RV-3 Build Sites.

[islandmonkey]

As some of you know, I am building an RV-3B. I have researched this project over the last eight to ten months and I looked at various builders web sites to get as much information as possible. I bit the bullet a few weeks ago and ordered the emp kit which quickly turned up on my doorstep two weeks later. I have had the emp kit for about a week now and I am slowly going through the plans and the instructions in order to get a mental picture of how things go together and how the different spars are constructed. A recent thread started by Ironflight commented on getting the build picture by study and reference to the plans plus the additional experience of having built another pre drilled RV in the past. I must admit, that this is my first home built project and I have seen Randy Levold's recommendation that the RV-3 is best built by someone with previous experience. However, I am starting to get that mental picture and a feeling for how this thing is put together. I have had previous experience in working in metal and I owned a Super Cub for a few years. Owning an aeroplane opens up your eyes to the mechanics of aeroplanes For example, I replaced the brakes on the Cub with Grove discs, (what a difference!). I replaced the original tail wheel with an Alaskan Bushwheel and the tail wheel spring carrier that also mounted a Töst tow hook. I changed the oil and the cleaned and gapped the plugs numerous times.

The purpose of this post is to put something back into the VAF archive and make it easier for future would be 3 builders to research sites. Here is a list of builders sites and photo albums that have made my life easier:

RV-3

Steve Johnston's photo album.

Randy Levold's RV-3 Headquarters.

Rob Holmes's MyRV3.com.

Fred Bauer Jr's photo album.

http://www.rv-3b.com/ (Added at Gasman's request)

RV-4

Steve Sampson's RV-4.

I have included Steve Sampson's RV-4 site, because the 4 is very like the 3 in that the kit is not match drilled like the rest of the current RV fleet.

As you can see there are not many sites out there on the Internet. If I have missed yours, then I apologise now. If you know of any other sites then please let us know. Maybe Doug will make this thread a sticky as he is starting to build his 3.

[Ironflight]

Consider it "Stuck"! I always have to go to Randy's site to find the links to others when I am on different computers - now I can just go here.

I am thinking of building a Picasa album that is nothing but our RV-3 pictures....when I get the time...

Paul

[Louise Hose]

Originally Posted by Ironflight

I am thinking of building a Picasa album that is nothing but our RV-3 pictures....when I get the time...
Paul

Empennage: https://picasaweb.google.com/1030281...niorEmpennage# and https://picasaweb.google.com/1030281...eRussellDuffy#
Fuselage: https://picasaweb.google.com/1030281...uniorFuselage#
Panel and avionics: https://picasaweb.google.com/1030281...elAndAvionics#
Wheel assemblies: https://picasaweb.google.com/1030281...elAndAvionics#
Canopy: https://picasaweb.google.com/1030281...elAndAvionics#
Cockpit: https://picasaweb.google.com/1030281...JuniorCockpit#
Firewall forward: https://picasaweb.google.com/1030281...049/JuniorFWF# and https://picasaweb.google.com/1030281...9/JuniorFWF02#
Wings: https://picasaweb.google.com/1030281...9/JuniorWings#

Yeah, I know. It really could use a lot of editting and further annotating. But, a wise advisor once told me, "Remember, you're building an airplane, not a website."

Back to rivetting....

[islandmonkey]

a very good short presentation on fibre glass application techniques from Jim Andrews:

http://www.rvpilot.com/Fiberglass/fiberglass.html

[Louise Hose]

https://picasaweb.google.com/tonyboytoo

Good stuff!

[Louise Hose]

We didn't build our RV-3B's empennage but the builder (Russell Duffy of Pensacola, FL) took lots of photos of his excellent work and has given us permission to post all 126 of them. They are now included at our Picasa site: http://picasaweb.google.com/DrKarst/JUNIOR#, at the beginning of the file.

[KatieB]

Thanks Louise! Now I WILL bookmark your album on my toolbar...


For anyone interested, my RV-3 build site is tiny but growing, as I try and follow the old adage to get out in the shop at least for a little while every day. It's pretty mundane now but is bound to get interesting sooner or later...

http://katiesrv3.blogspot.com

http://picasaweb.google.com/katie.bo...eSRV3BuildLog#

The photos aren't an any particular order yet, but when I put a photo into the build log it's automatically uploaded to the Picasa album.

[gasman]

Originally Posted by Ironflight

Consider it "Stuck"! I always have to go to Randy's site to find the links to others when I am on different computers - now I can just go here.

I am thinking of building a Picasa album that is nothing but our RV-3 pictures....when I get the time...

Paul

So.... Paul, how do we use a "sticky".............(

[Ironflight]

Originally Posted by gasman

So.... Paul, how do we use a "sticky".............(

That just means that the thread is always near the top of the RV-3 forum.

[KatieB]

I'm a ways from having to worry about my wings, but thought I'd put this out there.

I noticed the links posted on this thread are all for -3Bs. Does anyone have access to or have posted online photos of building or modifying Type II wings?

My plane has Type I (pre-1983) spar webs, with a "short" kit that didn't include any bar stock or angle. I have plans for Type II wings (1984 vintage), which incorporate the same spar webs but use thicker bar stock for the caps. So, I'm planning to buy the bar stock to make Type II spars.

This means I"ll have to integrate the appropriate Change Notices into the original build of the Type II wings, so I can be roly-poly & do things an RV was meant to do.

So... some nice color photos of Type II wing upgrading or building (And the F-303 bulkhead and center section) would help ALOT!!

Oh yeah-- and wing tanks. Go ahead, call me nutty. (I have plans & instructions for them!)

Thanks for any help--