All:
     I got excellent service from my local FSDO in St. Louis.  They quickly
put me in touch with one of their aircraft maintenance specialists.  We
traded cell phone numbers in case anything unforeseen arose.  We agreed on a
date and time and he showed up promptly.  Mine was the first experimental he
had ever done.  He was knowledgeable, gave the a/c a thorough going over,
educated me on several issues, and showed me how to request 4" side numbers
which they later approved by letter.  I didn't pay a penny.  The FAA are the
ones requiring the inspection, make them do their work.

Pete Field
LNC2 ~90 hours