Multiple Projects

[Anymouse]

When I got the first flight on my Tango almost seven years ago, I swore I would never build another plane. Never say never!! Within a few years I started looking for another project. A few years ago, I found out that an aircraft I really liked back in the 80s still had plans being sold for it, so I bought a set. I've been working on it from time to time (this is a Mitchell Wing U-2). In the meantime, I bought a basket case project and am in the process of refurbing that (it'll be real nice when it's done!!). Now, just the other day, I found out that plans were available for the MiniMax line of aircraft at no charge. Of course, I had to download a set that appealed to me. There's a real good chance I might start building the 1550V Max sometime next year.

Sheesh!! Talk about an addiction!!! So, anyone else working on multiple projects??

[Kyle Boatright]

Sheesh!! Talk about an addiction!!! So, anyone else working on multiple projects??

I have 2 ancient Aeronca projects waiting until I complete the really old Aeronca project I'm working on. At some point, I need to complete the Hatz project. I'd also like to build a Fly-baby, since I have the plans. Since we have a 20 month old, I should probably think about an RV-10.

Oh, and I still have to do the maintenance and upgrades on my RV-6 and take care of the raising of a 20 month old, while maintaining good relations with my wife.

[Anymouse]

Sheesh!! At least I'm single with no kids.


BTW... I'm considering the Xenos as well.

[JimRice85]

I have trouble keeping up with my Cub and Swift maintenance and annuals.

[Kyle Boatright]

Sheesh!! At least I'm single with no kids.


My wife is very happy that we met after I'd finished the RV-6. It seems that she would have disapproved of having wings in the master bedroom, the other flying surfaces in an off-bedroom, and the canopy and cowling in the dining room. I still don't understand the problem... ;-)

[CarlOrton]

My wife was a jewel for letting me keep the horizontal stab on the dining room table for the best part of a year. We did have to put it in a spare room on the floor (beds had the control surfaces) for Thanksgiving, though;

[Eric Page]

...wings in the master bedroom, the other flying surfaces in an off-bedroom, and the canopy and cowling in the dining room.
You mean this is OK? I've been trying to convince myself I'm not crazy for wanting to turn my master bedroom into a workshop (I'd sleep in the spare room) so I could get started on a Onex. Since my garage is unspeakably hot most of the year, that's a non-starter. I may have to think on this idea some more...

[Mike Switzer]

I only have the one plane project, but I have multiple car & tractor projects going - accumulating parts as I find them.

It gets hard to stay focused & get things finished.

I am also single & I have parts in pretty much every room. A tripower manifold for a big block ford makes a nice centerpiece for the coffee table. :D

Also - there is a lot to be said for an air conditioned shop. Mine doubles as a chiller during grape harvest time, gets nice & cold.

[Eric Witherspoon]

You mean this is OK? I've been trying to convince myself I'm not crazy for wanting to turn my master bedroom into a workshop (I'd sleep in the spare room) so I could get started on a Onex. Since my garage is unspeakably hot most of the year, that's a non-starter. I may have to think on this idea some more...

You're single or have roommates who won't care? Then go for it. Though they do sell portable swamp coolers (I'd say in your neck of the woods, but it's more in your part of coyote & roadrunner territory).

I'm on my 3rd airplane project. First one was sold. Second one's flyable, out at the hangar. Third one's in the garage. Once you have the tools...

Working in a non air-conditioned but sometimes swamp-cooled garage in Tucson.

[Eric Page]

How well does your swamp cooler work? I bought one and tried it shortly after I moved here, but found that it only humidified and didn't cool; made conditions in the garage much worse. Found out later (after I'd returned it) that it requires outside air and a ventilated space. Doh! RTFM, I guess...

How big is yours and how do you set it up? Do you lower your garage door partway to seal off most of the opening, leaving space for the cooler and for air to exhaust?

[steveinindy]

My wife was a jewel for letting me keep the horizontal stab on the dining room table for the best part of a year. We did have to put it in a spare room on the floor (beds had the control surfaces) for Thanksgiving, though;

I see you that and raise you "My fiancee is helping with my design and build". :P

[bigdog]

I thought multiple projects were the norm. I've got a flying Navion that requires maintenance and is an ongoing restoration. I'm trying to finish an RV-6 that's 90% done/90% to go. I'm trying to get started building all new wood ribs for an L-2 basket case (Taylorcraft tandem). And then there's the 75% replica Corsair design I'm working on. I don't count the BD-5 kit I got with the L-2 since I couldn't fit in it on a bet. Oh yeah, I plan to build a hangar too. Gotta have a bigger toy box.

I have friends with multiple projects too and my mechanic puts all of us to shame 'cause he actually finishes everything. So, yeah, it seems normal to me.

[Eric Witherspoon]

How well does your swamp cooler work? How big is yours and how do you set it up? Do you lower your garage door partway to seal off most of the opening, leaving space for the cooler and for air to exhaust?

Depends on the temperature / dew point spread, really, but in Phoenix, it would expand the working season to most of the year. Mine has a 5-gallon or so tank. It's got a connection for a hose and maybe a float valve for automatic refilling, but I judge the work period by how long it takes to run out on a manual fill. Fill once for maybe the better part of an hour's working. Refill to keep working. I refill it with a bucket. I haven't worried about any sort of cooling efficiency - just roll the garage doors full open, have the cooler near one of the doors so it's mostly drawing outside air, point the cooler at where I'm working, and let it go.

Back to the thread - in the down-time between projects, I was designing-my-own similar to a lot of people on here. But there's so many designs, need to be sure it isn't all just a waste of time - re-designing something that already exists. I guess that's part of how I got onto the current build - doing research as to what might already exist along the lines of my design (I did find one really close in wood, and another really close in composite, but my design is riveted metal) - maybe that's how I ran across what I'm building now. I don't exactly recall. (What I'm building is nothing like what I was designing - I don't know why I came to that decision either...)

[Eric Page]

Hmm, I may have to try another cooler again before I try to cram a queen bed into a twin bedroom! Thanks for the tip, Eric!