Let the fun begin

[RobinDeMarco]

I got my -5 plans in the mail yesterday so now the fun can begin. I’m looking forward to the scratch build for the education it will provide (along with the challenges). Tonight I’m starting to re-read Eric Newton’s build manual and cross referencing with my plans. I’m sure I’ll be posting more frequently once I get to the bending metal stage of things. Thank you in advance to the help and support this forum provides.

[Frank]

You're gonna have a blast! :)

[RobinDeMarco]

That’s the hope!

[alaskabearhawk]

The biggest takeaway for me from Eric Newton is do something on your project every day...even if it's just sweep the shop floor.

[RobinDeMarco]

I would agree this was my big take away too. How’s your painting going?

[alaskabearhawk]

Going great, but prep work is pretty much lots and lots of grunt work! Primed a wing last night, topcoat today. One more wing after this one and all the big parts will have been painted. Then hang the engine and do the electrical, always something to do.

[gregc]

Coincidentally, I was just talking with a friend about how to approach any big project. Here is our list:

• Choose a goal
• Create a plan to achieve the goal
• Keep the long term goal in mind but work on manageable pieces
• Try to do something, however small, every day
• Make it fun
• Accept failure and learn from it
• Keep an open mind, be willing to change and learn from others

Works for most anything, airplanes included :)

[RobinDeMarco]

I’ve been working off a list very similar to this for years. It’s the only way to tackle real big projects. Thanks for sharing.

[Utah-Jay]

I am a QB builder, but I work on the plane in some way everyday. I think it is vitally important to have a goal for each day/work session.

Good luck

[Bcone1381]

My default setting is to walk into the shop with energy and anticipation but without any direction asking myself “What should I do today?” I’m just happy and excited to be there but it often leads to bad decision making.

So now I end each build session with a journal entry telling what I did and end it with instructions for what to do next time. Yesterday entry ended with “Next Time Continue Rib Stitching L flap then start stitching R. flap.”

Yet, I know that next time I will walk into my shop with that same attitude, but I’ll stop myself …… “GO Check that last journal entry Brooks!!!” I am still finding unfinished tasks I started before I discovered a fix for my dysfunction.

Regarding goal setting, time based goals suck positive energy from me. My goal on the current task is quality and workmanship based. Errors turn into learning experiences and starting over becomes a pursuit for excellence, knowledge and skill building.

[RobinDeMarco]

I’d never thought about putting the steps into a journal. I’ll have to give it some thought. I’ve always been a big proponent of using lists to keep my focus. Thanks for the idea.

[SpruceForest]

Random thoughts from someone just a bit further in the process. Spent the first 6 weeks of the project working through a couple of the methods for rib forming and building up the full set of MDF & CA layout and routing templates and form blocks needed for a mixed hydro forming/flow forming approach. That was good mental exercise and got me into the various fora re: techniques & tools. It also got some of the necessary-but-nasty tasks (MDF...ick) out of the way so I could get the shop back in shape for other uses. If you are a woodworker coming to metal-working, lots of common processes and tools... pattern routing, layout, etc., and the usual reminder that time spent on accurate templates is nearly always time well spent. Also a fact that 6", 18", and 36" 5R flex rules from Starrett or other quality measuring and marking too maker are worth every penny of skipped over-priced and over-roasted St@#bucks afternoon slacker-chino coffee drinks. A set of decimal inch 0.010-0.500 radius gauges are also pretty handy to have around in the top drawer of the roll-around.

The sample ribs from that work-up sit in my home office on the picture rail above the wainscotting (I am a teleworker for the day job/guitar repair & build in PM)... great visual centering. Much better than those lame aspirational goal posters you find scattered around the walls of national gym chains.

The thread last week on CAD was evidence that at least a few of us are working through building up 3D models of their projects as a way to transform Bob's old-school engineering drawings - which can vary from sketch-level to full detail - to tools for visualization of the desired article and related processes. Thus far, it's helped me identify a few errors in my template layouts as well as serving as a great adjunct to my morning cup(s) of coffee for getting the grey matter spooled up for the day. I had copies of a couple WWII-era layout and detailed design books around from my college days ('Aircraft Drafting' by Katz and 'A Manual of Aircraft Drafting' by Svenson), so a good guide to the manual drafting practices and symbols that Bob uses...one or the other was usually open on my desk during the first few weeks of puzzling out the drawings.

I keep a hand-written journal of daily progress as well as questions and notes...last thing I do before retiring in the PM. There is also a whiteboard in the shop that gets used for reminders... this AM had reminders to order a half dozen things... already done. Sometimes progress is measured by the number of boxes stacked up waiting for inventory and storage or use. Still deciding on what I want for online documentation... another research topic.

First aluminum order (wing spars and ribs...3 x 4x8 025, 2 x 4x8 032, 1 x 4x12 032, 1 x 4x8 020) arrives Tues... burned through all the sheet aluminum scraps I had around the shop for the test articles. Looking forward to reducing those big sheets to roughed keeper components.

Good luck with the 5... may be my next project after the Patrol ;-) Post progress, please...always something to be gained from reading about someone else's journey.

[geraldmorrissey]

At some point, this phrase will come to mind. "When in doubt, scrap it out". Heed it. Your scrap parts will get better and better until they become proudly displayed wall art. Persistence builds airplanes.
Gerry
Patrol #30

[Utah-Jay]

At some point, this phrase will come to mind. "When in doubt, scrap it out". Heed it. Your scrap parts will get better and better until they become proudly displayed wall art. Persistence builds airplanes.
Gerry
Patrol #30

I’ve used a lot of scrap pieces to fabricate new stuff

[Gerhard Rieger]

I got my -5 plans in the mail yesterday so now the fun can begin. I’m looking forward to the scratch build for the education it will provide (along with the challenges). Tonight I’m starting to re-read Eric Newton’s build manual and cross referencing with my plans. I’m sure I’ll be posting more frequently once I get to the bending metal stage of things. Thank you in advance to the help and support this forum provides.

Its looooong term fun, enjoy

[Redneckmech]

I told you that you would probably get started before I did!

Pretty much all I have done at this point is to get a general materials list together for the spars and ribs, and to transfer dwg 4 to Solidworks. I am hoping to use it to CNC cut my ribs once I get the material on order (hopefully within the next couple of weeks).
Keep us updated on your progress, it is going to be fun!