Відео

Yeah, I’m surprised there wasn’t more drama. And blood. It was all remarkably smooth compared to my usual technique!

My garage is well insulated, so I have that going for me. That said, it only took a little Amazon fan heater to get it to 80! Whatever you can do to get the temp of the system above 70. I was cutting some pieces at 64 and managed to chip out an area insanely quick. Looking back, I wouldn’t try the cut without my area being above 70. I think your risk gets amplified quickly as that temp decreases.

@RyanFlysPDX thanks Ryan. Really nice job on the build. BTW I use green tools also. I use a pneumatic angle drill.

That’s how I feel about 99% of the crap I come up with down here…

Keep the shop warm. Turn the clutch on the drill down. Use a good cut-off wheel. Take three passes in your cuts. Support the canopy while cutting. Trim material by taking consecutive smaller pieces off until final size. Measure, measure, measure. (Clearly this one is difficult…) Sand and finish your edges (all the way to 600+, no scratches, chips, or gouges!). Use dull or acrylic drill bits + uni bit. Keep the plastic on the canopy! Or better yet, protect with additional plastic and tape. And this is an area where I’d suggest reading just as much as I did. I list all the above not to absolve folks from research of their own, but hopefully to provide a point or two they might have missed that I managed to catch. I think the research helped mentally prepare me and allowed me to cut and drill with a little more confidence. I’d highly suggest every builder do the same 4-6 hours of reading and researching!

Yeah, I mentioned elsewhere: the holes should scare you, not the saw. Glad to hear they all went as planned! Paint. Now there’s an exciting part of the build!

Thank you!! Yeah, another milestone down!

I’m not entirely sure where it’s going, but sure: clear epoxy!

@RyanFlysPDX For the hole I mean, if it's still a problem that is

@Minos1209 ah, yes! Luckily I don’t think it’ll come to that!

Word has it, the tip up is much easier. The difficulties of a slider are one of the reasons it’s not offered on the 14, or so I’m told. Now, tip-ups still have a Big Cut of their own. It’s just further aft. So you don’t avoid that part. But the mechanisms and alignment of a sliding frame are avoided.

@@RyanFlysPDX The RV14 rails sit a bit higher and perhaps that is also other reason for no sliding canopy (that what I heard in one of vans videos).

@bibrakc could very well be! I’ve never heard a definitive answer direct from the source, so take it all with a grain of salt.

Yeah, it doesn’t get relaxing for a bit, unfortunately! Probably not until it’s in the air for a bit at least!!

There’s little in this plane that seems to offer relaxation, now that we look at it… Just kidding. I love being down here in the garage building away. Hopefully you’re soon at the beginning of a large project too!!

Cutting the legs later, per the instructions, caused me significant headaches. I’m just now emerging from that headache. I should have cut them earlier-albeit very carefully because it does leave you open to other dangerous mistake. (Cutting them too short being the obvious one here…) Good advice on this comment! Thank you!!

@@RyanFlysPDX I guess I was lucky that I cut them before glueing the canopy on otherwise it would have been a nightmare. I feel your pain!

I mean, to a degree I think that's how we're getting through when using a cutoff disc versus a more traditional blade. But for the most part, no. No significant melting where an accumulation of melted material builds up, or there is evidence of melt on the walls of the cut. I'm not sure if I noted well enough in the video, but the cuts largely took three passes: the first to set the line, and was about 1/16" deep. Then a second pass that would deepen the cut almost all the way through, and then a final pass. I think trying to cut through in one pass would heat things up to possibly see more melting and less cutting.

I held various positions in sign shops when younger, and more recently (though still past) would manage a sign department of a large marketing/graphics production organization. A lot of acrylic displays and signs being installed. Everything from laser-cut letting, logos, and display elements to saw cut panel signage and displays. I've cut hundreds of sheets of acrylic, but typically not like this. I remember things like finding out laser cut acrylic and rubbing alcohol are not good bedfellows, but only after creating crazing on the edges of about 20 fresh cut panels of acrylic. It's here I found out that the saw isn't what is scary--it's the drill. I've cracked more sheets drilling that even come close to ruining with a saw. I'm excited to swap the rivets and clecos (and the holes required for both) for a tube of Sika on this thing.

Thank you, very much!

If there's one thing I'm good at, it's displaying what not to do... I think building a 10 is a new level of commitment and challenge. You get slightly better instructions, but about twice the work, at least 50% more cost, and some similarly daunting, high-stakes moments! Thanks for the comment and kind words! Keep us up-to-date on those doors!

Deflating, man. Absolutely deflating. But continuing on, the impact of the miss seems to be minimized each step--though I will look at something and still wonder if it's partly because of that minor misalignment.

I just looked it up: Just north of $2,200. Again, apologies for the hyperbole at times on the video. Now, 99% of people don't have the benefit of living next to Van's like I do, and I've heard that crating and shipping to the contiguous US will run north of $1,000. So most should bear that in mind when calculating the cost of an "oops."

Thank you! It's definitely stressful, but if I can fumble my way through it I think most builders can.

Thanks! There's a few more nailbiters to come, but things are coming together!

I think this is why deburring exists, and why builders tolerate it. Every other task on an airplane is filled with endless “what-ifs” and challenges. It’s enough to make you throw down your tools and quit. But instead we’re like, “eff it, I’ll deburr for a few hours and cool off-that’ll be relaxing.” 😂

You bet! Thanks for watching and sharing a kind comment!

