Still thinking about an RV-14

[Jim K]

I did the prep work (in pieces) on the RV-10, but had a friend with an aircraft paint shop shoot the color coats. I painted the RV-6 in pieces in my garage. The paint has held up extremely well for 25 years. The real work is in the prep - getting everything clean, fixing any imperfections, finishing the fiberglass (the wingtips, in your case). Spraying the paint is where you need technique and your neighbor can help you there.

Since your neighbor has a booth, that sounds ideal. Pick the right paint - Sherwin Williams, PPG, and Axalta (used to be Dupont) all have good products. I always suggest using a paint system you can source at the local auto paint shop so if you need advice, catalyst, etc. you can grab it there, rather than ordering it and waiting. The question you have to ask yourself is if you want a nice paint job or if you're willing to spend twice the time for an amazing paint job. For instance, the folks at Evoke dip a gloved finger in high build primer and partially fill every flush rivet circle, the sand the rivet lines. The finished product looks amazing. But the time, dear lord. That's one of the reasons they charge 30-40K for a paint job. Fiberglass finishing can be a real time suck too.

I'm sure there are better painters here than me, but feel free to reach out with questions.

I'm not going to let the perfect be the enemy of the good here. I have no illusions about winning a Lindy.

I know my A&P goes to the local PPG supplier to get stuff color matched. They do a lot of automotive paint business. There's a SW dealer in town as well, but i think they mostly handle house paint.

I think I'm just going to do single stage, one color on the aluminum, another color on the FG, and do the rest in vinyl.

Did you alodine your plane before painting, or use some other etching primer?

 

[kyleb]

I'm not going to let the perfect be the enemy of the good here. I have no illusions about winning a Lindy.

I know my A&P goes to the local PPG supplier to get stuff color matched. They do a lot of automotive paint business. There's a SW dealer in town as well, but i think they mostly handle house paint.

I think I'm just going to do single stage, one color on the aluminum, another color on the FG, and do the rest in vinyl.

Did you alodine your plane before painting, or use some other etching primer?

I alodined the RV-6. In hindsight, alodine is a nasty chemical and epoxy primer over clean, scuffed aluminum is foolproof, so that was the path I took on the -10.

And yeah, a Lindy is a tough hill to climb especially if your ultimate goal is to use the airplane to go places and do things.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

FWIW department: Random comments. Not a professional - but I've done a few cars and a boat I owned back in the olden days.

Two part Polyurethane - you really want to use outside air - as I recall from the MSDS the stuff has "poor warning properties" - as in by the time you smell it through your carbon filter, it's too late... OTOH - it does go on and flow out nicely - I used a brush to do the waterline on a boat and it didn't look any different than what I had sprayed.

Guns - Never been a fan of cheap guns - but it's been decades since I last bought one.

Booth: Last big spray job I did was a 26' sailboat - just made a big tent with a tarp roof and floor and poly walls. Lack of air in/out meant that visibility went to nothing as I sprayed. HVLP would have been much better...

Lighting is important. You need to be able to see the wet edge.

 

[Jim K]

FWIW department: Random comments. Not a professional - but I've done a few cars and a boat I owned back in the olden days.

Two part Polyurethane - you really want to use outside air - as I recall from the MSDS the stuff has "poor warning properties" - as in by the time you smell it through your carbon filter, it's too late... OTOH - it does go on and flow out nicely - I used a brush to do the waterline on a boat and it didn't look any different than what I had sprayed.

Guns - Never been a fan of cheap guns - but it's been decades since I last bought one.

Booth: Last big spray job I did was a 26' sailboat - just made a big tent with a tarp roof and floor and poly walls. Lack of air in/out meant that visibility went to nothing as I sprayed. HVLP would have been much better...

Lighting is important. You need to be able to see the wet edge.

BTW...I never properly thanked you for suggesting the vibrating cutter tool for trimming fiberglass. I used it on the wingtips, and it made 5% of the dust the cut off wheel did. I've never found much use for this tool, but it's gold for FG.

