EAC Viper XL build

[qquake2k]

Like many of you, when I was a kid I was a member of the Estes Aerospace Club. I even made it to Skill Level 5! The rocket kit that came with membership was the EAC Viper. I've decided to build an upscale of it, based on 3" tubing. It'll be about 45" long, have 1/4" fins, and a 29mm motor mount. I'm building it with a zipperless design, that separates in the middle. It will also have a triple baffle system.

You know, it dawned on me that a lot of my builds are very similar, with a lot of the same techniques used. But I'll keep posting build threads until you all get totally bored and disinterested in them.

[qquake2k]

As usual, I started by cutting out the centering rings with a 3-1/4" hole saw. I cut three, two for the motor mount and one for the baffle plate that will go in the coupler. I mounted them on the wood lathe, and cut them to their final diameter. I cut the center holes for the motor mount rings with a 1-3/16" hole saw, and sanded them to fit the motor tube with my Dremel.

[qquake2k]

I marked and drilled holes in the aft centering ring for the tee nuts that will be used for motor retention. I epoxied pieces of 1/8" plywood over the tee nut holes, because the tee nuts are 1/4" high. I also epoxied a piece of 1/4" plywood to the ring for the rail button to screw into. I pressed the tee nuts into the holes, and covered them with epoxy.

[qquake2k]

I printed out a drilling guide for the baffle plate, and marked the holes with a center punch. I drilled the holes with a 5/16" bit. The center 1/4" pilot hole will get the eyebolt for recovery attachment. The baffle plate was epoxied into the coupler, about 1/2" from one end.

[qquake2k]

I had epoxied a piece of 1/4" plywood to the forward centering ring for the rail button. The ring was then epoxied to the motor tube, using a 1/2" piece of plastic pipe as a spacer to keep it level.

[T-Rex]

Another of my favorites. I have fins cut for an original clone & an upscale in OR for Aerotech size (1.88").

Watching with great interest!!

[qquake2k]

Another of my favorites. I have fins cut for an original clone & an upscale in OR for Aerotech size (1.88").

Watching with great interest!!

Yeah, I loved the Viper when I was a kid. I remember it had a 13mm motor mount, because the mini-engines as they were called were less expensive. I wished at the time that it had an 18mm mount, but I wasn't clever enough then to modify it. The 29mm mount in this version should serve me well.

[qquake2k]

As I've done on my last several builds, I drilled and pinned the fin blanks so I could cut and match sand them all at once. It's been working out well, for 1/4", 5/32", and 1/8" thick fins.

[Fishhead]

You know, it dawned on me that a lot of my builds are very similar, with a lot of the same techniques used. But I'll keep posting build threads until you all get totally bored and disinterested in them.

As long as you're talking about rocket, count me interested. Beats the heck out of bigfoot, gas prices or former economic advisors that are all the rage on some other rocket forums.

[qquake2k]

As long as you're talking about rocket, count me interested. Beats the heck out of bigfoot, gas prices or former economic advisors that are all the rage on some other rocket forums.

Hey, Bigfoot would be a good name for a scratch build. Hmmm...

[qquake2k]

Got the coupler epoxied in the lower body tube. The masking tape is to keep it from "creeping" while the epoxy sets.

[qquake2k]

The motor tube was a little long, so I cut it shorter with the bandsaw. I cut the fin slots with an Xacto knife.

[qquake2k]

Using my homemade fin alignment guide as always, I got the four main fins epoxied on.

[o1d_dude]

Based on what the photo shows the colr looks right but camera usually lies in the shades of pink, red and orange.

I had some paint drama today but just soldiered on. From 25 feet it all looks good.

[qquake2k]

Based on what the photo shows the colr looks right but camera usually lies in the shades of pink, red and orange.

I had some paint drama today but just soldiered on. From 25 feet it all looks good.

Well yeah, the camera lies, but if both are in the same frame the lie is the same for both. It still looks pretty close to me, but I am going to Hobby Lobby in a few minutes to see what they have. I haven't been there yet anyway.

What drama did you have? I like it when I'm not the only one with paint drama! LOL

[dpower]

Like many of you, when I was a kid I was a member of the Estes Aerospace Club. I even made it to Skill Level 5! The rocket kit that came with membership was the EAC Viper. I've decided to build an upscale of it, based on 3" tubing. ...But I'll keep posting build threads until you all get totally bored and disinterested in them.

What's not to like about an upscale of this classic? You know, you'll have to make a retro T-Shirt with all the bars, for the launch. Do you still have your original Viper?

[qquake2k]

What's not to like about an upscale of this classic? You know, you'll have to make a retro T-Shirt with all the bars, for the launch. Do you still have your original Viper?

No, I don't have the original or the t-shirt. I was thinking about cloning an original, though, but with an 18mm motor mount.

