ORIGINAL: rbxbear44
This is REX...to clarify the FEJ Hawk thing...I wrote a 34 page build manual for FEJ and was very involved in the first build process and review the first production of the 1/4.5 Hawk. The Hawk was mine, the P-180 turbine was Johns. It went down on the 18th flight due to a JR-1222 DSM2 Rx complete failure/loss. I had intended to get a Hawk100 also. John wanted a Hawk and it was decided (to help FEJ defray the cost of producing mine) that John would get the other one for himself. Thus, Andy funded John for his Hawk purchase which did enable me to get mine right away. John actually did much of the build on the Hawk that is pictured with him and myself behind it and he did a very good job. That picture wa taken on maiden day and I was elated with the build and the airframe performance...hence a victory pic of the two of us and the Hawk!
I consider Andy Andrews a friend, deeply appreciate his passion for the hobby and people. I hated to see what had happened in his dealings with John. I am still speechless regarding what happened and how it turned out with this whole thing...for Andy. I listened to and watched Andy, over months and months extend grace towards John...showing incredible hope and perseverence through the whole ordeal and finally just wanting to recover his goods. Andy could have lowered the boom for sure on John, but he did not which shows character and resolve few folks have.
Forgive me, Andy...if I have caused you any grief as I tried very hard to support John over the years because he does have talent (if my supporting him is why you trusted him). I believed in John as a builder, to a point of fault I guess. I do feel John has a tremendous talent BUT his work ethic has once again, claimed his demise...now in jets. John was quite often in need of encouragement to push through builds but I saw a severe change in his desire to the point that I no longer had any "authority" or even the ability to encourage him to get rolling and finish things for people. Unfortunately Andy received the brunt of this whole descent of Johns.
I used to be "I hate to build and only love to fly" so John was great in that role for me in a lot of ways. But ultimately, I found myself wanting to build my own jets simply for the alone time in the shop and because I wanted to be able to work on my own planes at meets or when I had issues with them and I want them a certain way for myself. Plus, closing my 10 year old company two years ago when the economy tanked changed EVERYTHING for me! I couldn't afford to pay someone to build for me, let alone carry 5-7 jets in my quiver!
Bottom line...Andy is right on with what he dealt with on this whole thing with John. There are proven builders out there and I would highly suggest making sure you have references of a strong work ethic be a key "proof" for your build getting done. Bill Hatcher is one of those...proven, smart, fair and delivers in a reasonable timeframe. I'm sure there are others too but I have seen Bill bring it wher it comes to completion and a good quality product in the end.
Hopefully, this will be read in the "spirit" in which it was written.
Rex
I couldn't agree more with these comments.
However, at the end of the day, this is a business transaction between two parties, one to supply, and one to pay. If it goes pear shaped, then it's shame on the provider for sure, but the payee really should have known better,
If you don't have the skills/time/inclination to build something yourself, then take all necessary steps to ensure the builder you choose is "reputable", but also use common sense. If you are having a builder do major renovations to your house and they requested 100% payment before the job starts.. would you pay up ? Probably not! And neither should you pay up 100% for your jet.
Supply the kit, give them installments, and insist on progress updates with target windows for payment..... say 10% for consumables.... a further 20% once the wings are done.... and so on untill you finish with the final 20-30% payment for delivery in full. full documentation, and a get out agreement are also a good idea.
I know the TS had his heart in the right place, and hats off to you, as you are a gamer man than I. The temptation and possibilities for failure are just too great to take in a financial transaction like this. Payment by installment is still 'fair', and it provides incentive to the provider to finish the job, and finish it properly!
Having payment by installments also provides a guaranteed income.... if the job is done and proof supplied. if you pay upfront, then what incentive does someone have to deliver to your (the customers) time frame? if they are even remotely under financial pressure then your project may just be "reprioritized".... through no fault of your own, or the builder..... all the builder looses is the job, and you end up feeling played.
Guys, be carefull..... even if it is your best friend..... use your head...... there can be ways to provide incentive at a reasonable rate that the builder should find agreeable.