New member, new plans builder of the Patrol. Hello all.

[Barry]

Hello everyone, just wanted to let the group that I am an official plans builder of the Patrol. What a fun time living a lifelong dream! Barry Cole Cotopaxi, Colorado

[N3UW]

welcome to the group. I am building a Patrol from plans up north of Denver in Westminster. started oct 1 and just finished my last rib yesterday. Now on to building all the angles for the ribs. If weather is good I am planning on flying to your next of the worst tomorrow (Salida) for breakfast with the wife. I have posted some videos on youtube on how I went about building some of the ribs. Do a search for N3UW to look for them,

[Barry]

John, looks like you will have nice weather for the flight to Salida. Enjoy the day! I actually have watched some of your videos while researching and deciding to do the Patrol build. Very nice job and I may use your ideas. I have been told by may to buy rib and spar kits from BH? What is your thoughts on that since you are about done with the ribs? I was told that buying them would save a years worth of build time, but seems like yours went fairly fast. Thanks for your posts and I will be following your progress.

Barry

[N3UW]

Barry. I really enjoyed making the ribs. They took me three months to make. I also travel a lot so I do not get to work ever day on them. The wood forms did take about 1/3 of that time. For each rib I made master and top and bottom cutting block. I also made a top forming block 1/8" smaller then master. all together 4 jig blocks per rib. Then I reused those for lightening hole press jigs by routing chamfer. I then cut them down again for final forming jig. I think pressing all the lightening hole flanges and small ribs saved me some time, I am glad I built the ribs but I love doing the aluminum work. I like to say I built it all. I will probably buy many of the steel parts though.

[Barry]

John, after watching your videos and others, I am going to build everything, that's the fun of it right?

[Enewton57]

Welcome Barry, i scratch built the Bearhawk 4-place and just finished a Patrol Basic Kit. I will say that i really enjoyed the build process and recognition recieved on building a Bearhawk from scratch. I would also say that if I were going to scratch build again, I would invest in a rib and spar package from Bearhawk Aircraft. Saves a lot of time and everything fits well, plus yo don't need to hunt down an 8' brake to bend the spars. Anyway, enjoy your time building. Look at it as theraputic and a stress reliever. Build one page of the plans at a time and don't get too focused on the end until you get closer to it. Do a little something on your project each day and don't lose your momentum. Once you stop, its sometimes hard to get going again on it. Again, welcome to the group. You will find that this group is made up of an exceptional bunch of people who will do anything they can to help you out. Its quite a brotherhood we have here. Ask questions and seek advice here and you will do well.

[Barry]

Eric, I purchased your books via download a couple days ago. I have been enjoying the reading and am getting tools and the shop ready! I am looking forward to all the therapy I will be getting for many years to come!

Thanks for your words of advise and encouragement. I have always found that the home builders and pilots in general are like you said, a "brotherhood".

Barry

[Papa Foxtrot]

Saves a lot of time and everything fits well, plus yo don't need to hunt down an 8' brake to bend the spars.

The Patrol flap spar is 104", so I don't think an 8' brake will do for it.

[Enewton57]

Good point - Since my scratch build was a Bearhawk 4-place and my Patrol was a kit I hadn't thought of that. All the more reason to get the the rib and spar package.