Ground Breaking, shop build starts

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Originally Posted by DanH

Way too pretty. Needs paint overspray, epoxy blobs, chipped spots, a few spider webs, a Snap-On calendar, and plenty of sanding dust.

Then it will look like a shop.

I completely agree and am working on it as fast as I can. That is exactly how the last shop was. I went around with a floor scraper to knock off some of the larger blobs when we sold it.

We have long agreed that we're going to use it and not be a slave to the "newness". Kinda' like the airplane. It is supposed to be a working machine / shop, that will get dents dings, ugly spots, and worn out in places. But hopefully producing magic along the journey.

When I started drilling the 5/8 anchor holes in the floor the other day for the pallet rack, I saw Tanya start to cringe. "No, we must rejoice, for we agreed that we aren't going to be afraid to use the pretty..." (hammer drill ON)

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We're still at it. For the past couple of weeks we've been working on "water". I built a dry well... That is about all I'll say about that, other than I'm so tired of digging holes. I always seem to be digging a trench or hole for something.


So, we setup to install some rain water collection tanks. I leveled things out with the tractor and we placed a yard of decomposed granite. Tanya got this idea to roll it with an argon bottle from the shop. "Hey, go for it."


So, let me tell you one of the drawbacks to building an airplane. Now, Tanya is sure that we can do ANYTHING. "Tanya, are you sure we can't just have the tanks delivered?" "Heck no, we've got this. Get in the truck!" So off we went to get the first of two 2500 gallon tanks. Geez that thing is big. I got nominated to back it down the winding driveway, around the trees, around the power pole, around the shed and behind the shop. Let's see, how do you eat an elephant? Just like building an airplane.


Carefully and one step at a time. Ta Da! Yes my back hurt. I don't think we have too many more years in us to do silly stuff like this.


She went and got the second tank while I worked on other stuff. All of the dirt is where I scraped up the vegetable garden for a reset.


And then there were two!


Remember how I said I was tired of digging. "Suck it up buttercup. We need a trench." We started plumbing the water and conduit for float switches.

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I'm feeling too lazy to build a pump house right now, so I opted for easy. Instant pump house. We got all of the rain collection system built and it is raining as I type this. Fill 'er up! We're waiting on pump equipment that should be here next week.


The sink is fully installed except for a faucet. We also got a beer fridge this week!


I don't have any pictures, but Dan would be happy with what a mess the shop is right now. It has been overcome with muddy boots, saw dust, PVC trimmings, globs of PVC cement and primer... This weekend, while the rain fills up the water tanks, the plan is to finish up some pump equipment details. I'm also going to build a materials cart. This time I'm going to try to actually have a place to put all that stuff that stacks up in the corners .

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Well, it had to happen eventually. This build is Done!

A few weeks ago, Tanya proclaimed "I just want this thing to be done! How will we ever know when it is finally finished?" Hmm, I can fix that. Here is a picture of her Christmas gift that she got Christmas morning.



A couple of weeks ago, I finished building out the rainwater collection pump house equipment. I did most of the work comfortably up on a work bench then just moved full assemblies out.


We spent another full weekend moving, unpacking and organizing tools, airplane parts and all things shop from the house and the hangar. It is really great not to have tools in boxes piled up in closets in the house. All of the RV8 build parts have been moved back from the hangar and are all accessible. With all the reclaimed space in the house, we were even able to unpack more house stuff. We've been in this state of limbo for a little over a year since we moved here.

Tanya took a big pile of hardware store (non-flight) hardware and collapsed it into nice little bins. I don't have the patience for that kind of tedium but she does.


And then the big event. The day after Christmas, it was time to go get the -8 fuselage from the hangar (just a couple thousand feet from the shop)!


Three minutes later. Hip-hip-hurray! It is real now. Hey, check out that beautiful green rye grass that surrounds the shop. All of our friends said the obvious, "Ok, now get to work."


A few glamour shots. This was the end goal all along. Gee, I should have built it just a little bigger... I call this mood lighting. Only half of the lights on.





The airframe was covered in a nice layer of hangar dust which Tanya quickly dispatched with a damp rag while I marveled at the current state of affairs over a beer. Notice that she has a jacket on. I had the A/C cranking out 69 degrees. Yeah, we had a little Christmas heat wave.


I think that is the end of this little story. Let a new chapter begin. Standing over the -8 fuselage in the shop last night, "Let's see, where was I..."

[Mel]

Tanya & Scott, Congratulations. That is one beautiful shop. You guys have proven 2 things. It CAN be done. And you CAN do it yourselves. I've visited a lot of shops and hangars. Can't remember ever seeing one nicer than that. You should both be very proud.

[Plummit]

Good job! now the real fun begins....

-Marc

[David Paule]

Congratulations!

And what a great Christmas present.

Dave

[ppilotmike]

..now get to work on that 8!

[E. D. Eliot]

Way to go - you stuck to your guns and did a quality job. You will always be proud of quality design and construction. You and Tanya 'done good kids'.

[Jaypratt]

Scott, nice shop! You going to gro some bananas ? ;-)
I know my comet makes no sence,,, except, you have been gardening, the last few years I have visited with you.
That shop could be kept warm enough to grow things,,, that's all......