While attending the EAA Chapter 50's 3rd Annual Ski Plane Fly-In in early January 2002, I started pestering Dave Ross for advise on tools and methods of construction of the RV project as I had never worked with sheet metal before. He explained how his builder-assist workshop operated and suggested that, since he was not busy that evening, would I like to start then? Well, caught unaware and fresh out of excuses, I had little choice but to dig in. That evening in Dave's hangar, we inventoried the kit and Dave briefed me on the multitude of different specialty tools used in RV construction.

Three months and over 300 hours later, the tail kit was complete and met Dave's high standards. Now confident, I headed home to build workbenches for the wing assemblies in my own shop. Had it not been for Dave Ross's support, I truly believe that empennage kit would have ended up at Galloway Brothers' scrap yard and I would now be president of a sail boat club instead of Chapter 50.

Rudder and Spar

Horizontal Spar

Vertical Stabilizer

Horizontal Stabilizer

Elevator

Frame Dimpling
 

I renovated my family room to make way for the RV workshop. After 150 hours of work at home: The ribs are ready to be primed and then riveted to the spars. The ailerons and flaps are ready for primer and final assembly. The fuel tanks are ready for final assembly.

Family Room before Kit

Family Room after Kit

Bar Area before Kit

Bar Area after Kit

RV Workshop

Wing Kit Box #1

Wing Kit Box #2

Left Wing Spar and Ribs

Fuel Tanks