Hope to get up to the NEC this year - now that I'm living closer. Surely the mix-up with the hubs was a perfect excuse for why you needed to build up a tandem.
well regarding spokes i always prefer silver, i like the way they glint in the sun and can reflect on to the tarmac (if on road), also i used standard nipples, i was thinking of using alloy nipples in gold but decided against as all my stuff gets used and i'd rather have the strength in the wheels.