Mach 1 Viper 54 TSR Build

[Ground_Control]

Well, it showed up today so it's time to get started!
This is a Viper TSR 54 from Mach 1. This will be my third Mach 1 kit and I must say they're one of my favorite kits out there. It came along with a Mach 1 Red Shift that I'll be building along with an identical Red Shift with my son later. All the Mach 1 kits I have are all packaged extremely well with every tube wrapped individually so they don't damage one another in transport. The fins fit the pre-slotted body tube TIGHTLY and that's before roughing them up for bonding. They include the basics like the stepped bulkheads for the coupler/ebay, stepped bulkhead for the nose cone, about 8 feet of Kevlar shock cord webbing, along with the usual eyebolts and miscellaneous hardware. You're on your own for things like the ebay components, primary chute shock cord along with the drogue and main chutes. They do have general build instructions on their website but there's a LOT left to the individual builder so this is likely not a good candidate for your first HP build. These aren't hard nor complicated but proper prep of the parts, cleanliness while bonding, and careful attention to detail are needed. To start with I clean everything with warm water and a little dish soap along with a degrease to get any dust, fingerprints, oil, or (most importantly) mold release agent off. After everything dries I'll rough up the mating surfaces with 80 grit sandpaper, dremel tool sanding drum, a rat tail file for the hard to reach places, score the body and fins with an exacto knife and then mark the motor mount tube to start putting everything together. More to come...

 

[Theory]

nice. really like the look of the Viper!

 

[Ground_Control]

As the tempreture outside is close to that of molten corium I'm back to work on the Viper. I'm still waiting on some CF rods to build my fin pockets but those should be here later today. I drilled the fin roots for epoxy rivets. I know there's some questions on if these actually work but the premise seems sound to me. I've started using the same scale I normally use to balance my hunting arrows. It's HIPER sensitive but it makes getting the epoxy ratios perfect. Got the ebay together and the nose cone done. I'll post more up in a bit.

 

[Ground_Control]

Couple more then I'll get started on the fins....tomorrow I make the fin pockets out of a single (hollow) 5mm carbon fiber tube and tack a 2mm carbon fiber rod on top of that. They fit the body tube perfectly and seal the fin pocket as well as reinforcing everything. Next I'll mask everything off and get the fins in and aligned.

 

[Ground_Control]

Ok, first set of fins and pockets are in and curing. Ladle in the rocket poxy, insert the fins, put the build guide on, clamp in the splints, and hurry up and wait. In 4 hours I'll do the next one.

 

[Ground_Control]

Up close of how the epoxy spreads when the fin is installed.

 

[Ground_Control]

Now that everything is in and braced...nothing to do but wait. I'm not going to install rail buttons on this one as I'm going to try a fly away rail guide.

 

[Ground_Control]

Ok, motor retainer is in. I installed the G60 motor and CTI case to maintain the retainer alignment while the JB Weld cures. Now it sits till tomorrow!

 

[Ground_Control]

Ok, first set of fin fillets are in. A little masking tape, some paper towels, and a little patience are you're gtg Just remember, any time you dip them in the epoxy, use alcohol and carefully clean your balls

 

[Ground_Control]

Drouge and main chutes are in, chute protectors and shock cords are in...time to sand and paint!

 

[waltr]

Looking good.
One thing I like about FG tubes is you can actually see where things are inside.
I built a Mach 1 Saberhawk and the semi-transparent FG tube made applying epoxy, and over things inside the tube easier.

 

[Ground_Control]

Looking good.
One thing I like about FG tubes is you can actually see where things are inside.
I built a Mach 1 Saberhawk and the semi-transparent FG tube made applying epoxy, and over things inside the tube easier.

Makes marking the MMT and centering rings easier and more accurate too. I may never go back to paper tubes again. Ok, time to shoot some paint. I'm taking some cues/inspiration from this guy here, a Gaboon Viper

 

[Ground_Control]

Done! I'm trying to get better lighting as the green isn't the "green" you see in person. And you can't see the metal flake hardly at all Anyway, I'll figure it out and post up some more later.