Never regretted the build?

Post by **Spike** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 8:14 am

I another thread it was mentioned many times by many people that they have 'never regretted' starting their RV projects. I am curious is anyone other than myself has, at time, regretted starting their projects.

In a general sense I am loving this project and time well spent in the shop really relaxes me and satisfies me. However there have definitely been periods of time that I have regretted doing this and wished I had just purchased something. Generally its when its nice flying weather and I am in the shop, or when I look at the 1500 home projects I have put off. Or when I consider the crap that Patti has had to put up with for this effort. Then there is the collision of building a 2 seat airplane whose delayed completion might coincide with no longer being a 2 ass family.

All in all I am really glad I have embarked on this experience but I can't say that I have never regretted it. I would really be interested in your thoughts of this subject.

Spike

hydroguy2 · Post by **hydroguy2** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 9:01 am

regret? No

wish it went differently? Yes

When I started, I had recently helped finish a Rans S-6. That build was smooth and fast. I thought I had a plan to do smooth and fast, so bought the QB. Spent the airplane money on airpark property, so things screeched to a halt. It's hard to stay on task when there is no money for the big items. The light in the tunnel went out. Still no regret. I (ok we) made a choice recently to get a loan and finish up....still no regrets, just wish it went differently.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 9:05 am

No regrets here...I do get a bit anxious about it when we have a tight month financially, and at those times I feel like I shouldn't be doing this, but I've never regretted it in the least. I love every minute I work on it, and from what everyone tells me, I'm gonna love every minute flying it!

Put me in the "No" column please!

smithhb · Post by **smithhb** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 9:11 am

Spike, that's nothing that a good 'ol vasectomy can't fix.

spikescopilot · Post by **spikescopilot** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 9:17 am

smithhb wrote:Spike, that's nothing that a good 'ol vasectomy can't fix.

That's no cure for infertility and adoption, sir.

Post by **Spike** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 9:23 am

spikescopilot wrote: That's no cure for infertility and adoption, sir.

Well, guess that cat is out of the bag

Post by **Spike** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 9:39 am

spikescopilot wrote: Who let the cats out?

You -- at 8:14am (according to the post I read, but I think the server time is off).

Uh, I wasn't the one that told them that our plumbing was broken.

smithhb · Post by **smithhb** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:57 am

You children need to fight sweet... (Hope my vasectomy comment doesn't get me banned).

spikescopilot · Post by **spikescopilot** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 11:01 am

smithhb wrote:You children need to fight sweet... (Hope my vasectomy comment doesn't get me banned).

You are so banned. As soon as I find the ban button. It's around here somewhere, right? Right?

Post by **Spike** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 11:05 am

Not at all, too much like family around here for that to be over the line. Though you could make it up to us by getting that RV up here to Maryland so I can get Patti into an RV-9. Heck, I'd like to get into one (again) too. My first experience wasn't that great.

smithhb · Post by **smithhb** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 11:20 am

Yep, sounds like both of you could use a little -9 "stick time".

(Jeez, after reading that it sounds kinda suggestive).

Anyhoo, I was saying that I would love to fly up to Maryland and offer you guys some flight time.

(I KNOW I'm gonna get banned now)

Post by **Spike** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 11:25 am

Come on, we can put you up! I can get some of the local guys out to play. We can probably get Bullojm1 out to play as well.

And to keep this on track, you are going to be helping me to not regret starting my project so much!

dons · Post by **dons** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 1:25 pm

Regrets ? None here yet. There are so many great people you meet along the way, so much is learned (sometimes the hard way for sure), and it feels so good to actually finish a component when most of what you have to show for your day job can't be touched in the physical sense.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 1:37 pm

dons wrote:...There are so many great people you meet along the way...

Here here!!

