D&M Dan
You won't be sorry. You have started off right. The tail kit gives you a lot of help, but as you progress into other kits you will not find as much help in the plans. It is assumed you have learned a lot of the basics and those do not need to be repeated time and again.
Read the plans through completely when you get them, then read and understand each step before you act. Later kits will have many tasks within one step and if you did not read the whole step you may have missed something. When you get stuck and don't understand a step, ask for help on the forum or better still, call or e-mail Van's Support. I like the e-mail as it gives me a written record of the answer. If a part doesn't or the holes don't line up, stop! You may have it on the wrong side or in backwards, don't force it. Van's designed the kit some holes offset, so they only fit one way. You may find when skinning, some holes will not allow the rivets to enter. This is not the misalignment I was refering to. Ribs may need a little help to get their holes aligned with the skin. A scratch awl with the tip dulled makes a great alignment tool.
There will be challenges as you progress. Don't get discouraged. Take your time and see it through. You can even stop working on that task and move on to something else. When you feel like it, come back and peck away at it until your done. Don't be discouraged if you mess up a part, we all do it from time to time. Replacement parts are just a phone call away. Also you will be drilling out some rivets for one reason or another. Van's usually includes some extras, but again they can sell you all you need.
Your goal is to build an airplane, but take it one task at a time and before you know it you'll be there.
Art Pennanen
