idea where it was. When seen descended and had speed on about 70 kts; plan was to do a greaser, its grass and up hill so will scrub off speed quick. Missed the grease on bounced and went around. Got my shit together and maintained speed etc for next landing. Note to self was should have taken more time first time and did a three leg circuit not straight in. Sundown was in 10 minutes so that was a pressure. As luck had it a mate videoed both landings and they are a treasure to me (how to do it and not do it:)) My most recent bfr instructor was also present watching so had a debrief chat with him about excess speed above normal approach and any bounce will see you floating. We were a group half way home from a flyin. Hope you have a laugh at my crap attempt at landing. Cheers.

1220567561_EmuParkabortedlandingDSCN7897.MOV

Edited November 13, 2022 by Blueadventures

Builds By Baz · November 13, 2022

Honestly, I was only watching the strobe and counting... 🤣

onetrack · November 13, 2022

Woo-hoo! Jackrabbit is your middle name, now!! LOL

Builds By Baz · November 29, 2022

I got all the intakes done inside and out, plus about a metre of the top nacelle and the port nacelle. Now I'm out of resin, saving up for the next batch to finish it. There's still a top coat to go, some body-filler, and sanding with the big orbital, before a final paint.

In the meantime, I thought I'd try to make the RCS ports look a little more technical with some detail in the holes.

Edited November 29, 2022 by Builds By Baz

Builds By Baz · December 6, 2022

The brains of the Viper, steadily being worked on by brains smarter than mine. Thanks to my mate James, who you may remember helped me with the electronics suite in the steel Iron Man suit.

onetrack · December 6, 2022

I can't wait for the Candy Apple Red metallic paint job, with the lightning flashes each side!

Builds By Baz · January 22, 2023

Started sanding the fibreglass. Port wing back on so I can do this as well as start hooking up the nav light electrics.

The flight suit is all but finished. I brought it all home to put on the last couple of bits of the ensemble and to look for anything that needs adjusting. The pre-flight check list pocket somehow snuck up the leg too far and we didn't notice it until it was all on. I'll have to unpick it and move it down the leg so it's readable in the sitting position in the cockpit.

My friend and tailor, Alistair, who has previously worked in the costume departments of quite a few blockbuster movies and TV series, was the man who did all the sewing machine work. I have him to thank for his patience and expertise. I just provided material, consultation and reference, plus a little bit of grunt work when it came to cutting, glueing and sourcing accessories.

Sometimes I cringe at cosplay, especially when a grown adult is playing fantasy dress-ups. I have to remind myself that it's an art-form, requiring a mature approach, patience and skill, to achieve something special. The Viper itself has taught me so much and though I can't use a sewing machine, the opportunity to see what goes into a costume for a movie, was eye-opening.

Edited January 22, 2023 by Builds By Baz

Marty_d · January 24, 2023

You look ready for your scene with Katee Sackhoff!

Builds By Baz · February 11, 2023

While I'm waiting to sell another blade so I can afford the resin to finish the hull -

Did a bit of bog work to tidy the ends of the nav light housing.

Ran power to nav lights on the port wing and the strobe on the tail.

Re-organised the workshop so I can fit both wings on at once. Yes, they are removable so I can get the Viper out of the shed. (I can't believe the amount of people who ask, like I never thought of that.)

Edited February 11, 2023 by Builds By Baz

Marty_d · February 11, 2023

As someone who's had to do some fibreglassing recently I am in awe of the amount you've done. In my experience it's an endless cycle of filling and sanding (maybe I'm just crap at getting it right in the first place). Great work.

PS I kept getting the same question about how I was going to get my plane out of the shed. Now I've actually got it up against the roller door people have stopped asking that one.