Rudder complete!

[Spindrift]

Last night I JB welded the trailing edge, trying to be sure and keep it nice and thin. Unfortunately it didn't hold all the way down. By being careful, I managed to get the thing riveted together with minimal waviness. When I laid a long level on the completed edge, I was initially bummed about the gap in the middle. However, when I measured it, it was only .065", so within Van's 0.1" tolerance! Leading edge went much better thanks to the practice project. A little oil canning, but based on other posts, not too severe.

Next project is to build a shed big enough to hold the QB fuselage.

Dann Parks, the RV6a driver who gave me the $60K ride, said that it was finishing each individual projects that kept it from being overwhelming during his 9 year project. As I finish each part, I understand a bit of what he meant. Easy to say after only 2 months of building.

Happy building to all...

Bill
RV7a HS, VS & rudder done, on to the elevators

 

[N674P]

Yes, it's the little accomplishments that add up. We are lucky with the new kits - the milestones come fast! In the bad ol' days (RV-3,4,6) there was a lot more sweating done (mistakes meant a lot more time correcting them than it costs us these days), and the little victories took longer to achieve. Imagine scrathh building!
Still, congratulations on your victory!
Oh, and Dann built himself a beauty!

 

[FredMagare]

Congratulations, Bill!

I'm nearing that point myself. When I "overwhelm" myself thinking about how daunting a project building an airplane is, I remind myself that I'm actually "only building a rudder [or substitute other suitable part name]" and not a whole airplane. Someday I'll have a bunch of individual parts that I will assemble into an airplane. It's a silly mental game but it beats the anxiety associated with "building an airplane"!

Good luck!

Fred Magare
Kyle, TX
magaref "at" hayscisd.net