Jamie C

Fab picture! Love that dago Aggressor. BVM really did produce the sexiest sport jets! If possible, would you be able to get any pics of the install and find out if he is using a standard bvm pipe or the puffer pipe?

i have watched that video hundreds of times, never get bored of that sound! Have a new in box Viper kit which is helping with the restoration of another one I have, able to copy internal woodwork etc. Aggressor II is also waiting in the wings.

RickP

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Hi Guys,
Any chance of finding NIB BVM kits around? I've been looking but haven't turned up anything yet. The Tom Cook site is nice, but no kits there.
Rick

BarracudaHockey

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Flea Bay, Perry Swap Meet, and classified ads

roger.alli

A NIB IC DF BVM kit is pretty rare nowadays. There was a NIB Aggressor III for sale here a few years ago. I was interested, but he wanted too much for it..
There are a few "semi built" air frames around. These are a bit easier to find..
And there are quite a few fully built and "retired" models around.. Some converted to turbine.. That's probably the easiest way to get one. You just have to start looking and asking around. There is a Mavrick for sale on here right now. BVM Maverick - Kit (ID: 1117070).

roger.alli

Love that scheme on a Viper. Mike copied it from an early magazine.. It has been copied quite a bit.

Mike Ryden built both the Viper and the Dago Agressor II. Both were beautifully finished and expertly flown. Mine is the Agressor III. Unfortunately both Aggressors were lost to radio and battery failure, in the 90s. (things were different then )
Next time I see Mike I will try and get some pics of the viper, but it doesn't come out too often.. I believe he uses the standard pipe.. I dont think we ever used puffer pipes over here..



I, like you, have fond memories of these jets.. They were in another class.

Jamie C

Thanks Rog, would be very helpful. Have been chasing down BVM ducted fan models and equipment for years, I was very lucky to come across a new in box Viper kit on eBay in Canada, could not believe my luck! It's surprising where this stuff turns up! The Viper I am restoring plus a load of other BVM df goodies was 8 miles from my house. I think the scheme may have been inspired by Eric Baugher? He painted a lot of his models in this scheme. A couple of months ago a couple of friends said that I should collate my collection And take pictures, surprised myself! One of the pics is posted here.

roger.alli

Holy Moly... That is a lot of purple. Your collection of engines alone is impressive.

Mikes model is (I think) a Viper I. This has the LERX, and a one piece wing.

My nostalgia project is a standard Mavrick, A good friend of mine built it in the 90s, but he passed away not long after it was finished. I acquired it last year, and will restore it as soon as i finish my current project.. I have two engines, a KVB 81, (10 runs) and a BVM 91R which is NIB. I think it is a shame to power these with EDF. I see you have one in your quiver.

Jamie C

Yes, the two I have are Viper 1's and they are as you describe, would love an Ultra Viper. I am lucky in that some extremely generous people have enabled the collection to grow, have recently taken delivery of a Sport shark along with a few engines, fan units and accessories. My prized motor is a BVM 96 new in box, watched BVM ducted fans fly when I was a kid, was so desperate to have one but could not possibly afford it. I still have the catalogue I bought as a kid. Even in the turbine age, my enthusiasm for these models has only grown, will post a few more pics.

Jamie C

They will all fly eventually, just a question of time. The sport jets will be DF powered as intended but the T33's will be turbine powered, one of them has already been fitted for turbine. I have been tempted with EVF in one of them, will see how I get on with it in my Electra.

roger.alli

Thanks so much for sharing those photos here Jamie. Man, O man.. You have the Purple addiction… Bad.. I thought I was a bit obsessive. My collection is a fraction of that.
I have never ever even seen a 96.. Until now I though they be just a rumor. lol

Like you, I really really wanted a BVM model when I was just starting out in the hobby. The cost however was just too high for me those days, and I messed about with a Yellow A/C F-16s. Eventually I saved enough to purchase and finish an Aggressor III, and ever since then I have been a convert. It is kind of an addiction as I have absolutely no interest in any models jets outside the brand.

At last count I have eight BVM models. All a bit more recent that yours.. Three are flight ready. (Balsa Bobcat,Super Bandit, F-100D). The others are all NIB “go fly”, (UB white, Rafale 01, P80, Electra Balsa Kit), except my Mavrick which is a restoration.

My wish list.
I wouldn’t mind finding an 80” F-86 with the built up wing..
If I ever find an Aggressor III NIB again I will try to buy it.
And a Classic Balsa Bandit NIB would be nice.

RickP

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Wow,
Guess I am in the right place... At least I can see that I'm not that bad ;-)
Rick

RickP

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Well,
I'm going to guess I was 10 or 11, but I remember riding my bike to the hobby shop and staring at a RK-049 fan kit in the glass case for hours. Luckily, for my long term interest in the hobby, the owners wife kept steering me over to the Falcon 56, K&B .40 and Futaba 4 channel (with three servos! LOL). I learned to fly and never stopped, they guided me through my early flying career. Occasionally I would want to buy something out of my experience range and I'd get a stern look from the owners wife. One time I rode my bike to the next LHS two towns further away just to buy 1/32 ply sheet (to make the fan tube) Because I knew better than trying to pass that by the owner wife LOL. I never used it for that, but that experience prompted me to go back and finish that project a few years ago. I even have a couple of NIB RK-049's and Tee Dee 049's just because I can now LOL.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/1-2-...ideration.html

This airplane at the time was the object of my desires, because there was a remote possibility I could actually afford it, build it and fly it. Dreaming bigger than that at that time was discouraged (what a shame...)

