RivetBangers.com

Is anyone else thinking about how far they've come in one year? How much do you hope to get done this year? A picture taken recently motivated me to think about where I was a year ago, and all that was accomplished in 2009. Not that I'm the fastest builder on the forum, or that it matters at all anyway, but how about let's have some fun. Where were you on your project a year ago, compared to now?

Here are the pics that made me think about the last 12 months on the project, and all the great things that happened in 2009.

My little granddaughter, age 3 at the time, visited me and hung out in the shop with me one year ago. I captured this priceless photo of her. She was the first to sit in what would become my cabin:



Fast forward one year. Things have come a long way! She was here for a Christmas visit, and got to sit in the airplane once again. With her uncle Daniel this time! My son Daniel has helped me many times on the project. Together we have riveted much of the plane together. Years from now, I will look back on 2009 with many good memories.



I wish everyone a successful and productive 2010!

nice post Bruce.

I look back on my photos every once in a while...3 yrs worth.

I started back in December 03, and hope to be flying March/April 2010.
I originally thought ok, I can do this in 4 years slow build all the way.
However, Life, family, and work have a way of changing all that.

Here I was one year ago...
Installing EGT sensors.


Here I am today...


110 hours and going strong! Keep bangin' those rivets![/url]

Wow, great thread! This exercise was cool in that it really showed me what I accomplished in a year and a bit depressing to show me that my hopes for first flight are most likely unrealistic. Oh well, keep on trucking.

I didn't take a ton of photos during the end of '08 and beginning of '09. This was February of '09 which makes me think that I was probably mocking up the skeleton of the right wing last January:




And this is this morning:





Spike

Yeah, definitely a cool idea for a thread! For some reason, I took a good two weeks off during this time last year, but on January 3rd, here's what I was working on...



2009 was a big year with the move to the airport! I'm now staring down a first engine start when the air warms once again...

A year ago this month I wasn't really putting any time in the project. Money woes and future expenses had me shutdown and lacking motivation.
So I working occasionally in the shop making bits and pieces.
Also in Jan'09 I had a complete hard drive failure and lost all pictures and build log from Nov08-Feb09....yes it was demoralizing.



Now with most of the big stuff figured out and on-site, I'm more motivated than the day I opened the tail kit.


Here's a couple pics I like to look back on progress:
Grandson Austin dimpling elevators 2/07

Grandkids testing out the loop capability 6/08

Austin helping fit the wings 5/09

You guys are awsome...

Here is one for those of us working earlier in the build process.

In December of 2008 I was just starting to dimple the Horizontal Stabilizer skins after four years of owning the tail kit. Yes that is very slow build! We put on an addition to the house and I built the shop so the kit was on ice for almost three years.

So within the last year, (actually since Oshkosh 09; when Painless and Brad Oliver gave me great advice and encouragement over steaks at the Otter)...

I have the tail parts done and in the storage room, tucked away. Here is my status as of this afternoon.




I try to work every day even if it is only 15 minutes...and it is paying off.

Again thanks to fellow rivet bangers for keeping me on track.

CD