Draker
Well Known Member
Thought it would be fun to start one of these threads and take a trip down memory lane. I'll post a few major milestones from my RV-7A build and see if I can keep it up to date!
2016-11-12: Obligatory first rivets:
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FRV7%2FEmpennage%2Fi-d9KMHsd%2F0%2F6650fa26%2FL%2FIMG_0731-L.jpg&hash=9bc8e0e14724a965d9213c7b583f0862)
2016-12-10: First complete assembly (HS):
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FRV7%2FEmpennage%2Fi-7RRJXMd%2F0%2Ff6e58611%2FL%2FIMG_0857-L.jpg&hash=440ea12c0c0dfb5e986e5283eed792d8)
2017-02-19: First mod of many: trim tab riblets:
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FRV7%2FEmpennage%2Fi-VbKz696%2F0%2F41b83fa3%2FL%2FIMG_1049-L.jpg&hash=9dda4efde29839fc7b89342c1c004ca2)
2017-10-29: First job finished that I never want to do again:
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FRV7%2FWings%2Fi-GpHLk4k%2F0%2F3b046792%2FL%2FIMG_0063-L.jpg&hash=09e28bc7aa47fce30b0d74414ceea3af)
2017-12-22: First time I wanted to quit building:
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FRV7%2FWings%2Fi-MdSFgtj%2F0%2Fa9e01d04%2FL%2FIMG_0312-L.jpg&hash=337853e8cbd065b96bd307c0e501a6ea)
2018-07-08: Wings done (with witness dog):
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FRV7%2FWings%2Fi-8RG395S%2F0%2F4d2c16e7%2FL%2FIMG_0762-L.jpg&hash=75ff42768a4079fc883ddcd8b8d54398)
2019-01-01: First panicked call to Van's thinking I ruined the whole project
2019-03-09: Canoe flip:
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FRV7%2FFuselage%2Fi-C6z5gPD%2F0%2F61dba54d%2FL%2FIMG_1632-L.jpg&hash=aac335c916fb249d78f9042d9bb5d28d)
2019-03-30: First airplane noises with copilot:
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FRV7%2FFuselage%2Fi-sSnhXcQ%2F0%2Fc4553dd9%2FL%2FIMG_3927-L.jpg&hash=ea38d727b86d5a4e13cba3d534f3ac2e)
2016-11-12: Obligatory first rivets:
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FRV7%2FEmpennage%2Fi-d9KMHsd%2F0%2F6650fa26%2FL%2FIMG_0731-L.jpg&hash=9bc8e0e14724a965d9213c7b583f0862)
2016-12-10: First complete assembly (HS):
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FRV7%2FEmpennage%2Fi-7RRJXMd%2F0%2Ff6e58611%2FL%2FIMG_0857-L.jpg&hash=440ea12c0c0dfb5e986e5283eed792d8)
2017-02-19: First mod of many: trim tab riblets:
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FRV7%2FEmpennage%2Fi-VbKz696%2F0%2F41b83fa3%2FL%2FIMG_1049-L.jpg&hash=9dda4efde29839fc7b89342c1c004ca2)
2017-10-29: First job finished that I never want to do again:
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FRV7%2FWings%2Fi-GpHLk4k%2F0%2F3b046792%2FL%2FIMG_0063-L.jpg&hash=09e28bc7aa47fce30b0d74414ceea3af)
2017-12-22: First time I wanted to quit building:
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FRV7%2FWings%2Fi-MdSFgtj%2F0%2Fa9e01d04%2FL%2FIMG_0312-L.jpg&hash=337853e8cbd065b96bd307c0e501a6ea)
2018-07-08: Wings done (with witness dog):
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FRV7%2FWings%2Fi-8RG395S%2F0%2F4d2c16e7%2FL%2FIMG_0762-L.jpg&hash=75ff42768a4079fc883ddcd8b8d54398)
2019-01-01: First panicked call to Van's thinking I ruined the whole project
2019-03-09: Canoe flip:
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FRV7%2FFuselage%2Fi-C6z5gPD%2F0%2F61dba54d%2FL%2FIMG_1632-L.jpg&hash=aac335c916fb249d78f9042d9bb5d28d)
2019-03-30: First airplane noises with copilot:
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.smugmug.com%2FRV7%2FFuselage%2Fi-sSnhXcQ%2F0%2Fc4553dd9%2FL%2FIMG_3927-L.jpg&hash=ea38d727b86d5a4e13cba3d534f3ac2e)