At what point in the build should I buy the engine package?

Reading up on the Viking fuel system and realizing there's gonna be some header tanks and pumps I'll have to install, and I'm wondering if I'm going to have to buy the engine kit and install these components well before the rest of the aircraft is completed. Same thing with controls honestly, a lot of things that I'm not sure how to install and in what order, that don't seem wise to install after skins are on.

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Permalink Reply by Kip Pratt on Friday

There are probably 100 different answers to your question.

You could install everything after the airframe is complete but it will be a little more difficult. Jan has videos of on their youtube channel of changing engines and needing to add all of the components.

I ordered a few things before getting the engine package, such as, their fuel senders for the main tanks and the header tank (which contains the fuel pumps). Although I did not permanently install the tank until much later, it allowed me to plan how to mount it etc. before things got really tight in the aft fuselage.

I spend a lot of time just looking at the wing or fuselage thinking from the end product backward to where it is presently. Then considering all that needs to be in place first (wires, fuel lines, lights etc) and being sure not to cut off my access too soon. --- I hope that makes sense.

Good luck!

Kip 

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