Eflite Viper 70mm one year review, modifications and tips.

The Eflite Viper is an amazing RC Plane / RC EDF. This video is a review with modifications and tips based on flying this plane for over a year.
Link to 3D led nose light housing. www.thingiverse.com/thing:600...

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Excellent long term review Will. Some very good advice in this one. You cover a lot in 6 minutes! Dang I'm long winded...

[@SteffenRC]

I did a lot of takes to get my message down to short and sweet. As I told you, I can be a LONG talker. So, making these videos will be therapeutic to not be so long winded.. (probably not....). Appreciate all your advice, comments and help this year.. Merry Christmas my friend.

[@jollyroger2226]

Good video and advise. Loved your landing at - 4:37 - as it was real gentle and smooth!

[@SteffenRC]

Some days everything just clicks.. Thanks for watching.

[@michaelschmidt6935]

That was a good video it was a pleasure meeting you down at the park last week and you have a great Christmas

[@SteffenRC]

Thanks. Really appreciate the comments. Agreed, it was nice to connect at the field. Look forward to doing it again soon. Merry Christmas.

[@fullrodizio]

Great video. My Viper has been crashed by 3 different people including myself, so it has seen its fair share of repairs. While this was my first EDF jet, I wouldn't really recommend it. Not because its fast, but because it can totally bite you on that final turn for your landing approach. Because of that, I have landed mine at like 50mph, and although I have a long runway, it never slowed down once it landed. Since then, I have increased the mechanical throws to their max setting, most importantly, the rudder and the elevator. Max rudder lets me make controllable and predictable turns at a more conservative bank angle (less than 40 degrees) and the max up elevator helps me bring it in nicely for a landing. While it doesn't do high alpha, I couldnt get the nose up past level on the stock settings for a landing, but I can now. Oh, and I run the Dubro rubber tires, and they have performed flawlessly for me so far!

[@SteffenRC]

I agree. It’s not the Habu for ease of flying. It’s a lot of fun though. But youre right, you gotta get the CG back and big throws on the elevator really help to slow her down.

[@earlpoe7570]

Nicely presented, Will. Merry Christmas 🎅

[@SteffenRC]

Thanks Earl.. Appreciate it.. Merry Christmas to you too....

[@MichaelMaduske]

Hit the “like” button, hit the “subscribe” button because of your honesty, it DOES make you feel good. 😘 I have an FMS 15th anniversary Viper on the way since the E Flite is still on B/O. It has the upgraded landing gear which I would’ve bought for the E Flite. LOVE the idea of weight placement, carbon fiber reinforcements and the light. I will be doing those mods to mine once it arrives. I am a ways off before I will be ready to fly it. Still tinkering with my AeroScout, Habu STS is waiting it’s turn but then it will be Viper time! Have an A-10 in the hanger on standby too. Yeah, I’ve got the sickness. Thanks for the tips!

[@SteffenRC]

Appreciate the sub. It’s an ego thing for sure. The Viper is a speedy plane and the new improved landing gear is good to see. Learn to fly that Habu as fast as you can to get acclimated to the speed of the viper. The viper will land a bit different than the Habu too, but you’ll be fine. Enjoy those EDFs.. - Will

[@WarbirdFan66]

nice video, and nice mods mate,...if i may make a suggestion for furture models...., i would not add just a single landing light, i always install two on my planes (with a like 15° downward angle /often under or inside the wings, so you do see it better when your plane comes in for landing, but this way you can also see if the plane is level to the horizon because you now have two reference points / lights, and the lights can also tell you if you approach angle is to steep or to shallow maybe, depending on how bright the light if you look directly at it...cheers, and a happy holidays.

[@SteffenRC]

Thanks.. Solid logic on that light placement.. Appreciate it... Happy Holidays to you too....

[@pstarxxx78]

I just stalled my 90mm. After looking at few other models that are the same. I see they have a lip on the leading edge. I wonder if putting a lip on the HH ones would stop that low speed stall.

[@SteffenRC]

Good question... I'll keep flying my 70mm until she piles in.. Then replace with something else.. Fun plane though... Thanks for watching and commenting..

[@koko-wt1ub]

Great tips, would you recommend flying the viper from a grass strip with the rc castle gear? I normally fly off a paved rwy but this year we are flying off grass, so I’m a bit concerned about the gear and the weak nose?

[@SteffenRC]

I'm glad you found the video helpful. The Viper is a wonderful EDF, but there are a few things Eflite can do to improve it.. Stronger nose area and better gear is a great start... Flying off grass?? Depends on the grass. If its smooth like a Golf course, then no sweat. However, a rough, field with medium high grass, I don't think you or the plane will enjoy that.... I would fear the front gear getting bent out of shape pretty quick.. That said, there are lots of videos of folks flying off grass... Good luck. - Will

[@koko-wt1ub]

@@SteffenRC thanks for the reply, do you have a video or instructions as to how you went about strengthening the nose area?

[@SteffenRC]

@@koko-wt1ub I didn't do a specific demo on that, I do mention it on this video at 1:27 mark. Basically, I implant a .5x7mm carbon fiber strip into the nose. From the air intakes to where the plastic nose cone is. To do this. Remove the thin gray plastic nose gear covering. With a straight edge and a sharp exacto blade, I cut a 7mm deep slice into the foam from the intakes to the nose. The right side of the nose gear bay is cut in a way that you can just make your cut line to align with this. Next, work your CF strip into that slot for a good fit. I then injected Foamtac into the slit and covered the CF strip in foamtac. Slide into plane and make sure its all the way into the foam.. Its a bit messy, but cleans up easily while its curing. Then install the thin plastic cover and you are done.. I've has a couple HARD nose gear landings and the reinforcing helped. Hope that clear..

[@koko-wt1ub]

Thanks, much appreciated!

[@jimnardone32]

You have more information on the front light? How you installed and where you purchased it? Thx

[@SteffenRC]

Jim, The light and housing are my own design. The housing is 3D printed. (Link to STL on the description of the video). The lights were 5v LED from Amazon used in off road trucks. I just ran the light to a spare spot on the rx and thats it.. Pretty simple setup. Let me know if I can help further.. - Will

[@TriumphDoc]

Late comment but where do you order your carbon fiber parts from? Thank you!

[@SteffenRC]

Either Amazon, RacedayQuads or Aloft Hobbies.

[@cyclerider18]

Hello, Can I ask what you used for the nose light on your landings? Great tips on your video. Thank you

[@SteffenRC]

John, Thanks for watching.. I appreciate knowing people watch these videos... The LED is a simple 5v LED off amazon. The hard part was making the 3D printed housing for it. That said, you could probably just hotglue the light to the nose area. I ran the power for the light from an empty channel on the rx. Here is a link to the lights.. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013SSO70Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@cyclerider18]

@@SteffenRC Thank you for the information. i appreciate it. Keep up the good work. Would you happen to have the file for the 3D printer? I don't have a printer but a friend has one. Thanks again.

[@SteffenRC]

@@cyclerider18 I sure do. Let me find it and get it to you.

[@cyclerider18]

@@SteffenRC Thank you

[@SteffenRC]

@@cyclerider18 I added a link to thingiverse for the nose light housing in the video description..