I do like those things, but there's a limit to it at some point. I do pretty well following directions & drawings, but am not as creative as I believe most of y'all are, however I'm particular. Going through some of your (and others') build sites is showing me just how significant the photo's and text are.
Hi Keith,
I started building my -3B, 3 years ago when I was 20, I had very little metal working skills before starting the kit, and its my first (and probably not the last) build. I really enjoy the -3B, it's a (good) challenge.
Honestly, I think most people are capable enough to build a -3. It really isn't as difficult as it first seems, especially when you make it simple, break the work up into small step-by-step tasks and pace it out, while planning ahead to make sure everything will fit together.
For me the biggest challenge has been having the motivation, time and money to work on it. When I first started, I was buying tools as I needed them which slowed the build down significantly, now that I have the tools, it's just a matter of time and motivation more than anything.
Sure, I sometimes find it difficult to have the patience, and when that happens, I find the best thing is to just put everything away, go relax and think of the end product, maybe read the plans, look at the pictures, just to get a clearer idea for the next day of work, but definitely relax.
I've made plenty of mistakes so far, they're unavoidable on a kit like the -3 where you have to make a lot of the stuff yourself, and you will reorder parts (good thing they're relatively cheap), but getting into the mindset of mistakes being a 'trial run' before making the real thing has helped so much for the motivation. Before I started thinking in that way, a mistake would really hurt the motivation because I felt like it was stopping progress, but now I consider it progress anyway so I feel more motivated to get it right with what I've learnt from the 'trial' run.
When it comes to the plans, they're decent enough, anything missing I've found either online, or thinking ahead, filling in gaps, problem solving.
Like Paul suggests, building to the frame makes it reasonably easy. I've been using a similar/the same method:
1. Drawing out the measurements on the skins (rivet lines and where each hole needs to be, adjusting where necessary for flutes etc., and triple checking everything!)
2. Drilling pilot holes on the skins with a tiny 0.5mm drill bit (leaving holes undrilled that will be done with another part later as per the plans)
3. Putting center-lines or rivet lines on the ribs and spars, lining them up with the skins, clamping them tight and match drilling (starting with a hole at either end to cleco it into place so it almost certainly wont move if a clamp is bumped, then drilling the rest).
Or in the case of stiffeners in the Rudder/Elevators, measuring the skin, extending the center lines past the ends of the stiffeners, pilot drilling the stiffeners first, without drilling the skins, and then aligning & drilling them to the skin.
Doing it that way, there isn't much risk of running a rivet line off and I think it looks pretty neat. And it's not as scary as the method in the plans that suggests 'drilling blind' (I tried that on my
first Vertical Stabilizer... learnt my lesson pretty quick)
If you like the idea of a challenge, go for it! I think it's worth it.