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  #1  
Old 06-25-2013, 06:08 AM
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bret bret is offline
 
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Location: Gardnerville Nv.
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Default Where did you hit the wall?

Well, full steam ahead for three years, just finished the slider, now waiting on funds for the expensive stuff. I think I just ran out of stuff to do on the build. I don't want to put it on a shelf, what have folks done in this situation?
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  #2  
Old 06-25-2013, 07:39 AM
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rmartingt rmartingt is offline
 
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Location: Savannah, GA
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I'm probably going to run into the same problem; the airframe will get close to done and then it'll sit for a while while I scrape together funds for an engine and avionics. Interested to hear the responses...
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  #3  
Old 06-25-2013, 08:18 AM
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Location: La Feria Texas
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I did not have that problem, but my personality is such that when I get stopped in the build for any reason, it seems almost impossible to get started again, although I thoroughly enjoy the building process. Often there are little things you can keep on doing while waiting for funds, my advice is to look for and accomplish those tasks. Might be an age related thing but I find I have forgotten far too many details of the build while on a break, makes getting started again difficult.
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  #4  
Old 06-25-2013, 08:44 AM
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bill@fusion4.net bill@fusion4.net is offline
 
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Location: Suwanee, GA
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Default Paint

If you are going to paint it yourself go ahead and start painting the pieces that are complete. That will burn up a lot of time Currently 6 weeks into painting... with a lot more to go.
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  #5  
Old 06-25-2013, 08:46 AM
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Dbro172 Dbro172 is offline
 
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Location: West Fargo, ND
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I approached this stage MUCH faster than anticipated and am facing the exact same thing. Although I don't know the exact status of your build i'm sure you can find inexpensive things that will occupy your time. Get everything 100% except for avionics and engine.

Here are some thoughts

- Design & Plan your panel (this took much much longer than I anticipated) If your doing something modern with an EFIS, I think Stein told me to anticipate 3-400 hours to build if it's your first one.
- Finalize Engine selection and accessories
- gear, wheels, engine mount
- fiberglass, wheel & gear fairings
- antenna doubler plates & antennas
- ELT & Autopilot mounts
- stick grips
- slider koger shade
- mount wings & empennage (then disassemble)
- elevator & Aileron trim
- fuel pump
- wing lighting, pitot, wiring, etc.
- cockpit interior
- baggage compartment tie-downs
- wiring
- firewall pass throughs
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  #6  
Old 06-25-2013, 08:52 AM
crabandy crabandy is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Ottawa, Ks
Posts: 2,188
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Sounds like me, I had most of the kits completed except no engine or finish kit after 3 years. It took 4 years of planning and saving but I've been back at it for about a year. Now I wish I would have completely finished everything, all of the little odd and end stuff really add up. Have you finished all of the fiberglass? You could fill the cowling pinholes inside and out. If you could borrow an engine core you could mount the cowling.
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  #7  
Old 06-25-2013, 10:21 AM
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bret bret is offline
 
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Location: Gardnerville Nv.
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lots of good ideas, thanks, I am painting as I go but can't do the fuse till the pannel, top skin and windshield are in. guess I could do pants and gear leg farrings, that should take so time....
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  #8  
Old 06-25-2013, 10:27 AM
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Location: Houston
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bret View Post
lots of good ideas, thanks, I am painting as I go but can't do the fuse till the pannel, top skin and windshield are in. guess I could do pants and gear leg farrings, that should take so time....
Why can't you paint the empennage, wings, ailerons, flaps? Unless you are familiar, there'll be a learning curve.
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  #9  
Old 06-25-2013, 10:30 AM
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bret bret is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Low Pass View Post
Why can't you paint the empennage, wings, ailerons, flaps? Unless you are familiar, there'll be a learning curve.
They are all painted, and yes, a big learning curve. 600.00 a gallon paint. OUCH!
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  #10  
Old 06-25-2013, 10:42 AM
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flion flion is offline
 
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Location: Flagstaff, AZ
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Take some time to think about after the build. There's a lot of end-of-build tasks that you can prepare for now. For instance, start a POH. True, you won't be able to finalize the numbers at this point but you can lay out the format and leave yourself markers in your document so you don't forget anything you want to add. It's also a good time to start planning your flight test program. And you can also organize your shop/hangar - not just the leftover parts and tools but also the consumables, spares, and reference materials. Locate your DAR or FSDO and see what they want in documentation and start gathering what you can. I wrote my program letter draft a year before I finished the RV-6A, for instance. We get so caught up in building that we forget it is followed by flying and maintaining.

Also, if you haven't been staying current, this is a good time to go flying again. If you can get some time in your model, that is icing on the cake. Plus, it keeps you motivated.
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