Still thinking about an RV-14

geezer said:
Jim, you sure have dedicated kids!
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I wish. I really thought they would be interested enough to come out on their own, but the reality is I usually have to beg for help. 99% of the time I'm working solo. Ceci has been the best help and has probably put 5-6 hours of actual work in. I have been trying to involve them and let them help. I do hope that the time they spent working on it will be memorable, or at very least seeing it come together. Like flying in a little airplane, they are experiencing something that very few people get to do.
 
Does Ceci have her name in there yet? Probably more important than you might think.

When you need some cables or wire run back there, seeing her name will be a thrill.:):):)


My sons were not inclined to be willing help when car work took place, but did work with me.

They are both very accomplished car mechanics now, for fun.
 
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geezer said:
Does Ceci have her name in there yet? Probably more important than you might think.

When you need some cables or wire run back there, seeing her name will be a thrill.:):):)


My sons were not inclined to be willing help when car work took place, but did work with me.

They are both very accomplished car mechanics now, for fun.
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All five have signed it now. I wouldn't let them sign it until they did some meaningful (for their age) work on it. Ceci has her name in a few places. Always under an inspection cover where it won't get painted over or permanently entombed by aluminum.
 
“For this reason, a tailcone will leave his hangar and cleave to his fuselage, and the two shall become one flesh.”
-Book of Van, chapter 30
Complete

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Jim K said:
I wish. I really thought they would be interested enough to come out on their own, but the reality is I usually have to beg for help. 99% of the time I'm working solo. Ceci has been the best help and has probably put 5-6 hours of actual work in. I have been trying to involve them and let them help. I do hope that the time they spent working on it will be memorable, or at very least seeing it come together. Like flying in a little airplane, they are experiencing something that very few people get to do.
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Sometimes it takes a while to sink in, and sometimes they don't want to let on how cool they think it is. But I'd bet a nice dinner that this will come up in the future, along the lines of one of them saying "you know I know how to build an airplane, right?" It's giving them a sense of earned pride and accomplishment that very few have a chance to get.
 
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Jim K said:
I wish. I really thought they would be interested enough to come out on their own, but the reality is I usually have to beg for help. 99% of the time I'm working solo. Ceci has been the best help and has probably put 5-6 hours of actual work in. I have been trying to involve them and let them help. I do hope that the time they spent working on it will be memorable, or at very least seeing it come together. Like flying in a little airplane, they are experiencing something that very few people get to do.
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This is what ended up happening with my dad :( I really hoped it would be a project he would want to work on in his massive amounts of free time now since he was forced to retire. I think he's more afraid of messing something up when I'm not there, so it sits and waits until I'm home :/ Just wish I had more time to get back there so we could work on it.
 
Jim K said:
I wish. I really thought they would be interested enough to come out on their own, but the reality is I usually have to beg for help. 99% of the time I'm working solo. Ceci has been the best help and has probably put 5-6 hours of actual work in. I have been trying to involve them and let them help. I do hope that the time they spent working on it will be memorable, or at very least seeing it come together. Like flying in a little airplane, they are experiencing something that very few people get to do.
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My kids showed exactly zero interest in my RV-10 build. I've got "photo op" pics of each of them doing something but they were one and done. My wife was a trooper and would drop what she was doing to help me when needed, but I did most of my build solo and only used help when absolutely necessary.
 
Well, it finally happened Sunday. My build hours surpassed my total flight hours at 1030 total. Not sure how I feel about that, but it was bound to happen. I can't imagine it ever flipping back unless I have to stop building or wind up getting some kind of a flying job some day.
 
Grasshopper, just think of it as your build yin and flying yang are in balance.
 
Jim K said:
Well, it finally happened Sunday. My build hours surpassed my total flight hours at 1030 total. Not sure how I feel about that, but it was bound to happen. I can't imagine it ever flipping back unless I have to stop building or wind up getting some kind of a flying job some day.
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Interesting thought …

I have 1,185 hours total. 560 of those starting from my RV-14’s first flight, and 280 of those have been in the RV-14. I logged 330 flight hours during the build. I had 300 hours logged when the first kit showed up.

The build log isn’t accessible to me from my phone because of how far from usable Microsoft has traveled with what used to be the Office 365 app. But I believe I will easily regain my status as a majority-flyer rather than majority-builder. (If I survive my current situation as a majority-worker. Pro tip, if you’re too busy to take a vacation for 2 years, the solution probably isn’t to take on a second full-time job.)
 
iamtheari said:
Interesting thought …

I have 1,185 hours total. 560 of those starting from my RV-14’s first flight, and 280 of those have been in the RV-14. I logged 330 flight hours during the build. I had 300 hours logged when the first kit showed up.

