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09-30-2013, 09:36 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Hemet, CA
Posts: 23
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Documentation of your build
I'm in the dreaming stages still, but I'm looking to see what software most are using and some recomendations. I'm not really a software person, but the program I have seen most is Kitlog Pro. Is this a pretty easy program to use?
Thanks,
Keith Rush
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09-30-2013, 11:08 PM
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: KANE, Hugo, Minnesota
Posts: 765
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The program is excellent. However, since its best to save all available fundulation for the build I recommend a digital camera and a notebook. Simply document the date and time spent in the shop and on what task and take some photos (make sure you are in some of them).
__________________
Aaron Arvig
RV-9A
Empennage Done
Wings-In Progress
N568AK Reserved
SOLD?but I'll be back
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10-01-2013, 02:05 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Delaware, OH (KDLZ)
Posts: 4,196
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith Rush
I'm in the dreaming stages still, but I'm looking to see what software most are using and some recomendations. I'm not really a software person, but the program I have seen most is Kitlog Pro. Is this a pretty easy program to use?
Thanks,
Keith Rush
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I used kitlog to document my build. It's not without its quirks, but it is very easy to use. Rumor has it that there is a new release that fixes the quirks, but Matt has been promising that for awhile now. I would still recommend it.
I kept hard copies of my 1400+ entries as a backup to the access databases. When I had my inspection, I plopped three five binders of build documentation in front of the FSDO inspector. He just started laughing, stating he never saw such verbose documentation. He quickly flipped through the docs and signed the temporary repairman's certificate.
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10-01-2013, 05:02 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Plano, TX
Posts: 2,090
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I also use kitlog pro and have been very happy with it. You can export the log as a PDF to save backups or print. KitLog has it limits, but does the job well with little fuss.
__________________
Colin P.
RV-6A #20603
Complete 5/10/19
PP SEL / A&P
I donate every year on my B-Day (in Dec), but donated early in Sep'19.
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10-01-2013, 07:05 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SC
Posts: 12,887
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I used Excel and included links to the pictures I took so the entire thing could be printed out for the FAA.
Here's a link to templates.
__________________
Bill R.
RV-9 (Yes, it's a dragon tail)
O-360 w/ dual P-mags
Build the plane you want, not the plane others want you to build!
SC86 - Easley, SC
www.repucci.com/bill/baf.html
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10-01-2013, 07:32 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Liberty Twp, OH
Posts: 641
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PRINT OUT HARD COPIES!!! That's my best advice personally. Disclaimer - I *am* a computer guy.
About a month back, I had a silently corrupt filesystem on the external drive I was using for backups. The drive never failed, but the filesystem chewed data into chunky applesauce. And annoyingly, the only file I could not recover was my tail build log. I am now slowly rebuilding the log as best as I can using estimates of time, and the timestamps of the pictures I took during that part of the build.
Get done with a major subsection, print out the log, if only to recover from a crash of the drive you were using to backup your computer in case of a crash (ooohh there's a mouthful).
__________________
Scott Balmos - RV-9A N112SB
Cincinnati, OH, KHAO
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10-01-2013, 07:58 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 3,947
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builder blog
I keep written notes in my paper log in the shop and take pictures of noteworthy moments. No one wants hundreds of pics of me deburring holes!
Every week or two the notes and pics get moved. Notes transfer to my Excel log where I keep time and cost. Then the notes are copied to my on line Google blog (see signature).
I backup to two external hard drives. One is on my network. One is a portable off site. I too lost a drive once.
I know it sounds like a pain but really isn't. Now that I think about it, I need to scan all the receipts and the paper log will be backed up too.
__________________
Larry Larson
Estes Park, CO
http://wirejockrv7a.blogspot.com
wirejock at yahoo dot com
Donated 12/03/2019, plus a little extra.
RV-7A #73391, N511RV reserved (2,000+ hours)
HS SB, empennage, tanks, wings, fuse, working finishing kit
Disclaimer
I cannot be, nor will I be, held responsible if you try to do the same things I do and it does not work and/or causes you loss, injury, or even death in the process.
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10-01-2013, 08:02 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Delaware, OH (KDLZ)
Posts: 4,196
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sbalmos
PRINT OUT HARD COPIES!!! That's my best advice personally. Disclaimer - I *am* a computer guy. 
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So am I.......
Quote:
Originally Posted by sbalmos
About a month back, I had a silently corrupt filesystem on the external drive I was using for backups. The drive never failed, but the filesystem chewed data into chunky applesauce. And annoyingly, the only file I could not recover was my tail build log. I am now slowly rebuilding the log as best as I can using estimates of time, and the timestamps of the pictures I took during that part of the build.
Get done with a major subsection, print out the log, if only to recover from a crash of the drive you were using to backup your computer in case of a crash (ooohh there's a mouthful).
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I deal with these issues all day long at work trying to explain why all the replicated copies of a file were corrupt. Backups only are good as to how many iterations are kept and can you restore from the last known good copy. I know, IT 101 stuff.
That's one of the reason's I like mykitlog. If you publish to the web, you at least have the web to copy and paste your data from. Knowing that at some point in time, I was going to get an inspection and asssuming that the inspector wouldn't be computer saavy, I printed hard copies. Although I did batch print them about once every quarter.
I also took weekly snapshots of the mykitlog access database and archived those as well.
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10-01-2013, 08:03 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Posts: 1,213
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What I did
Since I started my build before I owned a computer or a digital camera, I simply used the builders manual and made a dated note at the end of each time I worked on the plane in the margin of the manual. I also made dated notes on the plans..I took pictures along the way, and ended up with a nice photo album that I still add to with the plane flying and any mods I do. I had the local FSDO do my inspection/certification...I dont think they ever looked at either, even know they were laid out for them. The aircraft, and your general knowlege will tell way more than the documented logs, or at least thats the way it seemed to me. I am an AP/IA that has spent 33 years doing aircaft maintenence, and I dont skimp on documentation for anything, but for the RV-4, Im glad I just stayed "old school", and focused on building.
__________________
Bill E.
RV-4/N76WE
8A7 / Advance NC
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10-01-2013, 03:16 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Asheville, NC
Posts: 2,692
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aarvig
The program is excellent. However, since its best to save all available fundulation for the build I recommend a digital camera and a notebook. Simply document the date and time spent in the shop and on what task and take some photos (make sure you are in some of them).
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+1 on the camera and notebook.
__________________
Bill Pendergrass
ME/AE '82
RV-7A: Flying since April 15, 2012. 850 hrs
YIO-360-M1B, mags, CS, GRT EX and WS H1s & A/P, Navworx
Unpainted, polished....kinda'... Eyeballin' vinyl really hard.
Yeah. The boss got a Silhouette Cameo 4 Xmas 2019.
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