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I'm just about done with the fuselage kit. Yesterday, I received my firewall forward kit and my wiring harness from Van's. I'm scratching my head as to what to do next. Opinions?

Start mounting stuff on the firewall. Do everything you possibly can before mounting the engine. Put nutplates on the firewall everywhere you need to bolt something to make working on that stuff later easier.

The finish kit is really the gear, cowl and the canopy. You can't do the cowl without an engine mounted. The canopy you can do anytime but I think you are doing a slider and since you need the front deck on to do your canopy, go ahead with everything you can under there like pre-wiring, brakes, etc. before riveting that skin on.

Summer is the best time to work on the canopy.

There is a point where there is not right or wrong thing to do next, the important thing is just do something with what you have at the time to work with....

Wow, that's eye opening. I will roll the canoe within a month I hope, finish kit is being shipped early May and I have not ordered engine/prop/panel/fwf stuff. Am I like really behind the ball ?

Spike

Hi Spike - I don't think you are behind. No expert here, but there seem to be lots of different build sequences once the fuse is "done" (BTW - I never rolled the fuse, built it right side up. I did it that way cause RV9A's aren't aerobatic and I didn't want to get in trouble ).

I finished the fuse structure, then speent a very long time working on the instrument panel - actually on the panel and the subpanel getting ready for avionics. I've cut holes for EFISs, fit radio racks, make provision for wire runs, figured out my fuse blocks, etc.

I've put a few doodads on the firewall (gascloator, relays, etc.) and am ready to start the canopy when the box gets here IN TWO DAYS.

I think I can do the slider canopy, then the windshield this summer... hopefully leaving the forward skin off so I can wire avionics later. Along the way I'll finish a few firewall things (heater boxes, cable feedthrus) then add the engine mount. With any luck I can build up my engine over the winter and start the wiring.

The only reason I'm doing it this way is so I can spread out the avionics purchasing. Since I've officially decided on my avionics and bought 1/2 of them, it seemed right to cut the panel and subpanel. If you want to wait till after the engine is on to do the panel, I think that would work fine too. I'm not sure about the windsheild though - seems like you have to get your subpanel done before you rivet on your top skin, before you install your windshield. Not sure about that, though.

Good Luck!

Spike, you are not behind the eight ball. Lay out and plan where everything is going to go on the firewall. Make all holes, install nut plates etc. Include engine mount at the first thing. You don't have to put the engine mount on permantly but you want it in place so you know what you have to work around. I used a Grand Rapids Engine monitor so I made two holes in the the firewall one on each side of the firewall recess for the oil filter for wires and sensors to the engine. I also made my provisions for throttle cable, mixture cable, carb heat etc. You want everything done possible before hanging the engine. You will want to keep the boot cowl off until you mount the windshield. You will also want your instrument panel layed out and wired before you install the boot cowl. Make plans for heater etc. Once you mount the engine any hole in the firewall is You can't complete the wiring of the engine until engine is hung. You can put the airplane on its gear as soon as you get the finish kit. If it is tail wheel that isn't so critical.

Thanks guys!