So what's with the BVM and you guys? You guys have a "Holier than thou" approach with me and my Lowly Byron Originals F-16. Do I still fit in???

LOL
RP

Terry Holston

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O have this BVM Sport Shark if anyone is interested...Make me an offer

Jamie C

Goes back to when I was a kid and saw them fly at fan meets, have been hooked ever since! its what ever floats your boat mate, we all have a common interest in ducted fans and that is what is encouraging the conversation here. I have put quite a few ducted fan videos on Youtube, many of which feature Byron models, I quite fancy the F18 and F20, but I am told that the F20 was a bit of a dog to fly? I am currently flying a Jim Fox SAAB Viggen with a OS 91 VR DF, BVM pipe and Ramtec fan. Not the fastest model but handles very well and has incredible slow speed handling.

Jamie C

I have got it pretty bad, but that's good as far as I am concerned! some of those I fly with think I am bonkers but others see where I am coming from. That is one hell of a nice collection you have, the BVM F4 and F-100 are on my wish list, practical sized very good quality models, along with a Ultra Viper and Aggressor III. I fly a Super Bandit and Classic Bandit at present, Electra will follow shortly. I sold my Bobcat a few years ago . . . . wish I had not! I will never tire of flying the Bandits, they are an absolute joy! I expect the Electra will not be any different, my first foray into high power EDF. Took some better pics of the 96, just an excuse to get it out and fondle it for a while!

roger.alli

One can never own enough Bandits.. (Ask Raff) I miss my Classic Bandit.

To keep the thread on track re DF power . I completely understand the fascination of these ICDF models.. The older BVM air frames are actually far more advanced aerodynamically than any of the current turbine models. BV squeezed every last bit of performance possible by utilizing good aerodynamics both externally and internally and paying attention to the little things.. . Speeds of 200mph plus, with a power to weight ratio of 0.7 or less!! Today's models have pretty much unlimited power and use brute force to achieve such speeds.


I have a ton on photos from back in the day, all on paper!! I need to get motivated and scan them so I can share.
These were taken in 2009. The three DF models are all still around. My Mavrick.. and Mike owns the Viper and F-86.

roger.alli

Sorry Rick. I know we kind of Hi-jacked your thread. I got caught up with Jamie’s impressive collection of Ducted Fan kit. I guess we can get a little boring. You are certainly not the first to consider the BVM crowd can be a bit uppity.

Forsure you well and truly fit in here. I am actually in awe of someone with the skills to scratch build a Mini F-16, including the fan!!! I love this kind of modelling. It is so much more creative than the Pn'P variety.

But it makes no difference, your F-16, a Hubu, or Lance Campbell’s SR 71. It is all model jets, and all welcome here. Keep Dreaming! And keep posting here. I'm interested to see what you end up with.

Roger

Jamie C

Will post some of the videos in have out on YouTube, all sorts on those. I have a Facebook page (Jamie cuff) where I have been collecting bvm df pics, magazine ads/articles and also a dedicated Bandit pic Album, it's a handy place to collate pictures. There a few hundred on there now and growing, as you say Bob and his team left no stone unturned in their relentless pursuit of performance.

last year I finally managed to get across the pond and visit the factory as well as the man himself, another one ticked off the bucket list! A friend of mine, Ron Sweeney gave me his collection of videos of the DF era in the UK, Europe and the USA. Have been transferring them to digital format and posting some, will take some time as there must be a couple of hundred videos there.

Great pics by the way, would love to see more.

Rick, have quite a bit of paperwork in Byron stuff, will scan and post some here. There is quite s but if Byron stuff on eBay.

Jamie C

Rick,

Just a few pics of Byron DF's

Jamie C

Loads of videos on youtube of the Byron Expo show and models, some of which are still flying today.

JP-1

Jamie,
Heres a blast from the past, Swinderby 1989 just down the road from me.

I noted Pym Smith is there flying his H.S. Gnat, I am pretty sure it is the one he is still flying.

Alistair

Jamie C

A few videos worth watching, a good mix of models on the last few links, BVM, Byron, JMP, Thorjet, Trim

Jamie C

It was a Top gun UK 1991 at Westonzoyland is Somerset, that I first saw a BVM model fly, it was a Viper powered by a KBV 82/Viojett and it really kicked arse!! won convincingly. Ron had told me that most of the Top gun UK's were in his collection so I eventually found it and one of the flights. The full video is linked above but I did a separate edit of this flight, it is not to clear as the tape is very old but the sound is quite good . . . . and what a sound it is! This was the model which got me Hooked on BVM, I could not possibly afford one at the time as I was still at school but I followed the company and its developments ever since. At that time it was the fastest model I had seen and was definitely the best looking model I had seen, the last part of the film is at what was RAF Debden.

roger.alli

Thanks for posting these Jamie, I had never seen the BVM Promo videos.. BV hasn't changes much!!

I need to dig out my pics and share a few..

Jamie C

Look forward to seeing them!