Let the Building Begin!

Finally! Yes, I'm catching up after what seems like MONTHS of not posting. Well, it's only been since March. Things have finally gotten over the hurdles and I am moving forward. I've been waiting for funds to fall into place and it's been one delay after another. Tax refund took longer to deposit (3 weeks instead of 1). A loan I paid off took longer to actually pay off then expected (2 weeks). Then after loan payoff, I had to wait an additional 30 days to borrow again (a little confusing, I know). Now the fun stuff!

I ordered my empennage and wing kits at the same time. May 2, I was asked to snail-mail my order (not sure if this is normal) as I had a discount certificate to submit. I put a rush, 2-day delivery on that letter and it didn't get opened until 2 days after that! Delay, delay, delay. I've learned a very valuable lesson from all this ...  P A T I E N C E ! ! ! This is the first of many parts of the project that requires patience. Don't MAKE it happen, LET it happen. Hmm, did I just come up with a new quote? I'm sure someone somewhere has said those very words. I digress. I ordered the RV-7A kit with the Electric Elevator Trim Kit option and the Capacitive Fuel Sending Units option. The neat thing about the latter is there are no moving parts and they are much more accurate the the float-type sending units. I've ordered the slow build kit as I want to experience the entire process from the ground up. That's the cool part of the Experimental prospect of "learning". :P

After the Van's order, I placed my order for my air compressor. Now, I've been doing a lot of research on this as to what is enough, what's not enough and what's overkill and a waste of money. I inquired of my buddy Ron Duren about his Home Depot Husky compressor. He said he's been very happy with his purchase and if he was given the chance, he'd do it again. I studied that and others in the range but decided I was going to move up in the chain. The thought on this is that someday, I plan to paint the outside of my house and more tank is better. So, this will work for the entire RV project and everything else in my life. That said, I settled on an Ingersoll-Rand air compressor from NorthernTool.com. FREE SHIPPING! I have to wait a couple weeks as it's coming from the factory. It should arrive the week of the 21st along with my tools.

I orderd my Isham tool kit from PlaneTools.com which should arrive the same week as the compressor (hopefully). I'm pretty happy with everything you get for the money, the LIFETIME GUARANTEE in addition to the 2 particular tools included in the kit; the DRDT-2 dimpler and the pneumatic rivet squeezer. These two tools alone will save countless hours and muscle fatigue. I ordered a couple other things in addition to the standard RV tool kit; a 0-600 in.lb. torque wrench and a sheet metal nibbler. I also added a few things to the tool kit which are options such as additional Clecos, bucking bars, yokes for the rivet squeezer and extra drill bits. Sometimes I have a habit of breaking bits so I doubled that order.

The other tools I've been acquiring are a bandsaw, bench grinder, bench sander (belt/disc) to add to the drill press and bench vice I've already got. I built an additional, smaller, roll-around bench to accommodate all those mounted tools. I'm not happy with the height as I made the normal height table from the EAA Chapter 1000 plans and then added 3" locking caster wheels. Now the bench is a little high. I'm considering shaving the legs down a bit to accommodate the added height, maybe... um.. about... 3" or so. That sound about right? That's if my math is correct. I might have to get one of those scientific calculators those engineer-types use. ;)

Well, my emp kit arrived this past Monday, the 14th, before FedUp left a tag on the door requiring attendance & a signature. I arrived home too late that day to take the tag to the distribution center. The *bleeping* driver didn't leave a time on the tag so I had to call about the attempted delivery time... 12:45. Got it! The next day I went home for lunch at 12:00 in hopes I'd catch him this day. I arrived at the house at 12:15. DAMMIT! Another tag on the door, attempt #2!!! I called and found out this attempt was at 11:30! Seriously!?!? Can I NOT catch a break here? Oh yeah... oooohhhhhmmmmm  .. PATIENCE! Ok, I'll get to the distribution center to pick it up this time! ARGH! NEXT time, I'll plan ahead and have the packages that are on the little truck held at the distribution center and I'll get them myself. Unfortunately, Van's didn't send me an e-mail with a confirmation/tracking number so I would expect something. I'll talk to them next time. The wings will come in about 7 weeks and they'll be on the BIG truck, because they're real heavy, 2 crates at about 200 lbs each!! Ahh, I can't wait!

I've been getting the shop cleaned up, re-organized and workbenches built. I moved the Cooper to the outside elements so I'll have room to build. The first kit will only require 1 part of the 3-car garage. As soon as space starts filling up with parts, I'll kick another car to the curb so I can spread my wings! Uh, get it? :) Here are some pics of during and after. You saw earlier of the before. It's still a work in progress as I won't know how the space provided will work until I get started.

The Cooper is Out. Starting the Cleaning,
Organizing and Straightening Process

EAA Chapter 1000 Work Tables in Progress

Completed Work Tables

I Added the Drop-Down Wheels for Better
Movement of the Tables Around the Shop

My Rivet Back Plate. It Measures 14"x24"x3/8".
Got it at a Local Metal Shop for $35!

The Smaller, Roll-Around Table
with Benchtop Tools Mounted



WAHOOO! Parts Arrive. All the Builders Like
This Print on the Box. FedUp Guys Are
Always Curious :)  "A Real Airplane?"

There It Is!
The First Builder Pic of the Project
Handsome Devil!

Like a Jack-in-the-Box, the Spring is Released!
It's so Cool to Finally Have Your Own Parts
to Touch and Feel!

More Parts, Inventoried and All Accounted For

And the Glue (Rivets & Hardware)
That Bind Everything Together

Ok! So let's get those tools in and get some parts drilled, deburred, cleaned, primed, riveted and assembled!

Thanks for all your patience my Peeps! I'm sorry things got so stale here looking at a site that seemed to be going nowhere. The brakes have been released and the gas ever-so-gently applied. Onward. What's the word of the day Kids? P A T I E N C E !  A little goes a long way. Whenever things aren't going quite your way, stop, step back, close your eyes, take a deep breath and slooowwwly let it out. Count to 10. Heck, count to 30 if it helps but ... don't rush! Take your time and be patient.

Take Care and Thanks For Reading!

HOBBS Meter - 3.0 hrs