Building a Colonial MK II Viper - Life Size.

[Blueadventures]

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]

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]

Example of aviation strobes.

 

 

[Builds By Baz]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[onetrack]

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

[Builds By Baz]

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]

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]

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

[Builds By Baz]

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]

You look ready for your scene with Katee Sackhoff!

[Builds By Baz]

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]

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.

[Builds By Baz]

Fibreglassing update.

 

 

 

[Builds By Baz]

G'day all.

 

For personal reasons, time, health and life priorities, I am going to start phasing out regular posting to forums and reduce to social media.

 

Once the Viper is finished, I will cut back even more.

 

For those who are interested in following progress on my work, you can find it on the platforms below.

 

WEB

https://www.buildsbybaz.com

 

FACEBOOK

https://www.facebook.com/groups/240486113096646/?ref=share

 

YOUTUBE

https://youtube.com/@BuildsByBaz

 

INSTAGRAM

https://instagram.com/bladesbybaz?igshid=MzNlNGNkZWQ4Mg==

Edited May 18, 2023 by Builds By Baz

[Marty_d]

Thanks, I'll follow your website with interest. Can't wait to see the Viper finished!

[Builds By Baz]

Nearly done. I'm just bogging the starboard wing, before final sanding on the back end and finishing the painting.

[Builds By Baz]

Finishing up soon.

 

Here's an update as to what's left.

 

https://www.buildsbybaz.com/bogging-and-painting-the-viper/

 

 

Edited October 23, 2023 by Builds By Baz

[Builds By Baz]

 

[Builds By Baz]

F I N I S H E D 

 

https://www.buildsbybaz.com/full-scale-mkii-colonial-viper-f-i-n-i-s-h-e-d/