 

[Kitch]

When I used to paint trucks regularly I always like Imron 6000 that Kenworth used from the factory. ( Not sure what Axalta calls it now or if its even still available) Flowed out amazing, looked like glass, and hard as a rock after it dries. Just curious on if you have colors in mind ? Or is that classified lol

 

[Jim K]

When I used to paint trucks regularly I always like Imron 6000 that Kenworth used from the factory. ( Not sure what Axalta calls it now or if its even still available) Flowed out amazing, looked like glass, and hard as a rock after it dries. Just curious on if you have colors in mind ? Or is that classified lol

I actually printed out the line drawing and colored it with colored pencils before I ordered the first kit lol. That said, I don't think I'm going to give away the plan. That drawing is in my shop though, so if anyone comes to visit, or it shows up in the background of a picture, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

 

[Kitch]

I actually printed out the line drawing and colored it with colored pencils before I ordered the first kit lol. That said, I don't think I'm going to give away the plan. That drawing is in my shop though, so if anyone comes to visit, or it shows up in the background of a picture, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

Those are all of the answers I expected for some reason. Now to go back thru all the pictures and play where's waldo to find the drawing.

Love watching the progress. Thanks for keeping this band of misfits updated.

 

[Racerx]

After the movie, I went out and riveted the trailing edge of the right aileron, finishing chapter 22. 23 (aileron pushrods) is almost done with the exception of attaching the pushrods to the ailerons and adjusting their length. 24 is the wingtips, of which i already have one done, so I'm closing in on the end of the wing kit. A couple wiring cleanups and then figuring out how to get them to the hangar.

Got an email from Van's yesterday that they have "assigned a crating window", whatever that means. It also says they are running 2-3 weeks behind the targeted ship date, which in my case is 11-25. Fingers crossed I get it before Christmas.

I was kind of planning on getting one of those inflatable paint booths, but i realized last night that I have a neighbor/friend who is a paint and body man with a professional paint booth in his shed. I suspect hiring him to teach me how to do it and provide the correct equipment would yield far better results, while still achieving the goals of learning the skills and saving money. Need to do a little research on paint and see if he's up for it. Seems like it might make sense to do it before moving the wings to the hangar so I only have to move them once. @kyleb ... you painted your planes, right? Any advice?

View attachment 147399

At work I converted a conex box for painting. Has led lighting, a heater, and fan with filters. For a plane I'll take it to my cousin's husband.

 

[Jim K]

Finished up the aileron pushrods last night. Had fun moving them from the wing root. Kinda like eating crab legs and pulling on that little tendon to actuate the claw.

Section 23 complete.

 

[Bill]

And henceforth your plane will be known as “The Crab.”

 

[Jim K]

And henceforth your plane will be known as “The Crab.”

As long as it doesn't fly sideways

 

[eman1200]

Finished up the aileron pushrods last night. Had fun moving them from the wing root. Kinda like eating crab legs and pulling on that little tendon to actuate the claw.

Section 23 complete.

Those are the kind of videos I can like and subscribe to

 

[AV8R_87]

Those are the kind of videos I can like and subscribe to

But will you comment and share?

 

[Jim K]

Woohoo-just got shipment notification for my fuse. kit.

Based on the last two, there's a 10% chance they could deliver it next tuesday, 20% they deliver it Dec. 9, and 70% I drive to Bloomington and pick it up next week.

 

[WDD]

Woohoo-just got shipment notification for my fuse. kit.

Based on the last two, there's a 10% chance they could deliver it next tuesday, 20% they deliver it Dec. 9, and 70% I drive to Bloomington and pick it up next week.

Have a good road trip LOL

How soon before engine and prop ready?

 

[Kitch]

Woohoo-just got shipment notification for my fuse. kit.

Based on the last two, there's a 10% chance they could deliver it next tuesday, 20% they deliver it Dec. 9, and 70% I drive to Bloomington and pick it up next week.

Did you start acquiring road trip snacks yet...

 

[Jim K]

Have a good road trip LOL

How soon before engine and prop ready?

I'm putting the engine off as long as possible to prevent it from getting rusty. I'll probably even mock it up without the valvetrain, rods or pistons to figure out all the plumbing, baffling & cowls. The engine mount comes with the finish kit that also includes the canopy and cowls. All the avionics and interior work could be done first as well. My thought is to have the airplane finished, even painted, then build the engine, get it broken in on a dyno, hang it on the plane and go fly. Add attaching the wings and getting an airworthiness inspection in there somewhere too

Couple years yet, anyway. Just long enough to forget everything I learned and for all the sealants I bought to expire.

