Thanks, I've been hoping video was forthcoming! Looking forward to the rebuild.
"In the vast library of socialist books, there’s not a single volume on how to create wealth, only how to take and “redistribute” it.” - David Horowitz
Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 24,712Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Lifer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 24,712
Alabaster, AL USA
Yep, audio is crap!
I'm probably going out to the airport today to take off the sheeting and start taking the fuselage apart, and most likely do two versions - one with a mic hooked up to me (which I didn't have here, as all I brought with me was the GoPro) and a silent one where I narrate over the top of myself.*
The wife said I also need to rig up some lighting. And maybe write a script. And remember that "dripping-soaking-wet" isn't one word all slurred together. And that while my belly is shrinking, I need to learn to suck in my gut ("Didn't they teach you that in the Army?" "I didn't have a gut in the Army, dear, so skipped that class.").
I'm going to try a technique on the fuselage that may or may not work. Since most of the side tubes are okay, I'm going to drill out the rivets on the damaged longerons but leave the gussets on the tubes themselves. This (hopefully) will do two things: First, it will protect the tubing, as drilling out and replacing rivets inevitably leads to elongated holes and weakened joins, and B) should make putting it back together easier, as it will be a matter of putting the new longerons in the same place the old ones were.
So it's pick up some new plywood on the way to assemble a build table. One of the MDF boards I used on the original one was destroyed, and I need something longer than just the one.
One thing I didn't mention in the video very much was the landing gear. I'm absolutely thrilled that the right landing gear tubing and the cross tubes going across are intact. Making new gear will be so much easier, as the geometry is set. I only need to make new left gear the same as the right, attach, run the cross tube over and center with cables.
* I actually really like the "make faces but don't speak" technique, as I think it's funny, requires only one take (though I usually narrate exactly what I was thinking at the time), the audio is easier to control (there is a LOT of ambient noises at an airport), and is kind of unique in the world of YouTube.
The opinions of this poster are largely based on facts and portray a possible version of the actual events.
Dart the video was fine..can't attest to the audio Lost most of my hearing in 68 so CC is the best way for me,,i rarely turn the sound on to the TV and have to use headsets to listen to music will be looking forward to the rebuild..
I have so much respect for the energy and perseverance you exhibit in this project...
Me, I'm the type that when I dropped my bike, I dragged it to the mechanic and didn't want to see it again until it lookeds brand-spaking new. Machinery or other toys that I love, deformed, I can't deal with very well.
But you're going to be up there again next summer, I have no doupt.
Just catching up on your story, glad you are rebuilding and double glad you're landing was one you were able to walk away from! Look forward to continue watching your progress!
Indeed a big chap in a small plane coming out of it with 'only a flesh wound'. Luckily , unlike an old IL2 fellow Squad member of mine crashing in a more substantial kite having his goolies crushed by the stick. I applaud your optimism sorting the wreck out, when many with would just say 'bollocks to this' in a similar traumatic situation. You have spunk sirrah!
Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 24,712Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Lifer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 24,712
Alabaster, AL USA
Hahaha....I didn't show it on the video, but I actually bent the stick a third the way down - talk about an iron grip!
Work is slowed by a few weeks, as a visit to the doctor today to figure out why my rib didn't seem to feel any better than it did a couple weeks ago came with surprising results.
I broke the ninth - lowest joining rib - on the left side. It's been eight weeks now, so it should be just about healed.
Well, the x-ray showed that it is indeed healing well. But somehow I managed to break the eighth rib right above it.
Dammit.
Ortho appointment first thing next week to get to the bottom of it.
Wife has declared five dollars on there being a hairline fracture missed by the doctors that I turned into an actual fracture by pushing myself too hard too early. She did not say "I told you so" because she's a decent person who knows that it would do no good to do so.
The opinions of this poster are largely based on facts and portray a possible version of the actual events.
Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 24,712Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Lifer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 24,712
Alabaster, AL USA
Ortho doctor started laughing as we were going over the relevant x-rays of the bunches they took.
