![Trimming composites gets the full PPE job. [Credit: Eric Stewart]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/7-2.jpg?w=534&h=462&crop=1 "A Few of My Favorite Tools")
![Lowell Farrand spent years serving as an FAA DAR and is in the EAA Hall of Fame. He offers sound advise to builders. [Credit: Bill Wilson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-4.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Think Like a Builder")
![Author Bill Wilson takes a break from measuring and cutting the Lexan windshield during his Onex build. [All Images Credit to Bill Wilson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/image-2.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Think Like A Builder")
Tips for Setting Up Shop
Why would a new guy offer advice about how to set up a shop? First of all, I just set up a new shop....
Marking Rivet Locations
Laying out rivet patterns can take a lot of time, especially when the drawings specify distances from a leading edge or other reference mark,...
In Case You Missed It
Metal Magic: Fixing Mistakes and Making Adjustments
No airplane project is perfect. You are human and you're going to make mistakes....
![[Credit: Mike Davenport]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/DSC_0053.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Pre-War Porterfield")
Wind Tunnel
Multiple engines complicate design, because not only must the airplane be able to maintain flight on one engine, but also the pilot must be able to control it. Lateral/directional stability issues are key;