 

[455 Bravo Uniform]

Woohoo-just got shipment notification for my fuse. kit.

Based on the last two, there's a 10% chance they could deliver it next tuesday, 20% they deliver it Dec. 9, and 70% I drive to Bloomington and pick it up next week.

You can’t have more than 100%. You left out it being shipped to Utah by mistake…

Happy Thanksgiving!!

 

[masloki]

You can’t have more than 100%. You left out it being shipped to Utah by mistake…

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I really don't know who he is kidding. There's a 100% chance he drives to Bloomington to pick it up. Could be next week or the week following.

 

[tspear]

I'm putting the engine off as long as possible to prevent it from getting rusty. I'll probably even mock it up without the valvetrain, rods or pistons to figure out all the plumbing, baffling & cowls. The engine mount comes with the finish kit that also includes the canopy and cowls. All the avionics and interior work could be done first as well. My thought is to have the airplane finished, even painted, then build the engine, get it broken in on a dyno, hang it on the plane and go fly. Add attaching the wings and getting an airworthiness inspection in there somewhere too

Couple years yet, anyway. Just long enough to forget everything I learned and for all the sealants I bought to expire.

Congrats on the kit. A long time ago on one of the home builder forums (I forget which). One builder suggested contacting salvage yards and look for an engine of the same size, that is cracked or has some other disqualifying aspect for trade in. Use the scrap for the build process to mock everything in place.
Most others suggested instead to just order an engine and pickle it.

Tim

 

[Jim K]

I really don't know who he is kidding. There's a 100% chance he drives to Bloomington to pick it up. Could be next week or the week following.

I'm definitely, probably, not doing it this time.

I have enough to do here to keep me busy. The problem is, they only deliver to my area on Tuesday. I'm guessing it shows up in Bloomington on Wednesday of next week, then sits on their dock until the estimated delivery date of dec 9. Drives me insane to have it just sitting there for a week.

 

[WDD]

I'm definitely, probably, not doing it this time.

Drives me insane to have it just sitting there for a week.

Easy solution. Your wife has her CDL.

 

[baboss]

I'm definitely, probably, not doing it this time.

I have enough to do here to keep me busy. The problem is, they only deliver to my area on Tuesday. I'm guessing it shows up in Bloomington on Wednesday of next week, then sits on their dock until the estimated delivery date of dec 9. Drives me insane to have it just sitting there for a week.

Don't become a victim of get-there-itis. We have a room if you need to overnight before you begin the long journey back home.

 

[Jim K]

So after smoking two turkeys and feeding 20 people and a 2 hour nap, I went out to the shop tonight and finished the last few steps of section 25, which completes the wing kit. I still have a bit of a punch list though for off plans stuff and cleanup that the plans didn't really cover. I have to make a couple wiring harnesses for my lights, trim the inspection panels to fit better, and fill a couple misdrilled holes in the wingtips. My right aileron trailing edge kind of sucks, so I'm going to see if I can make it look okay, but I might end up building a new one.

I spoke to my neighbor who said he'd be happy to help. He gave me the number for his PPG rep so we could get the official "system". Paint man sprays a lot of Delfleet single stage urethane, which we agreed would be ideal. It's marketed primarily for big trucks, so it's cheap (relatively...)and tough. I assume an epoxy primer, but I don't know what treatment the bare metal will need. The ideal is Alodine, but I'd rather not contaminate my driveway with hexavalent chromium if I can avoid it, so we'll see what the rep says.

745 hours logged to date.

VOR Antenna

 

[flyingcheesehead]

My older son would think that Minecraft bike is pretty cool!

 

[Racerx]

Those are the kind of videos I can like and subscribe to

A few more seconds and my attention would have drifted.

I am jealous how quickly it's looking like an airplane

 

[asicer]

745 hours logged to date.

Isn't today right around the 1-year anniversary of when you drove your first rivets?

 

[Jim K]

Isn't today right around the 1-year anniversary of when you drove your first rivets?

