Paul I P51 Paint Scheme - NICE!

So here is Paul I - Founder of EAA Paul Poberzny's personal aircraft. It is P-51 mustang (Actually I think the museum history points out that this aircraft went through some changes in designation frm an F-51 to a P-51 and back to an F-51 again. Anyway, this is very close to the paint scheme I have decided I want use for my aircraft - except for the yellow. If any of you have suggestions about the color for the nose,OTHER THAN yellow or red, that would pop well with the sky bue and the gray, then letme know. Oh, the nose art has also been decided upon, but I am going to keep that to myself until te project is completed to keep it a surprize.
I'm currently trying to settle on a primer solution/method so I can begin the tail construction. There are many different methods to choose from,which makes this decision all the more difficult to make. Epoxy or Etching primer, anodizing or leaving it all alone to save weight - UGGGHHHH!
Anyway, I am scheduled to attend a sheet metal class up in Broomfield, sponsored by the EAA, during the weekend of Sept 12 and 13. The more practice I can get, the better it will be for my project. Picked up some blue and gray paint that closely matches the color on Paul I, and I will use this to finish the paint job on my tool box. Matching plane and toolbox - what a concept!

Bob Markert's RV 8 WIngs in progress

Here is one of Bob's wings on the jig. The main wing spar is on the top (gold anodized and comes completely assembled from the factory). Thr gree primer is added to the meal ribs shown installed below the wing spar. Have to build some structures to support the wings during this phase - already agreed with the wife that if need be, my car will get the "boot" to go outside the garage if I need the space while the wings are in progress.

Visiting fellow RV 8 Builder Bob Markert's workshop

This was a trip to Bob Markert's house in Littleton, very close to my home, showing his completed horizontal stabilizer of his RV8, which is what I am currently working on. Ron Duren graciously informed of his visit with Bob and I was allowed to tag along. Bob is currently working on the wings of his RV8, Bob and his wife Mary are great folks. It is very nice feeling to know that I have someone that is working on a similar project. There is no substitute for experience! The HS is a little over 8 feet long when completed. Bob, I hope you allow me to show off some of your fine work! Ron, thanks for letting me tag along! I also just found out that an employee of my local Checker Auto Parts Store grewup in New Mexico where his dad managed one of the airports, and he built a Long EZ. Tis a small world for us home builders indeed!

And so it begins - Empennage Kit Arrives June 12 2009

The empennage kit arrived (that's the tail for those of you not familiar with airplane speak :) They were smaller than expected, but boy did they pacl a lot of parts in there! All of those parts are now out of the box and on shelves awaiting assembly or on the bench being attacked by me with tools in hand.

The new Tools are here! Well, they've been here a while already!

Another flashback - digging up some photos from the past now that I have mastered all my data transfer capabilities from the still and video cameras into my laptop. Tools were ordered from Cleaveland Tools - spent a small fortune - but it has already proven to be worth it. Right - Rivet gun - this is NOT the same tool as your garden variety air hammer. It IS the tool that will be most responsible for the creationof my RV8 (along with the bucking bars and rivets and metal parts of course.)
Center - air drill - again - much faster than the average air drill you find in local stores - uses 135 degree angle split point carbide tipped drill bits for clean holes. Right - This is a rivet squeezer - relatively heavy and awkward to hold at times, but it will certainly take the risk of incurring carpal tunnel disease from repetitive dimpling and rive setting. It has a ram that exerts 3000psi on the metal for dimpling or riveting.

And now for a few airplane pics from Oshkosh

...and more toolbox kit pics

A few more pics