I am posting this to encourage those builders among us who may be thinking they have bitten off more than they can handle.
I have been struggling for the past year with my empenage and a quick build RV-7A kit. I had no experience with sheet metal work before I jumped into this RV world of kit building. I was thinking of selling the kit when it occurred to me to get some building instruction from an experienced builder.
I hired Noel Simmons of Blue Sky Aviation to teach me what the heck to do.
Noel flew out to my shop, (Yes I said he came to my shop) and he spent several days teaching me the ins and outs of RV kit building, He taught me how to use my tools, several ways to rivet that I had never heard of. How to drill out a rivet, and not be afraid of making some mistakes here and there.
I did the work, and Noel made certain I was doing it right and in a logical order. I made Months of progress in just 1 week. It is amazing!![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Anyone who has ordered a quick build kit must understand how frustrating it is to know where to begin. Vans' does not tell you where in the instructions, the quickbuild kit work left off and where you must begin! As a matter of fact it is not simple at all. You must jump forewards and backwards in the instructions to finish the parts that the quickbuild leaves out.
I am excited again about my project! I feel now, that I can finish this monumental task! One day at a time. So, if you too have a box of parts in your garage and don't know how or where to begin, you may want to consider asking Noel at Blue Sky, or any one of the several other builder assistance folks listed here at Vans Airforce for help.
RV-7A QB
I have been struggling for the past year with my empenage and a quick build RV-7A kit. I had no experience with sheet metal work before I jumped into this RV world of kit building. I was thinking of selling the kit when it occurred to me to get some building instruction from an experienced builder.
I hired Noel Simmons of Blue Sky Aviation to teach me what the heck to do.
Noel flew out to my shop, (Yes I said he came to my shop) and he spent several days teaching me the ins and outs of RV kit building, He taught me how to use my tools, several ways to rivet that I had never heard of. How to drill out a rivet, and not be afraid of making some mistakes here and there.
I did the work, and Noel made certain I was doing it right and in a logical order. I made Months of progress in just 1 week. It is amazing!
Anyone who has ordered a quick build kit must understand how frustrating it is to know where to begin. Vans' does not tell you where in the instructions, the quickbuild kit work left off and where you must begin! As a matter of fact it is not simple at all. You must jump forewards and backwards in the instructions to finish the parts that the quickbuild leaves out.
I am excited again about my project! I feel now, that I can finish this monumental task! One day at a time. So, if you too have a box of parts in your garage and don't know how or where to begin, you may want to consider asking Noel at Blue Sky, or any one of the several other builder assistance folks listed here at Vans Airforce for help.
RV-7A QB