The build log isn’t accessible to me from my phone because of how far from usable Microsoft has traveled with what used to be the Office 365 app. But I believe I will easily regain my status as a majority-flyer rather than majority-builder. (If I survive my current situation as a majority-worker. Pro tip, if you’re too busy to take a vacation for 2 years, the solution probably isn’t to take on a second full-time job.)
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You posted earlier in the thread that you logged 1017 hours building. I'm thinking I'll be almost 3x that by the time I build the engine, panel, harnesses, interior, paint, etc. If that proves out, and I keep flying at my current rate, it'll take 13 years for my flying hours to catch back up. I'm still enjoying this build enough that I could see myself starting another plane once this one is sorted.
 
Jim K said:
Well, it finally happened Sunday. My build hours surpassed my total flight hours at 1030 total. Not sure how I feel about that, but it was bound to happen. I can't imagine it ever flipping back unless I have to stop building or wind up getting some kind of a flying job some day.
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I'm somewhere between 5,000 to 2,000 or 6,000 to 2,000.

But I'm gaining on it.
 
Finally was able to check off chapter 31 after remaking the right fuel line two more times. Also put the last couple rivets in chapter 32, which was the baggage area floor and side panels.

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Now on chapter 33, which is the rudder pedals, cables, and brakes. Unfortunately, I can't do most of it because the rudder pedals/ bars are backordered. The rudder pedals are adjustable, so they can go in later. I did run the cables, part of which involves installing 4 Adel clamps underneath the fuel selector to secure a guide tube. That was the worst job I've done so far. It would've been easy before all the fuel stuff went in, and I see no reason why it couldn't have been done first. Irritating.

Anyway, 33 will be done soon; 34 is the flap actuation system. Andddd, the flap motor is backordered, so I won't be able to do much of that either.

I'm nearly done with this kit. I'm not sure i can afford the finishing kit at the moment though. Also, the engine mount is backordered anyway. Van's mentioned that they were trying to move their steel parts fabrication in house... im concerned the engine mount and rudder pedals are casualties of that. The rudder pedals i think i could make, but I'm not brave enough to try my own engine mount. I hear the canopy takes a long time, but i don't want to do that until we have some warmer weather for drilling acrylic and curing fiberglass. I guess I'll concentrate on wiring and see if I can get some kind of timeline on the steel parts.
 
Jim K said:
Finally was able to check off chapter 31 after remaking the right fuel line two more times. Also put the last couple rivets in chapter 32, which was the baggage area floor and side panels.

View attachment 149514View attachment 149515

Now on chapter 33, which is the rudder pedals, cables, and brakes. Unfortunately, I can't do most of it because the rudder pedals/ bars are backordered. The rudder pedals are adjustable, so they can go in later. I did run the cables, part of which involves installing 4 Adel clamps underneath the fuel selector to secure a guide tube. That was the worst job I've done so far. It would've been easy before all the fuel stuff went in, and I see no reason why it couldn't have been done first. Irritating.

Anyway, 33 will be done soon; 34 is the flap actuation system. Andddd, the flap motor is backordered, so I won't be able to do much of that either.

I'm nearly done with this kit. I'm not sure i can afford the finishing kit at the moment though. Also, the engine mount is backordered anyway. Van's mentioned that they were trying to move their steel parts fabrication in house... im concerned the engine mount and rudder pedals are casualties of that. The rudder pedals i think i could make, but I'm not brave enough to try my own engine mount. I hear the canopy takes a long time, but i don't want to do that until we have some warmer weather for drilling acrylic and curing fiberglass. I guess I'll concentrate on wiring and see if I can get some kind of timeline on the steel parts.
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Temporarily mount the wings and empennage and rig the controls. Or fit the fiberglass tips to all the flying surfaces. That’ll keep you busy for a bit
 
Still making progress, albeit slowly. Busy month, and working on my year end finances has revealed that buying the finishing kit this year is going to be a real stretch, which has taken some of the wind out of my sails

Anyway, van's shipped me almost all of the backordered parts they owed me, the biggest of which being the rudder pedals. Luckily, I had not finished buttoning down the forward upper fuselage skin yet. Installing the rudder pedals without being able to work through those holes would've been MUCH more unpleasant. Only part I'm now missing is the right side master cylinders. I got everything else installed and plumbed.

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I also installed the VS and rudder temporarily to confirm what others had said about needing longer adjusting links for the rudder cables. Those are drawn and uploaded to send-cut-send. Section 33 (rudder and brake systems) complete other than those two jobs. She looks pretty cool with the tail on too:

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There is still room for the engine and prop, but it's going to be a tight fit. Should be fine with the rudder off though. That's another question answered.

One of the other missing parts was the flap actuator. That came too, so I was also able to finish section 34 (flap actuation system) tonight.

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So back to riveting next. Not too many rivets left.
 
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If no finishing kit this year, what about learning how to paint, build your paint booth, paint everything, etc.?
 
