Bought the front end kit for the DRDT-2!

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:28 am

After comming to the realization that I cannot dimple in the basement garage after 8pm these days. (2 year old's bedtime) I have decided that my trusty c-frame dimpler tool must go!

I just purchased the front end kit for the DRDT-2. My uncle is a professional fabricator and offered to build the frame for me with scraps from his stash.
When I built the tail 5 years ago, we were kidless and this was not a problem. Now it is a big problem when I start whacking that tool....

Hopefully this will make the wing skins go quicker.

I also noticed that the c-frame tool tends to oblong the rivet hole if you don't hit the shaft at the perfect angle. This is another reason for my decision to switch.

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:02 am

Brantel wrote: Now it is a big problem when I start whacking that tool....

OK, I'm immature ... couldn't resist.

You'll like the DRDT2 - it is great!

T.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:22 am

I'm immature too! That was funny!!

Like Thomas said, you will LOVE the DRDT!!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 2:27 pm

Haha... ha... ha...

He said tool!

I did the front end kit too. It is hard to beat for the loot!

All the planning is done for you!

Good choice!

CJ

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 8:41 am

A little grinding and some Krylon and this baby will be ready for the front end kit when it gets here!

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 8:57 am

VERY nice work!! Looks identical to mine...and I paid out the nose for it!

Still worth every penny though!

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 9:59 am

Yep... A DRDT-2 for $154 is a steal!

dons · Post by **dons** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 11:01 am

I also paid full price (and about an extra $100 to get it shipped), but what a difference. A few nights ago I was dimpling around midnight with the door open between the garage (shop) and the house while someone was sleeping and no worries about noise, can't do that with a C-Frame.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 6:00 pm

Why not make your own?

Mine was the DRDT-1 and I made it with I-beam. That was the way the plans were back then. There is some deflection in the beam. Yours will be rock solid!

The thing is GREAT!

You will love it!

CJ

dons · Post by **dons** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:46 am

captain_john wrote:Why not make your own?

For me it was simply because I have had no exposure to welding, didn't know anybody that did, hadn't had any dealings with a company that did welding, heck, I didn't even know where to go to buy some steel. Since starting down this adventure I have run into a custom welding company owned by experimental aircraft owner and at least a few other builders that have a lot of welding knowledge. Would I build, or have it built locally if I were to do it again, no question, yes.

By time I'm finished building this plane, there will be a LOT of things I won't hesitate to do myself in the future, that's part of the satisfaction of doing this, learning all the new skills.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:50 pm

Well, Don... those are all great reasons!

You pretty much are saying that if you knew then what you know now... I agree.

I happened to have the where-with-all to pull it off before beginning the plane project.

This entire airplane building project is more than just building the plane. It is an accumulation of experiences and knowledge that is hard to get anywhere else!

Too much fun to be legal, huh?

CJ

ptrotter · Post by **ptrotter** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:41 pm

I was in the same position as Don. No experience welding so I bought the finished DRDT-2. Had I more time, I would have learned to weld in order to do it myself, but sometimes you just have to recognize your limitations. I have learned a lot of new skills during this project, and while I'll sometimes buy something I could make for expediency, I have rarely found something I couldn't do with enough study and practice.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 12:14 pm

Same here. I think welding would be fun to learn, but buying it was the right thing for me to do at the time.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 4:12 pm

I think the same could be said about doing your own upholstery. I have been talking to many people about how they did theirs and looking at many websites.

The methods and material differ greatly when viewed in minutia, but on the surface it all seems quite standard with only a few variations!

How vague a cursory glance can be!

CJ

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:02 pm

Got it together!!!

Man I love this thing already!

No more wacking the alien!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:07 pm

Looks GREAT!

Is that small block Mopar BLUE!?!

You don't drink beer from CANS, do you!?! Brown bottles ONLY!

CJ

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:10 pm

Ford blue!

Cheap Krylon blue works every time.

Nope, Sam's choice diet cola!

If I drank beer, I would never drink from a can!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:12 pm

Whew!

That was CLOSE!

CJ

RivetBangers.com

Bought the front end kit for the DRDT-2!

Bought the front end kit for the DRDT-2!

Re: Bought the front end kit for the DRDT-2!

Almost There!

Got it together!!!