BSwayze · Post by **BSwayze** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 4:18 pm

I remember the day I brought my wing kit home. As I was inventorying all the parts and trying to find places to put it all, and thinking about the very large check I had written earlier that day, an overwhelming sense of "oh my god... what have I gotten myself into" hit me. This was suddenly much more than just a tail kit and a relatively small amount of money.

Fortunately, it didn't last long at all. As soon as I unwrapped those beautiful wing spars and started working on them, my excitement returned. It took me 15 months to finish those wings. My wing skins leaned against the wall in the hallway for a long time, and I had leading edge skins and fuel tank skins standing on end in my bedroom for a time. But it didn't matter. Yeah, there were a few times when the monotony of deburring endless piles of ribs got to me a bit, but never any regrets. The sense of accomplishment and feeling of pride to have two fuel tanks that don't leak, and then two finished wings in the rack is more than I can describe. There's just nothing like it.

So then the day came when I brought my fuselage kit home. That same sense of "oh my god..." started to haunt me again. But it only lasted minutes this time. I was able to chase it away by remembering how I felt that way before, but how good it feels now to have come this far.

It has never returned. I don't think it will. Definitely no regrets here.

spikescopilot · Post by **spikescopilot** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 4:54 pm

Here's the problem that Spike is having:

He's started this project. He is learning a lot and enjoys building, when he actually builds. He does struggle with other things vying for his time, but we do our best to get things done, and I am letting some house things slide so that he can finish it -- because he needs to finish (so he can feel good about the project, etc).

But now that things haven't quite worked out as planned and we are looking at a very expensive adoption process, he's trying to reconcile building the airplane with being a responsible adult. Finishing the project is going to cost a lot of money, and adoption is going to cost a lot of money -- and in the end (whenever that is), we will not have enough seats in the airplane to accommodate the family.

I've tried to separate the plane from the family (a weekend sports car doesn't need to have four seats; the Cardinal has four seats) and finances (we haven't even been able to file the paperwork yet muchless start the process -- so build while you still can!), but he keeps coming back to this same thing. He doesn't think he can finish the project while also being financially (and family) responsible.

Someone please talk some sense into him, because I just don't seem to be able to do it.

hydroguy2 · Post by **hydroguy2** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 5:32 pm

Ok, I'll take a crack at it.

Not finishing will cost more, period! A finished plane has real value both monetarily and spiritually. An unfinished plane is pieces and parts worthy of a fraction of your investment. Not finishing a plane will be pieces and parts of your soul.
Try telling your child years from now, when (s)he ask "why you always look skyward?" when an rumbling Lycoming is overhead and you have to say, "I almost built one of those, but quit to be responsible."....back to the salt mine!

I know some people who question my building and all the money I'm wasting. All the while they have a $100K wrapped up in a new truck w/5th wheel RV and 24' skiboat that they use 6x/yr.

Anyway, that's how I justify it. Money is just money, life is life and a Dream can be Real!

besides, finish the build, fly it and start looking for a -10 to trade for. What a great responsible family way to enjoy each other. Have you ever flown with a son, daughter or grandchild?...there's no looking back after that!

my $0.02

spikescopilot · Post by **spikescopilot** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 6:38 pm

hydroguy2 wrote: my $0.02

Hope you're reading this Spike, cuz it's worth at least $5.00.

TomNativeNewYorker · Post by **TomNativeNewYorker** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 9:58 am

spikescopilot wrote:and we are looking at a very expensive adoption process, he's trying to reconcile building the airplane with being a responsible adult. Finishing the project is going to cost a lot of money, and adoption is going to cost a lot of money -- and in the end (whenever that is), we will not have enough seats in the airplane to accommodate the family.

you can adopt me, the fees would be very cheep. already toilet trained(i put the seat AND the lid down). I come with lots of experience, having installed well over one and a quarter million rivets in my career. comes along with an extensive assortment of aircraft tools(see my album on this site).

And lastly, does not drink fruit flavored beer.

Midnight Sun · Post by **Midnight Sun** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 11:51 am

<--- All the above and I make my own beer