WDD said:
If no finishing kit this year, what about learning how to paint, build your paint booth, paint everything, etc.?
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Don't want to paint the fuse. until the cowl and canopy are done, both of which come in the finishing kit. I decided I'm going to build all the wiring harnesses, which will take some time. I could get started on the engine, but that's also a lot of money, and seems kind of pointless until I have an engine mount to hang it on.

I need to figure out how much they discount the parts by being in the kit vs buying individually. Maybe I could buy the canopy and spend the summer doing that? I think the price difference is pretty big though. I'm considering robbing my Roth for the money based on the fact that it's not really spending the money so much as converting it from one asset to another. We'll see. I have plenty of other projects around here to work on, too. The '66 F250 project I haven't touched in 10 years...maybe I could get my Trans Am running and sell it to raise the funds. Either way, I'll be sure to post about it here on As the RV Spins.
 
If nobody robs Peter, who the heck is going to pay Paul?
 
Jim K said:
I'm considering robbing my Roth for the money based on the fact that it's not really spending the money so much as converting it from one asset to another. We'll see. I have plenty of other projects around here to work on, too. The '66 F250 project I haven't touched in 10 years...maybe I could get my Trans Am running and sell it to raise the funds. Either way, I'll be sure to post about it here on As the RV Spins.
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As a general rule, I think touching the Roth is a bad idea. I like your idea of fixing up and selling the Trans Am. And I would suggest adding the F250 also. From the little I know, get those in good shape and you can make some descent cash.

Tim
 
Jim K said:
Don't want to paint the fuse. until the cowl and canopy are done, both of which come in the finishing kit. I decided I'm going to build all the wiring harnesses, which will take some time. I could get started on the engine, but that's also a lot of money, and seems kind of pointless until I have an engine mount to hang it on.
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You could finish and paint the wings. Landing lights, properly faired tips, yada, yada yada. Same with the empennage. As I recall, you have an engine core or collection of parts. If you haven't already, you could ship the parts out for testing/recert if you want. But ultimately, building an engine takes a week or less and there's no reason to rush to spend the money for new cylinders, bearings, oil pump, machine work, etc. until a few months before you need the engine.

Wiring harnesses? Like the ones for the avionics? Uggh. I don't mind wiring the various circuits in the airplane and terminating coax, but all the avionics harnesses? Ouch.
 
kyleb said:
finish and paint the wings. Landing lights, properly faired tips,
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yep, that's all done except the paint, and the wings are at the paint shop currently waiting for our schedules to line up to get them finished.
kyleb said:
you could ship the parts out for testing/recert if you want
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All the parts I have came to me yellow tagged. I do need to measure everything, start a logbook, paint some stuff, etc.
kyleb said:
Wiring harnesses? Like the ones for the avionics? Uggh. I don't mind wiring the various circuits in the airplane and terminating coax, but all the avionics harnesses? Ouch.
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yeah, planning to do both the chassis harnesses and avionics harnesses. The chassis harness I have about 50% drawn and have purchased materials. It's obviously a customized version of the harness Van's designed and Steinair sells. I'm hesitant to start making the physical avionics harnesses until I have the boxes purchased, which I also can't afford. I can at least work on drawing them all, which takes a bunch of time, too. I'm pretty willing to trade labor for saving money on this project as it is a time building exercise of sorts. The avionics I'm planning are relatively simple, and I'd like to learn how to do it so I can tackle some upgrades on the Lance at some point.
 
One month since the last update.. that's out of character. I slogged through sections 35, 36, & 37, which deal with the forward upper fuselage and panel, control sticks and elevator pushrods, and rollbar, respectively. This completes the fuselage kit.

I'm still waiting on two of the four master cylinders. Other tasks I can do are build the glove box, which I started tonight, make the stick grips, and work on the wiring harness. I had send-cut-send make some longer rudder cable links out of titanium, so those need to go in and i can rig the rudder. If I get real desperate, I could put the HS on and rig the elevators.

I'm feeling a bit better about our finances, but still not in a place to order the finishing kit yet. I'm thinking that I'll be able to rob the money from 35E's mx/ engine reserve fund in a couple months, depending on how her annual goes.

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Is that the stock panel for the -14? On the -10, there is a crossmember at the bottom of the panel, and the panel itself mounts to that crossmember and an angle that goes around the perimeter of the glareshield. I made the crossmember removable - easier upgrade path, and if the crossmember and panel are out, getting into the footwell is easier too.
 
kyleb said:
Is that the stock panel for the -14? On the -10, there is a crossmember at the bottom of the panel, and the panel itself mounts to that crossmember and an angle that goes around the perimeter of the glareshield. I made the crossmember removable - easier upgrade path, and if the crossmember and panel are out, getting into the footwell is easier too.
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Built to plans. The subpanel frame attaches to those two ribs and the gunnels. Then the panel proper screws to it. I always found it a little odd that the avionics bay is closed by the canopy, but I suppose that makes it easy to get at.

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It doesn't hardly seem like enough structure, but with the panels screwed on it gets pretty solid, so wthdik?
 
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