[qquake2k]

[rant] I went to Hobby Lobby for the first time today. What a joke. 50,000 square feet of nothing! They should call it "Artsy Fartsy Lobby". Not that I have anything against arts and crafts stores, but it sure doesn't have much in the way of hobby stuff. The only good thing about it was the 40% off coupon. [end rant]

But I did find some Testors spray paint that looked closer. After masking the fins, I sprayed on the stripes. Had some minor bubbling on two of the stripes, but nothing too bad. It's metallic paint and looks pretty good.

[qquake2k]

Sanded the nose cone again, wiped it down with alcohol, and sprayed it with the Testors paint. Turned out pretty good.

[qquake2k]

But when I peeled the masking tape off the body tube and put the nose cone in it, I discovered a problem. The stripe is a lot lighter than the nose cone. Presumably because I sprayed the Testors paint over the darker Krylon. But unless I want to sand the nose cone yet again, primer it and re-spray it with the Testors, it'll have to do.

[o1d_dude]

I think the way you get around the bleed under the tape is to spray the edges with the base coat. Whatever bleeds under the tape will the match the base and be invisible. Then you spray the second color.

Testor's is a lacquer. Make sure you don't spray it over enamel.

Testor's metallics and Rusto Crystal Clear enamel are not playing all that well together for me but I'm now stuck with it. And then a bug got flypapered in it, speaking of stuck.

Ah, well. Gonna put the thing 2000' in the air and hope the chute brings it down on a soft spot so I can't worry about paint all that much.

[qquake2k]

I think the way you get around the bleed under the tape is to spray the edges with the base coat. Whatever bleeds under the tape will the match the base and be invisible. Then you spray the second color.

Testor's is a lacquer. Make sure you don't spray it over enamel.

Testor's metallics and Rusto Crystal Clear enamel are not playing all that well together for me but I'm now stuck with it. And then a bug got flypapered in it, speaking of stuck.

Ah, well. Gonna put the thing 2000' in the air and hope the chute brings it down on a soft spot so I can't worry about paint all that much.

I sprayed the Testors over the Rustoleum 2x gloss white, and the Krylon raspberry on the nose cone. I don't know if they're enamels or not, but there were no problems.

What thing are you gonna put up 2000 ft?

[qquake2k]

Got the fins masked and the yellow sprayed on. You all know how anal I am. Well, I thought the yellow I sprayed on the canard fins was a little too pale, so I repainted them with Rustoleum 2x. I'm really glad I did. It's much brighter.

[qquake2k]

All the masking tape peeled off cleanly. I got sharp lines. Very very happy with how this is turning out...

[qquake2k]

Happy, that is, except for the bleed on the one fin. It is really bugging me. I mean it's bugging me bad.

[o1d_dude]

What thing are you gonna put up 2000 ft?

My Super-Duper Neon 29. It sims out at 2900' on an H54 so that means 1800' on a G40 is the wiser choice.

Check it out on Thrustcurve. It's currently the second rocket in the Guide section.

BTW, I'm just about at the stage of applying the vinyl from Stickershock23 (as soon as I get the flying critter out of the clear coat). Any tips about applying this stuff? You seem to use vinyl transfers exclusively.

BTW, that Viper upscale is looking pretty sweet.

[qquake2k]

My Super-Duper Neon 29. It sims out at 2900' on an H54 so that means 1800' on a G40 is the wiser choice.

Check it out on Thrustcurve. It's currently the second rocket in the Guide section.

BTW, I'm just about at the stage of applying the vinyl from Stickershock23 (as soon as I get the flying critter out of the clear coat). Any tips about applying this stuff? You seem to use vinyl transfers exclusively.

BTW, that Viper upscale is looking pretty sweet.

Only my rockets are showing up in Thrustcurve. How do I see others? What does it sim on a G53? That's one of my favorite motors.

I LOVE vinyl decals! I've documented how I apply them in several builds. What I do is tape it in position first, with tape along the top. That allows it to "hinge" upwards so you can peel off the bottom. Then carefully lay the decal down, making sure you don't get any wrinkles. If you do happen to get a small wrinkle, you should be able to rub it out. Rub all of it so that it adheres well to the rocket surface. Then carefully peel off the top protective paper. Voila, you're done!

http://www.rocketryforum.com/showpos...7&postcount=98

http://www.rocketryforum.com/showpos...&postcount=124

http://www.rocketryforum.com/showpos...2&postcount=71

http://www.rocketryforum.com/showpos...&postcount=161

[qquake2k]

I just couldn't stand it! I had to fix it. It was a lot of effort, but it looks a lot better. Biohazard bags have a use besides parachutes and bloody bandages after all!

[o1d_dude]

Only my rockets are showing up in Thrustcurve. How do I see others?

When you hit the Thrustcurve site just click on "Guide". When you get to that page, it will show you "Example Rockets" and they are arrayed with the most recently edited birds at the top of the list.

You can only see your own rockets on the "My Stuff" page but you can always see the "Example Rockets" at the bottom of the "Guide" page. Most times we just don't scroll down far enough because we're running sims on our own stuff.

Looks like you and I are dominating the Thrustcurve site.