After several years, it's finally finished!

[Don Jenkins]

I've been building this modified Dreadnought on and off for several years.  I had it framed up and in primer in 4 months, then I started having issues with the dope finish and got frustrated with it several times.  It hung on the wall for over a year while I looked at it everyday as I walked through my shop.  Last week I just accepted the fact it won't be my best work and decided to finish it.  I did a number of touch ups, shot clear on the bottom of the wing to resolve issues and did some polishing.  It's straight and weighs 63 ounces ready to fly, so hopefully it will do a good pattern.

Has anyone else lost interest in a build for this long!

Don

[Bob Hunt]

That looks fantastic, Don! Yup, I had a few projects that spanned years, but the corker was my Second Wind twin. It took seven years from concept to first flight. I chronicled that build on a marathon thread here on the All Amped Up forum. Sometimes it's good to savor the process...

Bob Hunt

 

[Kermit Payne]

Don,

Even your "not my best work" looks good!  Like you, I've got a couple that I just can't get motivated to finish.  But I blame mine on Squirrel Syndrome --- I get something started and then I see something else that's worthy of building, so I drop the current build and start the new one.  Then that new one gets shelved for another new one that's just begging to be built, and the cycle continues.

So when is the maiden?  You need to come visit us in Winston-Salem sometime!

Kermit

[frank williams]

Don ..... I feel your pain ..... I've had a bunch that just couldn't get over the finish line.
The plane looks great from here.  At 63oz, you can come over and screwup any of my builds anytime.
Frank

[Ken Culbertson]

My Hammerhead took 2 years 6 months from "why would I want to do this" to first flight and now it is "Why would I want to do anything else?" and it is still not finished finished.  70oz and a battery hog 3800ma on a 4200mah battery.

Ken

[Steve Berry]

Ken, you certainly get points for uniqueness.

I can't really give any of you any grief for taking a while to finish a plane. I have a Forerunner that has been in the beginning stages of the finish for the last 20 years. What can I say? Life happens and some stuff just has to be put on the back burner. The good news is that on my current build, a foam wing electric Magician (with increased wingspan - I didn't cut down the cores), it's only been in the finishing stage for the last 3 months (this after taking the better part of 2 years to frame it up). In my defense, I've moved since starting the framing of it, and then last October my wife & I had twins (boy & girl, and they are doing great!) so control line has been moved down the priority list.

Steve

[Paul Taylor]

Looks good Don. Hope to see it at KOI.

I have a Green Box Nobler I lost interest in 12 yrs ago. It’s still in the box. 🤣

Maybe next year. 😉

[Dave_Trible]

Less computer time-more shop time....

Dave

[Don Jenkins]

Thanks for the replies, I feel a little better about losing interest in builds, but still wish I could stay motivated.  In my defense, like several of you have stated, life does get in the way and priorities prevail, especially TWINS, congrats Steve!.  Now that my awesome 92 year old Mom is in an assisted living facility, and loving every minute of her new social life, I now have a bit more time on my hands.  I have one more plane on the bench I need to finish polishing (Vertigo II) along with some final touch ups, but I promised myself I would finish it before starting on my next project which begins with an Impact foam wing I've had for a few years.

Don

[Motorman]

I've had some planes that took so long that nobody flys that event anymore. Some of my best planes were just slapped together to get them in the air.

MM

[Ken Culbertson]

I've had some planes that took so long that nobody flys that event anymore. Some of my best planes were just slapped together to get them in the air.

MM

[944_Jim]

Did someone say twins? I love twins! I have a Dave Cowell cut 23" Mosquito (Brown/Novotnik). This one has been collecting dust for the last five six years or so.

Oh, Mr. Steve, you mean twin kids. Congrats!

[Steve Berry]

Oh, Mr. Steve, you mean twin kids. Congrats!

Thank you. They just turned 7 months old last Saturday, and they are a handful!

Steve