Your philosophy on deferring items as you build?

[panhandler1956]

The question relates to the putting things off until after the aircraft is completed.
For example; I am comfortable with a part or system as is, but I plan to upgrade/enhance after the aircraft is flying and then go to version 2.0.

To illustrate, I don't like my elevator trim tab, cosmetically, but this one is going to fly until a new unit is fabricated. Of course, if an item could impact safety it should be dealt with prior to the 1st flight.
Your thoughts and what have you done? I know procrastination is the root of all evil!

[Ironflight]

Hmmmm...procrastination - can I get back to you on that?

All I can tell you Brent is that I have never liked the stiffener riveting on my -8's rudder, and fully intended to go back and build a new surface. Then I got flying. then it went o the paint shop and got a beautiful logo put on it. five years later, I still think "I really should build a new ruder - but my painter will kill me if he has to do that logo over again!"

Paul

[Jaypratt]

I suggest you finish your plane before you fly it. To many RVs start flying with out wheel pants, intersection farings. These things are so much fun, it is very hard to stop flying and go back and do some of the finishing work.

[apkp777]

My philosophy during my assembly was to"get it airworthy" and not to worry about cosmetics. That was great...until I parked next to other RV's. Then the difference between utility and craftsmanship became terribly apparent. I have a lousy trim tab, I thought "I'll fix that later", then a wavy aileron T.E., "fix that later", then cowling gap, "I'll get to that", then this and that and those and them. Well, my rework list might take longer than building the plane. Ultimately you have to ask yourself do you really care or not. I thought I'd be fine with poor cosmetics, now I abscess about them. I even wake up in the night sometimes thinking about how I'll fix something. For me it would have been a whole lot easier to finish the plane to my MENTAL satisfaction while it was in my garage than to try to get a plane, located at the airport in a cold dark hangar, to look the way I want it to. I'd say because you ask the question, your answer is obvious. Hey, make me a trim tab while your at it!

[RV7Guy]

If you analyze the process you are talking about time either way. So, I would recommend you it the way you want it now. Actaully you'll probably save time by doing it "your way," now. It takes more time to undo things and put them back later. As Paul noted, once you are flying.... fugetaboutit.

As I noted may times, Van's makes NOTHING on the kits. Their money is made on our less than accurate building ability.

7000 flying- fabulous

20,000 kits sold- amazing

50,000 trim tabs sold- priceless and profitable

[Mike S]

I am voting for the first choice, which just happens to be leading the poll at this time.

There are a few of reasons for this, first is money, second is time, and third is that I want to be sure everything is correct before I paint the beast.

At this time, I found a weeping fuel tank rivet------and am I ever glad there wasnt a multi thousand dollar paint job on the plane. So far only one weeper, but then so far, only one tank has had fuel sitting in it, and then only 5 gal. Are there any more rivets that have faulty sealing???

I installed a rudder trim that may or may not need to be tweeked a bit-----again, better to work it all out prior to painting, IMHO.

[hydroguy2]

I vote for #1 AND #2, since I don't need a perfect plane, but I did want a finished plane. Finished to me means painted.

I found during my build(ok during my life)...that if I didn't finish something all the way it may or may not get done completely. ex: during the tail end of our kitchen remodel, I broke my back and couldn't work on it for a year. all I need to do was 2 pieces of crown molding. that was in 2003, today still no molding. but I finished an airplane.

During paint prep I found several items that I had postponed until later that really needed to be finished prior to first flight. this added considerable time which I hadn't allowed for. But the items I had "finished completely" went together like butter. I designed my paint scheme around the possibility that some rework maybe necessary down the road.


There should be a 12 step program....my name is Brian and I'm a 2nd generation procrastinator. my motto: putting off something today makes it easier to put it off again tomorrow

[Vlad]

I like perfection that's why I clicked #2. However, I postponed the whole glass panel thing till better times ( and better glass ) It's minimal steam Day VFR.

[islandmonkey]

Haveing talked to Andy Hill over a few beers when he was on a layover in Zurich, Andy pulled me up on a comment I made on this site. I had said that it was nice to see a completly finished and painted airplane make its first flight. Andy?s opinion, and I agree with him is that gear fairings and spats should be left off untill after the first flight and it has been established that the plane flies straight without these appendages. When the plane has been corrected for say a heavy wing and is flying straight, the gear fairings and spats can be fitted and adjusted to retain the straight flying characteristics already previously established without them.

[Mike S]

Originally Posted by islandmonkey

Andy?s opinion, and I agree with him is that gear fairings and spats should be left off untill after the first flight and it has been established that the plane flies straight without these appendages. When the plane has been corrected for say a heavy wing and is flying straight, the gear fairings and spats can be fitted and adjusted to retain the straight flying characteristics already previously established without them.

Also, Vans recommends flying without fairings and pants to assist in breaking in a new or rebuilt engine.