Author Topic: Another Viperophile has become hooked. (Read 2613 times)

capetonian · « **on:** February 11, 2025, 02:50:13 AM »

Hi Everyone,

I'm Andrew, originally from Cape Town, been living in NL for 38 years. Growing up with Mirage F-1's and Buccaneers (mt dad flew P166 and Shackleton Aircraft in the SAAF) I only got to see my first Vipers in real life after I moved to the Netherlands in 1987 but I became hooked when I saw Iron Eagle as a kid, yeah, really cheesy story line but the flying shots were awesome! I love building scale models and have a pile of Vipers to still work my way through.

Cockpit building has always been something that I enjoy. I built about 65% of a 737 sim with my son but that became neglected when I purchased my house and I sold the project two years later. A few years ago I started working on a C172 which comprises of some real and some 3D printed parts with a collection of Flight Illusion instruments and a home made Garmin GTN750/650 combo. (Pics at https://www.c172sim.com).

My biggest love is the Viper and since I decided last summer to give BMS another chance I have become hooked. At the moment I am busy working on the ICP and the MFD frames which I will resin print. I doubt very much that I will ever build a full pit but never say never. for now I want to build the center console and aux panels. I have 3D printers, both FDM and Resin as well as a K40 Laser so I hope that I will be able to produce a reasonable quality panel to be able to minimize the workload while 'flying'.

I am also studying for my PPL and taking occasional lessons(from EHHV / Hilversum airfield). I work for an IT company and as a freelance photographer ( with the hobby passion for Aviation photography too) I am based in Almere, The Netherlands.

tiger-31 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2025, 02:53:45 AM »

Welcome to the madhouse!

Snoopy · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2025, 03:27:41 AM »

Goeiemorre to Capetown,

welcome here on the forum. You mentioned growing up with F1 and Buccaneer. Wow, would I have loved to see them in action!!! As a teenager I really liked these aircraft and corresponded with a SAAf major, who send me some pictures. Suid Afrika is so 'n baie pragtige land. I visited the country and the bush many times for photography.

You seem to be well prepared for the task with equipment. With those two 3D printers and a K40 you can built pretty much anything you want. There is loads of information here on the forum, though sometimes hidden deep inside the archives. But the info and the ideas are there, as well as many very useful files to download.

My first advice would be to make a good plan before starting to build. Think the plan through very well. I started with the desire to just build a basic cockpit, Then later wanted to add more and more. And then you start encountering limitations of your initial design.

Enjoy the forum. It is addictive.

P.S. I live in the city next to you. The one which host the FlightSim Days in a month.