Tipped over a bottle of CA last night without seeing it, dripped over my foot, had to go to hospital just to get my shoe off.[:@]

Thanks to all of you for the advice. I think I'm going to enjoy building as much as I do flying. My first mistake with this build was the kit that I bought. Great Planes RV-4. I really like this plane and thought it might be ok for a second plane as I'm still flying with an instructor. I thought looking at the instructions that it would be pretty straight forward. I think that the instructions are good and so far I understand them however, I think they are asuming that the builder has a little more experience than I do. I'm getting pretty far into the build and have been at it for about a month. I now spend all of my free time in the " man cave " working on the plane. At one time I was a diesel mechanic and like most men, I love tools. I don't think you can ever have enough. I have found that my razor saw and my wood plane are my best friends. I've never posted pics so as soon as I figure out how I will put some up. I figured out tonight that I put the firewall in backwards and now the punch marks are reversed. Dang it !! I'll post some pics so you guys can help me. Thanks again!!!

James

Use sharp blades in the Xacto knife and in any razor blade plane you might use. if you're paying $100 for a kit $5 for blades isn't too much of an imposition.................
A razor saw is a god investment too.
And make sure your fingertips are away from the edge of any straight ruler! You don't need to lose a finger to make the obligatory blood sacrifice to the wind gods !!

Build 'em fast and build them light. Try to resist the urge to build four or five at a time.

Have a thorough understanding of the instructions and plans. This way you can maximize your glue drying time by making several sub assemblies. Of course CA has changed this rule somewhat but you still need to know what adhesives to use in a given circumstance and build just a bit ahead.

J.P.

Mountain Home, Arkansas

To post photos:

1) Instead of posting into the “Fast Reply� box at the bottom of the page click on the box at the bottom of the forum threads (directly under the last post) where it says “Post Reply�
2) After typing what you wish, click on “Click here to upload images and files�
3) Click on the “browse� box to find and place the image from your computer into the title box
4) When finished click “OK�
5) Click “Ok� again to place your post with the images

Hope this helps, now lets see some pics

Steve

+1 on changing out #11 blades often. Dull tools will hurt ya. The minute a blade doesn't cut easily and cleanly, change it out. Firewall backwards, huh? After building 5 high wing planes, I built a low winger. Yup, installed the firewall upside down.

Oh - Never NEVER, NEVER wipe your face with your hand while building without first wiping your hand clean on a paper towel. Sometimes CA won't kick off just sitting there on a finger, but you apply pressure or facial moisture and it'll harden in an instant. If you have over spray from the Kicker on your hands, be VERY careful to not drop CA on them. The Kicker sometimes makes the CA harden instantly and that generates a LOT of heat.

.....then, of course, there is the CA & bicarb trick to rectify most mistakes, including those of kit manufacturers.

Don't mount your charging jack/on-off switch on the same side of the fuse as the muffler.

Don't obsess with getting everything perfect. Do the best you can in a reasonable amount of time then after learning from your mistakes move on to the next one.

Pay lots of attention to pushrod/radio installation before you even begin to build the fuse or wing. Most kits have the pushrod installation instructions in the very back of the book and leave their installation mostly up to the builder. You don't want to be trying to make cutouts in fuselage formers or add bracing after the fuse has been sheeted. Look ahead!!!!

Sand as you go. Do not wait until everything has been glued together to start thinking about shaping balsa.

Fuel proof the fuel tank/radio compartment before sheeting over the top while it's still easy to get to.

Just take your time that's all there is to it. Walk away when you get tired or frustrated.

1. Try not to make two left wing halves or two right fuselage halves. If you do, you won't be the first!
2. Always keep CA debonder within easy reach. Note, CA and old clothes are a good match.
3. Always lay X-acto knives 90 degrees to the edge of your workbench; it takes longer to roll off the bench top and attack you.

Better yet, wrap a piece of tape around your Xacto knife and stick the two ends to themselves so the tape makes a little "flag". That will keep the knife from rolling at all

Hey, I like that idea!! Might even act as a flag so I can find the darn thing. Seem to spend alot of time looking for tools that I just put down not two seconds ago.

Ah,
The old "scalpel in the thigh" joke
Oh how the nurses at the hospital laughed.
Still, I got to examine the inside of my leg.

This is some of the most valuable advise listed.

My thoughts include most of the previous as well as:

1. Set aside workspace that you will not need for anything else while you are building.
2. Have good lighting, adequate flat table and a level white sacrificial building surface.
3. Get a good razor saw and hand crosscut w/mitre box saw. Zona is a good brand for these. The difference is the crosscut will have a reinforced edge that gets in the way when trimming whereas the razor saw permits you to trim close.
4. Find an inexpensive Stanley razor plane at your local hardware store.

5. Build your first model without the use of CA adhesives if you can. Recommend Elmer's Carpenters Wood Glue or Gorilla Wood Glue. And for Epoxy get 30min only. Both of these will result in a strong joint and permit you the longest working time. A small cheap paint brush is handy for spreading the wood glue in tight spaces and small edges and can be set into a cup of water and then blotted on a paper towel whenever you are ready to use it again.

6. Do not be in a hurry and just take it slow and enjoy the build. This gives you time to note small things that will present themselves. Sometimes points of frustration later become points of enlightenment.

7. T-pins are great but the small straight pins that come from a new shirt (the ones with dipped heads) all stuck in a pin cushion (I use an old piece of packing foam) are nice for small thin pieces and because these pins are lighter guage, less likely to split a small part.

8. Get a nice standard Exacto (style, not brand necessarily) knife and a pack of 100 #11 blades. While you don't need to try and make one last so long that you butcher something up you can make them last a long time by stroking them on a sharpening steel routinely.

I can assure you that being in a hurry is a good way to take a long time to complete the build due to time spent correcting your mistakes and tests. (And you will test things out from time to time. )

Have fun,

Clay

Make sure that straight edge is METAL. Sharp blades easily "bite" into and ride up on the plastic straight edges commonly sold as builders sets....they also ride through your fingertips shortly after that, ask me how I know. [:@]
+1 on the razor saw, get the one sold with the miter box so your cuts are square (stick wood). Get a Dremel and a Scroll Saw (Scroll Saw especially for cutting your own parts if you so chose later on) <- two most useful things I've bought. A drill press will also come in handy down the road (also $100 at Lowes). Forstner Drill Bits, they won't chew up your balsa like a regular bits will (Wing bolt holes and any other holes drilled in Balsa)

here is a good ebook to teach beginners building and flying tips

http://af2813oan3cjhr9irbh6y8bim9.hop.clickbank.net/