"So, yes, it's not that uncommon for a rib to hide that it is broken, only to flex and move later. Be glad it broke and popped back perfectly at the time and you didn't have a flailed chest, where the rib cage collapses into the lung."
"I was just a bit shocked to find out it went from one rib to two. I didn't expect a Doctor's visit to add a broken rib to the list."
"You actually put a hairline fracture on this one on the right side as well. You can tell by this curve on the bone riiight here.."
"That's it, I'm not going to have this looked at any more. I can't have any more ribs broken; this is enough."
Anyhow, the prognosis is good, the drugs are shockingly mild, and I am longing for the part of my youth when I healed very rapidly when injured.
Hopefully Saturday I can go up to the airport and put together the build table and take apart the fuselage.
The opinions of this poster are largely based on facts and portray a possible version of the actual events.
Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 24,712Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Lifer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 24,712
Alabaster, AL USA
Last Sunday I took apart more of the fuselage and reflected on the path forward.
I may simply rebuild the fuselage from scratch, using a bit of hardware here and there, and using tubing for measurement, and the large thick gussets.
It looks like I may not dive fully into the process until after Thanksgiving; I needed this weekend off for healing on my hands (work has torn them up - I've been living soft too long!) and generally goof off.
The opinions of this poster are largely based on facts and portray a possible version of the actual events.
Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 24,712Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Lifer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 24,712
Alabaster, AL USA
Got back from the doctor this morning after a high resolution set of scans, which lead to hilarity.
It seems that I need to stop going to doctors, as more and more ribs seem to be broken and healing, and my medical professional and I had a good laugh over it.
Latest verdict: I broke left ribs 3 through 8 in the rear, and 6 through 9 in the front. Basically, the left rib cage cracked up and down. But since none of them really moved much or punctured anything it's all a-okay. It also explains why everything is healing so slowly.
Still about a cup (~225cc) of fluid in the lower left lung, but since it doesn't bother me and is slowly reducing they're not going to drain it. Next checkup just after Christmas, and if it's still there they'll poke a needle through my side.
Doc asked if my left arm was hurting any and I admitted that it has been aching a bit, to which she replied that I probably put a greenstick fracture in the humerus as well - but since there's really no treatment for it, there's nothing to do but to suck it up.
So waiting a couple of weeks before diving into the plane seems prudent - I'm pushing myself enough at work as it is.
The opinions of this poster are largely based on facts and portray a possible version of the actual events.
Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 24,712Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Lifer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 24,712
Alabaster, AL USA
It turns out that the docs did know - the last doctor showed me the lab reports beyond the ER- but they just didn't tell me the full story.*
Since it was the 9th rib that really, really broke, it was the one causing all the trouble, so they talked about it exclusively. They just weren't being very detailed in talking to me about all of it, and the rest were just cracked so they didn't share; it's annoying and certainly would have helped me understand why I'm healing so slowly.
They did tell me there was fluid in the lung, but not how much, and since it wasn't bothering me didn't elaborate other than to say "there is some fluid there." Normally it is absorbed into the body in short order, but I seem to be hanging on to mine.
The lung doc was interested in that I had been left in the dark and said she'd be talking to her peers about it...and that while the first scans showed all the cracks and breaks in the imagery their summary didn't make into the ER doctor's notes. And she apologized for not going over the lab reports themselves with me the last time I saw her; she assumed I knew the full meal deal.
* The ER report was pretty scant, listing the 9th rib as broken and separated, but since it didn't puncture anything they were cool about it. Most of the report is about things that weren't damaged - head, lungs, heart, etc. Since they recommended a follow up appointment with an ortho in the system with access to the scans and the treatment remained the same regardless of how many ribs were broken, they didn't seem to think I needed a full debrief (or a detailed report). And I didn't mention my arm, so they didn't bother with an x-ray of it (full motion, no complaints, so....). He also listed the wrong number of stitches he put on the cut over my eye - I guess I got one for free.
The opinions of this poster are largely based on facts and portray a possible version of the actual events.