Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: "Gary McNeel, Jr."
Guys, I need a little emotional support here...I have been building a wooden wing airplane of another design and have about100 hours into it. It has been an on and off project for several years andin that time, I have gained skills and information regarding construction,largely due to this group. Now I look at my almost complete wing and amunsatisfied with the result. Additionally, I wish I had started with a Pietat this point.The part I need help with is the fact that there's a lot of good spruce inthose spars that I'll never use. I've got the compression ribs glued in soI'll have to tear the damn thing up at this point. HELP! I feel like I'vegot to take Old Yeller out back and shoot him. This wing has been a part ofmy life for longer than my wife and kid!Distressed,Robert HainesDu Quoin, IllinoisPietenpol plans in hand,GN-1 plans,Model-A engine in the garage,Pober Super Ace wing,stuck in the middle!________________________________________________________________________________Date: Fri, 29 Mar 2002 13:21:02 -0600

Original Posted By: clif

Original Posted By: "walter evans"
>> Guys, I need a little emotional support here...>Robert, much as I hate to say it BUT - save the spar for reuse, junk therest. Chalk it up to learning. Most of us have junked one or another partsof airplanes, and were lucky to save something good besides the experience.You can either use the spar as-is, or slice and dice it to make longerons,cross-pieces, cap strips, tail end group, etc. Heck, if you're careful, youcan use some of the rib material elsewhere.I've built several single seat airplanes, Formula Vees, etc. Found I muchprefer to be able to offer rides to others. Good luck in future endeavors.________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "Brants"

Original Posted By: "Robert Haines"
Robert,I think alot is to be said about being in love with a project. Soundscorney but I think it's true. You have to be in love with what you aredoing to ratialized all the hours that one spends on it. If you have tocreate excuses to go and work on your plane ,,,then you're in love with it.If you find it a chore,,,then it's time to quit that one.Lifes too short to waste three years to complete something that your heartisn't into. If the workmanship is ok, then put the work you've done on Ebayand sell it to a Pober builder. If you're not ok with that, save the sparsand cut the ribs, and use the mat'l on the short criss/cross rib pieces ofthe Piet.I think you'll be amazed, that when you decide, and take the big step, thata big weight will come off and building will be fun again.waltNX140DLps. yeah, alot is to be said about taking people for rides,,,mostly thekidsIn building a project,,,,It's not the destination, but the journey!----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Larry Neal

Original Posted By: "Robert Haines"
Robert, Sell the Super Ace wing and plans and buy new spruce and other stuff.You could probably sell it for more than it would cost for the spars.Wayne McIntosh Lafayette IN----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "walter evans"
Robert,I agree with Walter, here. Building is a mission for some of us. Don'tconfuse yourself trying to rationalize the time you've spent. Heck, I spendabout 100 hours every 2 weeks doing something I dont especially want todo -working. But the 100 hours you've spent building is "invested" if youreally love it. I've got over 600 hrs in mine over 7 years. If it takesanother 7 or 17 or 27 years, I'll finish it.I betcha if you scrap this project and move on to a piet (and I'm notnecessarily suggesting you do it), you'll save yourself 100 hrs in thebuilding of the Piet. Because it sounds like your 100 hrs you've sunk intoyour project were way down on the learning curve. Think of all the tricksand techniques you've learned. You've kinda "practiced" for 100 hrs. Icall it paying tuition.Hang in there, decide if you want to continue and build your project orwould you rather have a Piet. Either one is a GREAT accomplishment.Best, Bert (whose presently building a non-flying garden house for his mom)It IS the journey.....----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Bert Conoly"
Bert,Hit it right on the head!walt----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Graham Hansen"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: crazy or not?Beforre you go crazy and tear it apart get some other people to look and then decide what to do. We are usually most critical of out own work. We just see the bad parts. Ken in sunny Iowa________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Isablcorky(at)aol.com
Thank you all for the support in my decision to start again on an aircraftproject. I makes me feel good that I'm not the only one who has been inthis predicament. I will be disassembling the wing for the wood in thespars. What ribs I can save will make it to the shop wall to give my shop alittle character. As far as selling it to someone else, I would not feelcomfortable knowing that it's out there as I would not be comfortable flyingit myself.And let me add one more thing... I blame this all on DJ and his beautifulweb site and excellent construction! Seriously, being part of thisgroup provides a constant pressure do a quality job and I want to thank youall for that.Now where's my axe?Robert HainesDu Quoin, IllinoisP.S. - I've pretty much settled on the standard fuselage Piet, improvedplans, Model-A powered.________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Patcoolnet(at)aol.com
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: crazy or not?Robert the Yankee,Sounds like me. I've put in three different brake systems, four different aileron control systems and only the Lord knows how many times I'll have to build this cowling until I'm satisfied. Corky the Rebel in La whistling Dixie________________________________________________________________________________