Author Topic: What slows down building? (Read 2720 times)

James Mills · « **on:** August 29, 2007, 08:39:33 PM »

I'm planning to start another plane soon and am trying to plan the most expedient way to go about construction (I mean, hey we aren't all like Sparky and can crank out 3 or 4 quality ships a month

).

I'm trying to identify the parts that I don't enjoy as much (for instance making the hinge slots). So here is the question, what part of construction slows you down and whats the best approach to getting finished quickly without bogging down?

James
(Hope this makes sense).

Airacobra · « **Reply #1 on:** August 29, 2007, 09:05:38 PM »

My problem is I don't plan ahead well enough and usually wait to get the things I need when I need them. Big mistake as that takes you out of the mood while you are waiting for parts. When I do it all again I will have all the parts and pieces in the shop to keep things moving. Yes, installing the belcrank and the remainder of the control system is usually where I get hung up. Sometimes the cockpit will slow me down as well, but the new ship will have very little pizzaz to it.

Jim Pollock · « **Reply #2 on:** August 29, 2007, 09:30:25 PM »

In my case it is total Chaos!

JP

Randy Powell · « **Reply #3 on:** August 29, 2007, 09:52:30 PM »

They way I build, it's all slow, I guess. Lots of little parts. Finishing takes the most time and it's the part where I have to remind myself not to rush. I've ruined more than one finish by getting in a rush to get it done.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #4 on:** August 29, 2007, 09:57:45 PM »

For me, its the last details, once its built and finished. glueing hinges, plumbing the tank, mounting the wheels, rigging hthe controls, that stuff is all so fiddly. the Building and finishing seem to motor right along. Once its ready for final assembly it seems to drag for me. The rest is pretty entertaining so I can loose myself in it fairly easily,, ahem, just ask Linda,, many times I get the head out the bedroom door,, "are you coming to bed tonight?" whoops its 11 already,, but not when I am finishing one, especially hinging, I dread it, Always nervous I will screw up all my work by one moment of carelesness. I must admit though I seem to have managed to get away with it so far, my controls seem adequate. I might fiddle with the hinges for two nights before I am brave enough to glue them in.

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #5 on:** August 29, 2007, 10:03:05 PM »

Mark, you need to try the Joe Bellcrank hinge install system. It's deviously simple

and quick. I can email it to you, or maybe we can get John to post it. Dirt approved, I hear.

Steve

Bill Gruby · « **Reply #6 on:** August 30, 2007, 12:05:41 AM »

A question comes up here, "What is slow?" I don't build slow I am deliberate. I know what I want it to look like and time is not a problem. I see so many profile fuselages that are not rounded, just the edges are broken. To me this is unfinished. I will take the extra time to make that special sanding block. I don't like false fillets, ie leather, micro-ballons etc. I use "Balsa, it takes longer, but looks better to me. I don't just mount the engine and tank, I fit them. All of these things take time, does that really mean it is slow, I think not. If all this is your definition of slow, then I would rather be a turtle.

"Billy G"

Annette Elmore · « **Reply #7 on:** August 30, 2007, 05:20:05 AM »

I usually find that it is real life that slows down building!

Tony

Dick Byron · « **Reply #8 on:** August 30, 2007, 05:41:00 AM »

A few glasses of fine wine combined with the desire to have 2 more keeps me thinking of what to do next. After 4 glasses, who cares.

bill marvel · « **Reply #9 on:** August 30, 2007, 08:35:25 AM »

Quote from: Dick Byron on August 30, 2007, 05:41:00 AM

A few glasses of fine wine combined with the desire to have 2 more keeps me thinking of what to do next. After 4 glasses, who cares.

I knew I would enjoy meeting you, Dick!!!

My big slow-down has always been when I run into a problem (fitting... fastening... cutting... etc., etc...). If I simply stop and think about it and consider my alternatives, or if I move to another part like hinging the elevator, the solution usually becomes apparent or I work my way through it.
regards,
bill marvel

Scott Jenkins · « **Reply #10 on:** August 30, 2007, 08:42:52 AM »

Need I say more !

Scott

Eric Viglione · « **Reply #11 on:** August 30, 2007, 09:08:57 AM »

Thinking!

In speaking with Jack Sheeks once, he told me the secret to building all those models so quickly was to have his steps planned out mentally so when he went into the shop he went straight to work without having to waste time thinking.

Jack felt that even short work sessions could be very productive this way. Break the building sessions up into small tasks. If you've just got time to cut doublers, think ahead of what wood you have to use, what patterns you will need, where you have a clean spot to do the cutting, etc. and walk into the shop, knock it out and leave.

Get up a hour early in the morning before work every day, spend it like that in the shop, and he says you'll have an airplane built in no time flat.
I have tried it, he's 100% correct!

EricV

Bill Little · « **Reply #12 on:** August 30, 2007, 09:21:33 AM »

If I COULD get up an hour earlier in the morning, believe me, I would!

LIFE, in general, is what gets in my way.................

Randy Powell · « **Reply #13 on:** August 30, 2007, 09:33:21 AM »

On reflection, I suppose what takes the most time is when I run into a problem. I generally design and build my own stuff and things that I thought would work when I drew the plans may not turn out to work quite as I had envisioned. I've had several time with the current project where I wasn't quite sure how to proceed. I'd dither around for a couple of days, working on other parts of the construction while i considered the best way to move forward.

Right now, the project is stalled because other stuff that needs to be done has taken precedence. Getting the current PA plane back into fighting condition after a tough weekend. Getting my Classic plane repaired and refinished. Other stuff. The new plane is on hold for a few days while that stuff is done.

proparc · « **Reply #14 on:** September 01, 2007, 05:35:51 PM »

"What Slows Down Building"

women

Doug Moon · « **Reply #15 on:** September 01, 2007, 05:38:26 PM »

I thought I posted on this thread about having planned building sessions? Where did it go?

Steve Fitton · « **Reply #16 on:** September 01, 2007, 05:58:58 PM »

Football slows building.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #17 on:** September 02, 2007, 07:53:38 AM »

For me the building is the easy part. If I could finish as fast as I build I would not have so many unfinished planes hanging on the wall. DOC Holliday

Jim Kraft · « **Reply #18 on:** September 02, 2007, 08:42:52 AM »

I am a slow builder. I enjoy building very much so don't get in a hurry to do anything but just keep working on it. I only build one plane at a time, and don't start another one until the one I am working on is done. I do take time out to repair current planes that I am flying if it can be done in a couple of hours. For me, the finish is the most fun of all.

Leo Mehl · « **Reply #19 on:** September 02, 2007, 06:34:19 PM »

Me! I hate building. I can frame up a model pretty fast and then I get to the control system which for me has to work perfect. The work perfect phase is the one that means SLOW. It takes me about a year to build a stunter It used to take me a half year-that was in the days when I could see. It took me 3 weeks to frame it and the rest putting a finish on. Now one of the problems is to get me motivated to get into the shop. It is sort of like doing dishes after a big meal. In any case after a while we all suffer from a little burnout. In my case it is supper burnout and my enthusiasm is totally ashes. The one thing that keeps me going is my ability to BS. I figure I need to set an airplane on the flightline in order to qualify. How am I doing?

Author Topic: What slows down building? (Read 2720 times)

Eric Viglione