Quest Viper Build Part 6, Trim Tape and Finished!

I decided to use the name sticker.
Trim it evenly just outside the printed area.

I used small pencil ticks for centering. You should have reference marks, once you set these stickers down, they are stuck!

With the red on the name sticker, the model needed some more red trim.

A long triangle strip was cut and set on one side of all four fins.
These were cut a little long and trimmed off with a razor blade.

I used the red bars behind the Viper name sticker for the widths of the forward trim stripes. Pencil ticks were drawn and these were transferred to the Monokote red trim sheet.

Here's the model before:

And after the red trim was added.
I should have spread out the forward red stripes like the rear spacing behind the Viper name.
Oh well - FINISHED!

Quest Viper Build Part 5, Fin Can Mask

Here's how the engine mount now extends out the back.
This allows the engine hook to be lifted for the engine install.

If the tube ends were even you could hardly move the engine hook.

I did fill the body tube seams.
The tube alone was sprayed with gray primer and sanded smooth.

Just the rear of the tube was masked off for a coat of white.
The fin can fit is tight. If the end were painted the paint would be scraped off when the fin can is slid on from the rear.

After spraying on the white, the paint was scraped off the engine hook.

This isn't necessary, it just trims up the hook. Use the back side of your knife blade, there's no reason to dull the sharp side.
You can take the paint off the hook now or the engine heat and flame will bubble and char the paint.

Quest Viper Build Part 4, Engine Mount and Parachute Changes

The yellow engine mount tube was replaced with a thicker ST07 tube. The bendable engine hook was replaced with a hook made from the spring steel strip pulled out of a windshield wiper blade.

Upper left:
The instructions have you glue the centering rings 1/2" from the ends of the motor mount tube. With the engine mount tube glued even with the end of the main air frame, this puts the rear ring close too close to the rear not allowing the hook enough movement.
Lower right:
The rear ring was moved closer to the center allowing the engine hook to be lifted.
The Kevlar was tied under the top bend of the engine hook. The forward ring was slid over the end of the hook locking the Kevlar in place.
The instructions tell you to glue the mount in with the tube ends even.
I'm gluing it in with 1/4" of the engine tube extending out the back for easier engine install and removal.

I really like the Tyvek reinforcement rings on the parachutes.
Tyvek won't tear!

The shroud lines were very thick.

The 14" parachute was cut down to a 12" diameter.
The Quest logo circle was removed from the center for a spill hole.

Quest Viper Build Part 3, Fin Change

Lonnie mentioned this at the TTRA launch:
In assembling the pieces you find the interior of the fin can is tapered to only go on the tube one way! You can only slide the can on from the rear with the fins up swept!

It's easy enough to sand the taper down a bit to slide it on upside down.
Wrap some 220 around an engine casing to reduce the inside wall taper.





On the left is the original install of the fin can.
On the right is the trimmed and reversed fin can.

A dry fit of the parts - 

That body tube seems a bit long.
I'd better cut off two inches for a better visual balance.

Quest Viper Build Part 2, Fin Change

Here's how the model looks on the Quest website.

I've never liked reversed fin cans, with the fins swept up like the Estes Cobra. To me it just doesn't look aerodynamic.

That's the first change -

All the outside edges of the fin can had mold marks and seams.
All the edges were sanded smooth with 220 grit sandpaper on a block.

No need to sand the flat sides of the fins. Leave them smooth.

Even with the fin can turned over the fin shape is boring.

You can score the fin with a sharp knife and straightedge.
Cut about 1/3rd the way through.
Flex the tip down the scored line and the tip will break off.
Sand the rough edge smooth. Use the first removed tip as a template to score the other three fins.

Quest Viper Build Part 1 Parts

I know, a level 1 kit? Why not!
Sometimes you can take a simple model, change it up a bit.
A few improvements and you can make it your own.
At the last Tampa TTRA launch, Lonnie B gave me a Quest Viper kit to play with. Lonnie picked up a bunch of these on a recent purchase on Craig's List. Thanks Lonnie, lets see how we can "hop up" this one!

This would make a pretty good first rocket. 

• A molded one piece fin unit with integrated launch lug - in the picture the fin can is shown upside down.
• Plastic nose cone
• Kevlar and elastic shock cord
• White body tube - No painting! (Unless you want to)

Parts of interest:

• Tyvek tape disks for parachute edge reinforcement
• 14" Quest (stiff) parachute (a little large for this model)
• Self adhesive Viper name decal
• Astra Mini Manual of Model Rocketry