Work on Kit Kick-off!

I needed to buy a band saw to start the work and I did it this morning. I bought the Ryobi bench top model at Home Depot, set it up between two world cup games and started using it right away with step 1 to 6 of the Instruction Manual. Used Clecos for the first time, I'm into it now!!!
Logged 3 hours on Vertical Stabilizer.

Slow Progress in the Heat and during World Soccer Cup!

We have been around 100 deg. F for the week and I finally resolved to install a window A/C unit rather than waiting for Fall to continue working in this workshop. Still organizing: all fastening hardware is now stored in an organizer. Started peeling the protective plastic film, following VAN's recommendation: if you leave the film it will be difficult to remove after a few weeks. For small pieces it's a lot of work!

Inventory completed: A-OK

Took me 3 hours today for a total of 9 hours over two days, including storage. Somewhat fun to get through all the stuff for the first time, I imagine I will handle these parts more than once until I'm done...
Nothing missing! This is pretty amazing as any little fastener, bolt, nut, washer, etc... has to be counted (except  for the 10,000 blind rivets!). I will take a break of a few days before going to page 1 step 1.

Kit Delivered!

Delivery was smooth, got help from Bill Daubenmier who lives close by. With help from the driver and his dolly, the three of us could move the 200+# crate into the workshop.

Bill, Michèle and Jean-Pierre contemplate the crate just delivered.
Let's have a look inside:

 Lots of paper and a few parts: outstanding packaging.
Now the inventory:

Oh no! 10,000 plus rivets - shall I count them?

What a relief!

Not so fast after all!

The trucking company lost my shipment!
Waiting to hear from them.

Things are moving fast!

I received notification from VAN of the delivery of the empennage and fastener kits for tomorrow, Monday June 14. I also got the serial number of my RV-12: 395. The crate to be delivered is 205 pounds and the trucking company will download it at the curb. I asked for help to move the crate into my workshop which is 35 feet from the road side. I got great response from my local EAA chapter 1114 and will have three aids coming including the president! As my RV-12 will be the first in the Triangle area, it will, no doubt, attract some interest, particularly among RVers.
Yesterday I had my first encounter with a live RV-12... It was prototype number 3 built by Mitch Lock who is also the East Coast VAN representative. This took place in Wilmington at KILM, the Wilmington International Airport where the local EAA chapter 297 had a fly-in.
My impression was 100% conform to my expectations, the only downside was the unavailability of check rides (for insurance purpose). Sitting in the plane and making Rotax noise was as close as I could get of flying an RV-12... I also had confirmation of all what I had read about this plane: cockpit roominess, visibility (seats on the front edge of the wings) and easy access to the cockpit.
Tomorrow I will get a view of the disassembled version right in my backyard: I cannot wait!   

Avery tool kit has arrived!

Only two items on back order. The inventory gave me a few misses but after calling Avery it's due to poor documentation by Avery: they created sub-kits but continue to list the individual items separately. After looking at what I got for $1,400 I have the feeling that it's a bit pricey but what do I know? At least I should not have to go to the hardware store for every new part I start building... or will I?
Now the wait is on for the first RV kit delivery, in two weeks, hopefully. In the mean time I have some storage space to set-up in the workshop.