EAA Sheet metal or RV class?

[GreggG]

I am hoping to start building after the New Year and was wondering if it would be worth my effort to fly to Frederick for the RV class versus just heading to OSH for the sheet metal class? I'm in Minneapolis and this will be my first project.

Thanks,
Gregg

RV-8

[Mike S]

Gregg, welcome to the good ship VAF.

As this is your first project, I would recommend you getting help somehow-----either of the classes you mentioned, or from an EAA chapter is there is one near you. I would favor the RV specific class over the sheet metal class if you had to make a choice.

This building stuff is not all that hard, but a little guidance to get you on the right track is well worth doing. There is a link on the front page of VAF called the "White Pages" where you might be able to find someone in your local area to help get you going.

[DEWATSON]

I would certainly recommend the RV specific class. It's what I did and it was worth the effort.

[wirejock]

Originally Posted by Mike S

Gregg, welcome to the good ship VAF.

As this is your first project, I would recommend you getting help somehow-----either of the classes you mentioned, or from an EAA chapter is there is one near you. I would favor the RV specific class over the sheet metal class if you had to make a choice.

This building stuff is not all that hard, but a little guidance to get you on the right track is well worth doing. There is a link on the front page of VAF called the "White Pages" where you might be able to find someone in your local area to help get you going.

Welcome Gregg
+1
A local mentor is worth his/her weight in gold!
Training classes are great, Vans practice kits are valuable training, but nothing beats the knowledge you will receive from a mentor. Especially the folks here.

[ppilotmike]

I attended the Osh workshops too, but the Sporty's Class is excellent to get your feet wet. I also asked my wife to attend and it was a great learning experience for both of us. Even if your wife doesn't help with the build, it's good for her (and you) to see what you're up against.

[Flyin'Bryan]

As you can see from my signature line I have attended both classes and I learned something from each one of them. I first attended the sheet metal class, followed by the RV class. Here is some feedback about both of them:

Sheet metal class
- Highly recommended for exposure to a large number of different construction techniques for different parts of the airplane
- You work on a larger kit where you build what is essentially a large airfoil section with a hinged moveable control surface, and an inspection plate
- In my class we had to decide who got to keep the finished project, because you worked as a team with other builders on one project. I decided to let my partner keep the project since at the time I was already well into working on my tail kit.
-You learn the steps to create the inspection plate access holes, flanges, and cover plates, and learn how to install nut plates and screws.
-You learn the process to layup, drill, and rivet hinges

RV metal class
- At the time I took this class I was working on my Rudder, and needed to know how to roll the leading edge skins to form the rounded front end. The kit for this class includes the process of rolling the leading edges and riveting them together. The rudders and elevators all require this same technique, so it was nice to be able to practice on something else first.
- the kit is a smaller one than in the basic sheet metal class, but you get to keep this one, since everyone works on their own kit
- When you get to your trim tab you will be faced with a decision - bend the tabs according to the stock parts that you receive from the factory, or use a modified approach to fabricate some small riblets that are riveted on each end of the trim tab and on the left elevator. If you decide to do the latter, the ribs that are used in the RV kit can be used to make some of the trim tab riblets, so you can use the ones from your RV kit if you so desire.
-You learn the riveting technique to close up a trailing edge of a control surface. This is something that RV-7 and other builders have to know how to do, but I believe that the RV-8 skins are all one piece skins that are bent to final shape, so there is no riveting involved for the trailing edges of the RV-8 control surface skins. It is still good to know the technique for this.

So I found benefits to both classes, but in the end the choice is yours. I thoroughly enjoyed both of them.

Also highly recommended for getting your feet wet and then some:
Vans Tool Box Kit
Hints for homebuilders videos on the EAA web site
Mentors and EAA Chapter resources from your local area as suggested by previous posters
Build logs or Blogs from other builders - especially ones with good pictures

[N941WR]

Hook up with your local EAA chapter. I'm sure there is more than one person there who can teach you what you need to know.

I have personally taught a dozen or more prospective builders how to rivet and work with aluminum enough to get them started.

Best of luck with your project and remember, there is nothing difficult about building an airplane, just a lot of "nothing difficult"!

[rapid_ascent]

I took the sheet metal class and I think it helped get me started. It was just a start. I had never worked with sheet metal before so you need to get some of the basics of the tools you are going to be using and how to use them. After taking the class I felt like I knew more, but it still took me quite a while to feel confident in using these tools and getting nicely set rivets. Its a learning experience and it will take awhile to become good at setting rivets. The problem is that there are many many different situations that you will be setting rivets and you will need to be able to set a rivet well in all of these situations. Right handed, left handed and blind only be feel.

Make sure that you get some scrap and practice and much as your patience allows. I'm not a patient person but try to hone your skill before you have to order replacement parts.

[NTex]

Greg,

I took the sheet metal class in October, and sounds like they made some changes since the time Bryan took it.

The class was limited to 12 people, and everyone kept/worked on their own project with their own station of tools. Now, I think each table of 4 people might have shared some 'specialty' items like a nutplate jig, but everyone had their own drill, rivet gun, clecos, etc.

The instructor said the class was changed up recently to provide an introduction into "scratch building", but they've tailored the projects to reflect more "kit-like" projects. What I mean is the sample project was match drilled and apparently very similar to RV construction. Sounds like the project with an airfoil, hinge, and inspection plate has not changed from Greg's experience. The big delta between our classes is that everyone built their own and received feedback on what was good/bad.

For someone who had zero experience with sheet metal work, I felt this class was very good. 3 of the ~15 hours (total) workshop time was in a classroom, which I felt was too much, but the rest was hands-on building with some experienced instructors. I learned a good deal and feel confident going forward with the RV kit. Your mileage may vary.

As for the RV-specific class, I did not take that so have no basis for comparison.

Others mentioned getting practice kits from vans - I'd also look at buying a trim kit. It's odds and ends leftover (I presume) of various sizes. Good to mess around with and it's cheap $5.00. Van's website is stuck in the 90's so you'll have to do some searching to find the trim kits, but if you poke around the store enough you'll find them.

In any case, everyone here is right - take a class, buy some practice kits, and hook up with EAA and you'll be good to go. Good luck

[Kyle Boatright]

Originally Posted by N941WR

Hook up with your local EAA chapter. I'm sure there is more than one person there who can teach you what you need to know.

I have personally taught a dozen or more prospective builders how to rivet and work with aluminum enough to get them started.

Best of luck with your project and remember, there is nothing difficult about building an airplane, just a lot of "nothing difficult"!

This is a good answer. Once you find a mentor, you can learn at your own rate on a convenient schedule. You'll have a local resource, and you'll have made a first step into networking with other builders. Also, you will be able to get started almost immediately and without the out of pocket expense of a class.