Replacement Blues!

[rv8gibbo]

It Seems I have ordered enough replacement parts too build a second RV! Am I alone? Does any one else share my pain? Please help reinsure me I'm not alone!

[Taildrgr]

No you are not alone.

I ordered all the parts for a new elevator and a new canopy frame.
Can't tell you how many other small items but there were a lot.

Most recently was a new set of front engine baffles.

I have also had to re-order several hoses because I can't seem to measure them correclty. Tom at TS Flightlines has been great to replace them for me.

[blueflyer]

You are not alone. My checkbook and I can recall all the pieces I have had to reorder, to include those knife twisting shipping charges.

All that said, I am very glad I chose to order new parts rather than salvage a mistake.

[wirejock]

I just trashed both my flap spars. Not the same mistake. I hate doing it but if I ask myself or anyone else, "should this be replaced", it should. Order it and sleep better.

[mill2978]

I've replaced many parts so far and I'm only on the wings. It's my first time building a plane I expect some mistakes.

I agree with WireJock, I want to sleep better tonight and the night before the plane flies for the first time. It's going to be right and safe or it's not going to be.

[Don Patrick]

I've ordered numerous parts for every stage of the build. Mess up, pay up. My wife and children will eventually fly in the -8 with me and trying to make a part work when it should be replaced doesn't cut it!

It's only money

[YellowJacket RV9]

There's a thread right now that shows what the alternative is to fixing your mistakes correctly, even if it means replacing. For all the reasons mentioned above, and because I don't ever want to be embarrassed by MY workmanship, I have replaced more parts than necessary, I am sure. It's frustrating, but as soon as you order it the worry is lifted off your shoulders and you can move on.

I'm convinced Van breaks even on the kits and makes his money on replacement parts!

Chris

[N546RV]

Originally Posted by blueflyer

You are not alone. My checkbook and I can recall all the pieces I have had to reorder, to include those knife twisting shipping charges.

All that said, I am very glad I chose to order new parts rather than salvage a mistake.

I ruined a LE skin and a wing skin moving all my stuff cross-country. The crating/shipping charges on those were especially painful. But now I have lots of spare/scrap material!

[odens_14]

My experience is the opposite, but may make you feel better. I don't remember ordering any replacement parts, for sure not any major parts that registered $$ wise in the build. However, When building there were two times where I slightly messed up a part. I talked to vans who said it was not a flight safety problem only cosmetic and decided to build on. My thought process was I built the plane to fly and wasn't trying to win any awards; as long as it was safe.
If I'm being honest I wish I would have just built them again, most people don't notice them when looking at the plane and I still get lots of compliments. But *I* still notice them every once and a while.

[Bob Redman]

G'day Nathan,

Cliff & I have sent you an e-mail. Saturday 13 December at noon - our hangar at Maitland. Bring Erin.

Bob Redman