Builds By Baz - MK II Colonial Viper - Life Size.

Hahah, wow! Too cool.

I've had no luck sourcing the panel from an old AMPEX VPR-80 video editing machine, so I've started to make it. A fellow overseas has been kind enough to run a ruler over his machine and send me the dimensions, so I've been hard at it in the shed tonight.

Got the Ampex panel almost done, just some printed gauges and lights to go in. The cockpit is getting tight!

With new and unprecedented reference photos now made available to me, thanks to a secret benefactor, I have decided there are some angles,shapes and sizes I can't live with. So, I stripped the instrument panel out and fixed. Never be afraid to start over and strive for perfection!

I also trimmed an old parcel shelf out of a hatchback so size for a floor. Looks professional.

Using cardboard and reference photos to work out the side panels. Once I’m happy with it I will transfer it all to wood for shaping and painting.

Port instrument shelf almost done in cardboard. I can't afford to fibreglass it this close to Christmas, so I'll do the starboard side next to keep myself busy.

The closest ammunition I could find to what seems to be agreed as the right one for the Viper, is a NATO 30mm cannon round with a 173mm long case.

I found a scrap piece of Oregon and hacked it square with one of my small knives. Metalwork lathes work OK on wood, lucky for me. I used a photograph of the NATO round and was able to guesstimate approximate dimensions, knowing the diameter of the projectile was 30mm. It looks good after a bit of paint. I’ll mask it off tomorrow and spray the bands on it. I’d still like to get hold of an inert round to compare it. Then to make about 30 more of them and find/make some link to hang them under the guns of the Viper.

That's awesome! So the Viper is packing an GAU 8A Avenger!!?

OT/ Looking at your pigsticker, and knowing where your from, I can't help but recall the quote "That's not a knife, THIS is a knife"

Quaker ammo for Quaker guns

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #18526714
That's awesome! So the Viper is packing an GAU 8A Avenger!!?

OT/ Looking at your pigsticker, and knowing where your from, I can't help but recall the quote "That's not a knife, THIS is a knife"

It was a mild steel practice blade I started years ago but never finished. Soft as hell but really easy to put on the grinder and get a hacking edge for just such a task. One day I'll put a handle on it.

Finished. Simple work of art.

Very nice!

^^^ Ta mate.

Illuminated push-buttons.

I’m really worried that the push button banks sent via US postage last October, (2017) have been lost or stolen. I am making fake buttons to cover the shortfall. They are 19x19mm and have 18x18mm stickers to label them all.
Full build here.

Thanks to the guys on OCAU, I was able to find a suitable dimmer for the AMPEX panel, (AKA weapon systems and fire control) and light it. As I couldn't source an AMPEX panel, I had to scratch build it from wood and plastic. Looks OK I suppose.

Thanks to a mate of mine, Andrew W, who replicated the gauges and digital dispay for me to print off on A4 paper and put lights behind it.

Full build here http://www.buildsbybaz​.com/cockpit-interior-fit-out/

Putting the cockpit back together with all the new lighting.