Ha... you're right. Nov 20, 2024 I started on the practice kit. I started on the airplane proper Jan 2 of this year.

 

[asicer]

Ha... you're right. Nov 20, 2024 I started on the practice kit. I started on the airplane proper Jan 2 of this year.

Cool. How many hours were between November and January of those dates?

 

[Jim K]

Cool. How many hours were between November and January of those dates?

Looks like the 745 number was starting on jan 2. I logged my practice kits in my amt experience log, but not the EAA build log.



Looks like I'm averaging about 2.2 hours per day, which is a little crazy. Grok tells me the average builder takes around 850 hours to do the Empennage and wing kits, so I'm moving a little faster than average. Now that is cold outside, I'll probably work on it a little more, but I don't think i can get away with what I did in January of '25 again.

 

[geezer]

It looks like when you are actively working the RV, you do about 10 hours a week on it.

I have averaged 50 hours a week for whole years, and it is tough. You have a big advantage, the plane is at home, you do not miss meals. My wife still complains about the year that I missed supper 78 times without advance notice, meaning she prepared for 4 and served to 3. 20 or 30 more times, I knew by noon the work was not going to be done, and called her.

Sometimes my "planting" and "harvest" went all year long. When the company is losing $10,000 an hour, they do not want the second best technician, and saying no is not well received.

I have lived on a farm 2 summers, and worked hard, my wife is from a farm and her relatives are farmers. I have no illusion of farming being easy, or modest hours when the main events are ongoing, but you have no cattle, so do have slow days and weeks.

Just do not fall short on preventive maintenance of the farm equipment.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

Looks like the 745 number was starting on jan 2. I logged my practice kits in my amt experience log, but not the EAA build log.

View attachment 147647

Looks like I'm averaging about 2.2 hours per day, which is a little crazy. Grok tells me the average builder takes around 850 hours to do the Empennage and wing kits, so I'm moving a little faster than average. Now that is cold outside, I'll probably work on it a little more, but I don't think i can get away with what I did in January of '25 again.

Wow... Four of your top 5 weeks!

What did you use to make that graph?

 

[Jim K]

Wow... Four of your top 5 weeks!

What did you use to make that graph?

It's one of the reports the EAA builder's log site will spit out.

This one really makes it look dramatic


They will also track expenses if you put it in.

 

[Jim K]

Good news. ABF called today to schedule my fuse kit delivery.
She asked if next Tuesday would be okay (the original estimated date)
Knowing it was already in Bloomington, I said, "i guess, if i can't get it any sooner".
She said, "well tomorrow is full, and next Tuesday is the next time we're in your area with the liftgate".
To which i replied, "well, I have a forklift, and a loader tractor...".
"Oh, well in that case, how about this Thursday?"
So i am not, in fact, driving to Bloomington.
I am, however, debating flying to Oregon to pick up the next one

 

[WDD]

Nice! Christmas came early. 6 months to put the fuselage together?

 

[Jim K]

Nice! Christmas came early. 6 months to put the fuselage together?

Guessing it'll take longer than that; from what I've read the fuse. kit takes nearly as long as the emp. and wing kits together. Maybe by the end of summer.

I'm kind of proud of my kit timing so far. The wing kit showed up right as I finished the emp. kit, and now the wings are totally finished with the fuse. showing up tomorrow. I went and borrowed an enclosed trailer today so I can move the wings out of the shop. Still not certain if they're going to the paint shop or the hangar, but at least they're out of the way.

Lead times on all the kits are way down. The finishing kit is next and they are currently quoting 12 weeks. The wing kit was 26 weeks when I ordered it; it's down to 10 now.

 

[iamtheari]

The canopy was the worst. I did the fuselage after the empennage and before the wings. I feel like it went quickly. 6 months might be doable. And it’s fun stuff, a mix of big structures and moving parts.

 

[Jim K]

Did I mention it's a borrowed trailer?



I've had to weld on it every time I've used it. Still beats owning one for the once every 2-3 years I need it.

Swallowed the wings right up though. With that long ramp and low floor i rolled them in by myself.

 

[Jim K]

Let the inventory begin.

 

[Rcmutz]

Let the inventory begin.

View attachment 147823View attachment 147824

What! No parts, just packing paper! Man they ripped you off!