How Much of the Time Did You Use Help in Building Your RV?

Ironflight · #1 11-12-2007, 05:24 PM

A frequent question I have seen on the forums goes something like this??I live in northern Saskatchewan, my nearest neighbor is 100 miles away through the forest, we get infrequent satellite telephone communications, and occasional air-drops from UPS. Can I build an RV myself without any helpers?? I think it is time we collect some real data to help folks answer this questions ? hence, this week?s poll?.(inspired by a suggestion from Louise)

Most of the tasks required to build an RV can be done alone. Sure, extra hands can be a big help, and frankly, unless you?re Clyde the Orangutan, I?m not quite sure how you buck wing skins by yourself (but I know it is done!) ? but with a little ingenuity, a hermit could probably build one without another nearby soul. There are times where you just need help lifting big and heavy objects ? or you have to be clever with rigging derricks, lines and pulleys. The question is?.?for how much of the time you spent in the shop did you have a helper when building your RV?? This is a total estimate, don?t go searching your logs for numbers (that means all of you/us engineer-types?), and if you aren?t yet finished, and think you have a good handle on how you work, you can use your experience to date as a guide.

BTW, getting help is a great way to build an RV, share skills, and meet like minded people. I think some of the coolest arrangements I have heard is when a group of folks build a group of airplanes at the same time!

(As always, no warrantees express or implied, your results may vary, results may not be valid in Saskatchewan, Siberia, or North Dakota??)

cytoxin · #2 11-12-2007, 05:33 PM

i used many different arrangements of 3"x1.5"x 18" bucking bars got underneath and shot away. sometime just 3 or 4 then move the bar,,,over and over again. with a roll of duct tape you can do anything.

RickWoodall · #3 11-12-2007, 06:09 PM

I am not known for my patience. I have a retired father in law with tool and mold experience....he is always the voice of reason. Might be on my 12th canopy if it wasnt for the more mature... "hang on, lets look at the plans again" or "lets look at those pics on dan c's site one more time" haha, i am getting better though. Its like therapy and a nice way to spend some time with someone with lots of experience and stories.

grover · #4 11-12-2007, 06:30 PM

combination of no social skills, hard headedness and general overconfidence in my abilities. . .

dwilson · #5 11-12-2007, 07:21 PM

Could have done a LOT of my 9A by myself, but had the great pleasure of working with my 79 year old father for a large part of the project.

We had a great time together correcting our goofs and figuring out how to avoid other potholes.

It is an experience that I will treasure as long as I live.

We had the great good fortune to fly the completed masterpiece to OshKosh together last summer. It was the first time either of us had attended. We loved it!

Both the building and the flying of this airplane is rooted in relationships with family and friends.

Duane

plehrke · #6 11-13-2007, 04:47 AM

I did pretty much everything myself but, when I moved the project to the airport, there were lots of times when I would stand around looking at the project deep in technical consultation with others. Here at my day job at the big airplane factory we get to charge that to the government. At the hanger I would just call it "shouting the sh--". It is value added however. I did not include it in my total time to build.

pierre smith · #7 11-13-2007, 05:56 AM

.....since my day job (Ag) is very seasonal. Winters I worked alone during the week and my buddy/partner would come on weekends and evenings to buck, etc, then I'd be alone again for most of the daytime hours. You don't need help wiring or for small items like building the rudder pedal assembly.

Regards,

DaX · #8 11-13-2007, 06:54 AM

I am 100% funding the project (so far), but this is a chance for me and my father to spend time together, so he's out there about 50% of the time. I am building it at his house, after all.

Steve · #9 11-13-2007, 06:58 AM

My kids and I riveted the top wing skins.
My -6 bud and I did the bottom wing skins.
My daughter and I did both top aft fuse skins.
My -6 bud (again) and I did the top forward fuse skin.

I don't know how anyone could do that all riveting alone unless you have gorilla arms or you roll/unroll the aluminum wing skins as you go, risking creases.

Use your kids and you'll save on beer,
Steve

David-aviator · #10 11-13-2007, 07:27 AM

Paul,

With all the data you are collecting with these polls there should be enough information to write a demographic book on building and flying RV's. It may also contain enough information about the people who do it for another book. A thousand years from now it will make interesting reading for whoever is still hanging out on the planet.