Since this is the "tips" section, maybe we should start a thread that collects real advice that helps people to complete their RV's, and not just contribute to the statistics of "never-to-be-finished" homebuilts....
I will start with a couple of pearls that were given to me by RV-8A builder Bill Marvel when he found out that I was going to begin a project myself. He told me:
1) When you go to the shop, tell yourself that you are going to complete a specific task - not just "work on the plane". It might be a small task (rivet on the data plate), and it only might be a continuation of a long and involved process (sand and put one more coat of epoxy on the cowl), but having a specific goal for each session will allow you to see accomplishments every day!
2) If you want to fly in a short period of time, treat the airplane build as a second job. You have your primary job (to earn money to feed the family and buy airplane parts), and then your second job of building the airplane. Some people formulate this as "do something every day, even if it is for only a few minutes". I have averaged 3 to 4 hours every night, and a good 8 eight hours on weekend days, since I began. And of course, when you take vacation, you are on vacation from BOTH jobs!
These two pieces of advice have been forefront in my mind every day - thanks Bill!
I would add a couple more from my own experience:
3) Always have alternative projects (on the airplane) to jump to when you get stumped on something. If you are working on the canopy, and run into a problem you can't solve that day, switch to the cowling. Don't lose a build session because you get stuck! There is ALWAYS something else to work on!
4) If the quality of the work starts going down during a build session, stop and clean the shop for the rest of the evening - this always needs doing anyway, and you'll prevent yourself from messing stuff up!
5) When makign what seem to be repetetive parts, stop after each one and check the plans - there are probably subtle diffferences that you will spot on subsequent reviews!
6) If pre-punched parts don't line up, assume that you have screwed up, consult the plans, and figure out your mistake. Van's does screw up occasionally, but much less oftne that I do!
Paul Dye
RV-8 Finish kit
I will start with a couple of pearls that were given to me by RV-8A builder Bill Marvel when he found out that I was going to begin a project myself. He told me:
1) When you go to the shop, tell yourself that you are going to complete a specific task - not just "work on the plane". It might be a small task (rivet on the data plate), and it only might be a continuation of a long and involved process (sand and put one more coat of epoxy on the cowl), but having a specific goal for each session will allow you to see accomplishments every day!
2) If you want to fly in a short period of time, treat the airplane build as a second job. You have your primary job (to earn money to feed the family and buy airplane parts), and then your second job of building the airplane. Some people formulate this as "do something every day, even if it is for only a few minutes". I have averaged 3 to 4 hours every night, and a good 8 eight hours on weekend days, since I began. And of course, when you take vacation, you are on vacation from BOTH jobs!
These two pieces of advice have been forefront in my mind every day - thanks Bill!
I would add a couple more from my own experience:
3) Always have alternative projects (on the airplane) to jump to when you get stumped on something. If you are working on the canopy, and run into a problem you can't solve that day, switch to the cowling. Don't lose a build session because you get stuck! There is ALWAYS something else to work on!
4) If the quality of the work starts going down during a build session, stop and clean the shop for the rest of the evening - this always needs doing anyway, and you'll prevent yourself from messing stuff up!
5) When makign what seem to be repetetive parts, stop after each one and check the plans - there are probably subtle diffferences that you will spot on subsequent reviews!
6) If pre-punched parts don't line up, assume that you have screwed up, consult the plans, and figure out your mistake. Van's does screw up occasionally, but much less oftne that I do!
Paul Dye
RV-8 Finish kit