I'm very excited for the day when I can sit in this thing and close the canopy--just to see how it'll feel on the ramp!

Yeah, you bet!

Thank you, and you bet!!

Primarily a Canon Rebel SL3. I have a few different lenses depending on the type of shot. The GoPros only get brought out on rare occasion at this point-often just for time lapse or fitting in a tight area.

I’m on board for your build, and have been keeping an eye on your IG content. Looks like a fun project. For a while, helicopters was the ultimate goal for me, but the cost was just too much to bear. I think I could optimize the channel for more subscribers and views. Part of me just doesn’t spend the time, and some of it is an active choice. (Avoiding some of the trends and more obnoxious, yet sadly effective tactics.) I love making the videos. The hardest part is often slowing down during the build to capture worthwhile footage. Sometimes I sit down at the computer and find an SD card full of low-effort footage and have to try and polish the proverbial turd.

@@RyanFlysPDX let’s get these things built and meet up at Oshkosh in a couple years! Mine definitely won’t be done for 2025 haha, but I’ll still be there. The mosquito is the only reasonable helicopter as far as price goes, not to mention all the others have basically gone out of business, at least once. I hope to be in it for about what a finished RV7 costs but mine only has one seat. If all goes well, hopefully I can justify an upgrade later in life. I hear you about forgetting to record the good stuff. Get too carried away with making good progress to stop, reposition a camera, and hit the record button.

@TheOkayestEngineer 2025 is an unknown for me. Likely, 2026 with the 7 will be my first OSH experience. Not a bad way to experience it, I don’t think!

I was. I’ve since opted not to-mainly because of cost. And I know it’s a low-cost upgrade, but the weekly incidentals at this point are bleeding me dry. I may retrofit it later if I find the slider exceptionally limiting in the stock form.

Thanks. They’re out currently, and safely on a shelf. But you’re right, should have done it sooner! Needless risk!

Today. Yes, today I’m really second guessing my choice and my ability to pull this slider off. You’ll see why in a couple weeks, but the last few days of work have been rough.

@@RyanFlysPDX You made the right choice! I will be going through the same thing next summer. I believe the fwd roll hoop and windshield bar are way better safety features than just a bubble. Even if the view isn’t as good…..

I must be missing that “instant” part. 🤣 But I know what you mean. There’s all this work put in and then in an instant you get to see what you’ve been working for. It’s great, and keeps me coming back for more.

Hey there! My garage is a tandem (two car, but in a line). It’s roughly 10’ x 40’. Building in your garage-or at least starting there-is the best way to make headway on a project this large. It’s recommended you build in your garage until you’ve positively outgrown it. For me, this will be later next year when the time comes for assembly of wings and tail surfaces on to the fuselage.

Thank you! I’m confident it will be worth the extra grief!

Gotta tune in to see the bubble become a part of the plane. What a bear this sliding canopy is to fabricate and install!

Yeah, it’s cool when certain parts take shape and it becomes more real that this is, in fact, an airplane being built in my garage!

Thank you, but we’re not even close to done with this one!! I’m going to put that confidence you have in me to the test. 😂

Mario, thank you so much for tuning in and leaving such a complimentary and motivational comment. I think you may overestimate my skills, but I’ll do my best to live up to that standard set!!

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood… My road is littered with profanities and frustration. 😢 The fuel boost pump is a separate purchase. You’ll want to make sure your choice is compatible with your chosen engine’s fuel injection. I opted for the Airflow Performance pump and filter from Van’s. It has great documentation for this plane and pairs nicely with the Titan’s FI. You’ll also need to separately purchase the “doghouse” kit to house the pump. If you’re carbureted, you can forget all that nonsense and build per plan.

@@RyanFlysPDX thanks for that info Ryan. On your build, I’m sure in the end, it will all be worth it. Will be waiting when you finally have that RV grin. Now please keep building and showing us the videos 😁

He’s patient, but even he grew tired of waiting for me to take a break on this one.

Not late at all! Yeah, I’ve seen a few people building the 10s use gantries or winches. Definitely a lot more size and weight to the pieces they’re aligning. Luckily I can clumsily move stuff around on my own. I’d love some more room to incorporate lifting equipment, but as it stands I don’t know that I could fit it in!!

The wings frame up quick! They’re exciting!

Thank you! More and more like an airplane every day!!

I didn’t. I haven’t heard anything about that… is that on plan?

Yours looks fine on the video

@rogerp19 if some people have required this, I could see why. There are some minor imperfections there. I think the more regrettable mistake is not tapering the F-788 enough. I have a dip where it ends. I may pull it and see if I can work this out.

Like living in the world’s smallest, most uncomfortable Airstream.

That thing was about to spring me across the room. I really feel for folks who had pieces that needed more adjustment. I was working with sub 1/8” moves. I’ve seen people with bars that are 1/4”+ out of alignment in multiple directions. Yikes.

Or… hear me out. RV-7 Cabriolet.

Thank you. Got a little funky with the tunes on this one.

Thank you!! I’m dreading the pants a bit. I hear there’s a lot of finicky glass work. I’m going to need to boogie on that because I’m going to want to have this thing painted shortly after Phase I completion. Top forward skin is coming soon, man.