There are times when scratch building is not the most cost effective thing you can do. This part below is a good example. With the new 650 rudder, the upper rudder hinge must be longer. Unfortunatly I had already drilled to install the older (and shorter) hinge designed for the 601XL. Normally I would have just gone out and picked up some aluminum to make the new one, but, alas, the smallest quantity of 0.1875" 6061-T6 from Aircraft Spruce is 2' x 2' and the price is $55! Yikes. I called Zenith and asked if the new upper rudder hinge came pre-drilled. Of course, the answer was yes. A couple of days later I asked for Roger and inquired if there was any way to pull one out of production before the holes were drilled. Without hesitating he said "sure" and told me he would take care of it. The very next morning I saw that a UPS shipment was on its way, and sure enough this part arrived on my doorstep this morning, costing just $9.50. What service and what a bargain -- considering the cost of the raw materials. When you build a plane from Zenith, you get customer service that is second to none. These are good people.
