Pietenpol-List: Progress and problems
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 8:29 pm
Original Posted By: "Scott Schreiber"
The good news is I am making some progress. I got a decent jumpstart when I bought a tailfeathers set and some ribs for next to nothing from a great builder. I also started on the fuselage sides, I have one just about complete. Giant scale R/C experience is helping me a great deal more than I thought. I have a few pics up at my site: http://www.subarubrat.com/Pietenpol.htmThe problems, well they all come from Aircraft Spruce (the company). I had to go around and around with them on various issus. Some of them being all items other than one being reported as in stock and shipping from the East coast when that last item came off back order. Later it was all going to ship from West at a higher rate. They finally shipped it as promised but when the order arrived they had forgotten the capstrip. They found where they had messed up and shipped it, however they shipped the wrong size and I have 500ft of useless capstrip coming. The spruce kit advertised as being complete (other than having to order the capstrip seperatly) does not include the leading or trailing edge stock as well as some other stock. The fuse kit does not include enough of one size and I have about 6 pieces that don't match any size called for in the plans or on their cut sheet they sent with the kit. I suppose I have to call them back Monday and try to get the missing pieces and capstrip re-done, but honestly I am tired of calling them for problem after problem.And one last Aircraft Spruce problem, they substitute 3/4 spars for the 1in spars in the plans saying that some company told them it was OK. Even if this is true, and I don't trust this much, all the measurements and clearances (rib spar slots, metal fittings etc.) are intended for the spar thickness called for in the plans. I am not sure I like the idea of all those changes to the plans because of some hearsay source. Anyone else been through this? -Scott________________________________________________________________________________
The good news is I am making some progress. I got a decent jumpstart when I bought a tailfeathers set and some ribs for next to nothing from a great builder. I also started on the fuselage sides, I have one just about complete. Giant scale R/C experience is helping me a great deal more than I thought. I have a few pics up at my site: http://www.subarubrat.com/Pietenpol.htmThe problems, well they all come from Aircraft Spruce (the company). I had to go around and around with them on various issus. Some of them being all items other than one being reported as in stock and shipping from the East coast when that last item came off back order. Later it was all going to ship from West at a higher rate. They finally shipped it as promised but when the order arrived they had forgotten the capstrip. They found where they had messed up and shipped it, however they shipped the wrong size and I have 500ft of useless capstrip coming. The spruce kit advertised as being complete (other than having to order the capstrip seperatly) does not include the leading or trailing edge stock as well as some other stock. The fuse kit does not include enough of one size and I have about 6 pieces that don't match any size called for in the plans or on their cut sheet they sent with the kit. I suppose I have to call them back Monday and try to get the missing pieces and capstrip re-done, but honestly I am tired of calling them for problem after problem.And one last Aircraft Spruce problem, they substitute 3/4 spars for the 1in spars in the plans saying that some company told them it was OK. Even if this is true, and I don't trust this much, all the measurements and clearances (rib spar slots, metal fittings etc.) are intended for the spar thickness called for in the plans. I am not sure I like the idea of all those changes to the plans because of some hearsay source. Anyone else been through this? -Scott________________________________________________________________________________