Torque Screwdriver

Here's my new ebargain, a torque screwdriver. Recommend by many RV builders as a way to get into tight spaces that have a bolt that needs the proper torque. It's a Utica TS-30. New sells for $245 at Grainger. How about $18.50?

Father's Day

Here's one of the father's day presents I received. This t-shirt is from Austin. Shelby also gave me some much needed shorts and socks. Thanks, kiddos!

Started Firewall

I've started building the stainless steel firewall, the forward most part of the fuselage kit. It's nice to get back to clecos and drills and such. There have been several parts I've had to fabricate from raw stock which is enjoyable. More of that working with your hands creating stuff fun. Famous last words but the firewall shouldn't take too long.



Finished Fuselage Inventory

I've finished the fuselage inventory and it's time to get building. Shelby was home for father's day and helped a bunch by checking off the inventory as I called it out. Below are the bookshelves Austin and I built from the fuselage crate. Everything except for the big stuff like skins and landing gear or small stuff like rivets is on those shelves. I'm looking forward to having everything in (almost) one place. Scooter the cat wants to know if he can have some more food.

Inventory Of Fuselage Continues

I had to buy two more small parts bins for all the additional rivets and nuts and bolts and cotter pins and washers and, and, and the list seems to go on forever. I finished all the inventory of the small stuff - 6 pages worth - and this picture shows me almost finished. Paula helped but she really didn't like all the super small detail work required. My recommendation to someone just getting started is to get all the same brand organizer as it makes moving things much easier. Lowes and Home Depot have Stack On brand which is made in the USA and only costs $5 or $6 more than the smaller Harbor Freight ones. The ones with 39 bins (9 of them larger) would be my choice. They're the ones pictured on the right. The large bins are good because many of the items won't fit in the smaller ones. Only a few items are missing but I would highly recommend going through every item. Not only to make sure everyting is there and you don't have to stop building to order a missing washer but also to learn what the parts look like and how they are named as it helps later in the build. I also recommend putting all the parts in bins instead of leaving them in the paper bags. It's faster and easier when you're building.

I haven't finished the big parts inventory below. It's 10 pages long! Austin and I got some of the big skins checked off and stored under his bed along with the landing gear and some of the weldments but I still have quite a ways to go. I plan on turning the crate into shelves to store all the medium sized parts in the same place. I'm anxious to finish inventory and get to some drilling, deburring, dimpling, priming and riveting.

M&M Paint Colors from New York

The girls (Paula, Shelby and Dean) went to New York for a "bucket list" trip. Paula and Shelby have been but Dean (Gma) had never seen the Big Apple. Here, they're in Central Park. Notice the jackets? It was 100 degrees back in Texas.

Here's what Paula brought me for a gift. It's the closest she could find in M&M's to the colors I plan on painting the RV. Nice of her to think of me and the airplane and chocolate at the same time.