I haven't even skinned a rudder yet and have made a mistake, I'm so mad!! After riveting the skeleton I could not get the tip rib to line up with the holes, my skeleton was too short.


No amount of turning and moving would fix it so I turned to fellow builder Mike Daniels on this site for advice and after some helpful suggestions I worked out what was wrong. I had riveted the l-shaped bracket the wrong way round to the tip rib.

Hopefully a clumsy mistake now will save me a real one later. Guess I am going to learn how to drill out a rivet.

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Comment by David Abbott on August 19, 2010 at 6:19pm
Drill rivets out, turn tab around, install as needed :-) Two extra holes in each piece will make no difference.
Comment by AGSiler on August 17, 2010 at 8:02pm
I hang the Parts that I have replaced ; on a string, from the ceiling,, as a gentle reminder, of how easy it is to make a mistake.
Comment by Jonathan Porter on August 17, 2010 at 1:56am
It is good to be honest - EVERY builder has done something wrong... we had a rudder all set up nicely, and somebody (a relative of mine) slipped that part around too - so you are not the first!!

Admitting mistakes, seeking help and smiling are all essential parts of growing your own plane. :)
Comment by Ken Ryan on August 16, 2010 at 10:15pm
I second the vote for the Home Built Help videos, but more importantly encourage you to look upon mistakes as an opportunity to learn something.
Comment by Richard Benson on August 16, 2010 at 9:34pm
Paul,

If you don't already have them, I would suggest that you get Jon Croke's HomeBuildHelp videos. They will save you a lot of time, frustration, and replacement parts. As a first time builder, I would not have even considered this project without these videos.

Rich
Comment by Ron Lendon on August 16, 2010 at 8:15pm
Measure twice, cut once. Welcome to the brotherhood. Sometimes doing it over several times can be therapeutic.
Comment by Paul Sanders on August 16, 2010 at 8:07pm
I figure it's like landing gear up in a retractable gear plane; going to happen to you one day. Thanks again for the twitter help yesterday, you saved me taking a hammer to the project :)
Comment by Mike Daniels on August 16, 2010 at 8:05pm
I had to drill some rivets today myself. mixed up some rids in my elevator. I swear they were miss labeled.

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