RV-7 Newbie Builder need advice

[diamond]

I suggest you put off making a decision on QB or no QB for now. When you are 80% done with the empennage, then revisit the question. If you have a blast building the empennage, then go SB all the way. However if building just feels like a means to the end, I suggest you sell the empennage and buy a finished RV. I agree with a previous reply and don't see much justification for QB. If you love building, build the entire airplane. If building doesn't thrill you, buy a finished RV. I'm in the middle of building my tanks right now and am loving every minute of it. Yes it is a challenge, but there is great satisfaction in completing the difficult things.

[rhill]

Buy a QB kit someone has to part with,still plenty of building to do.Or by the way QB wings not only have the tanks built you get all the control surfaces done also. Then you can SB the fuse well within the 51% rule here in the US.
RHill

[Adam W]

i think revisiting the question 80% through empenage was good advice
i am building for the build i have a plane to fly so its not a time thing
thanks again

[dave4754]

Time time time!

If you are short of this then a QB helps. I bought the QB fuse because of time and it helped me as i am very constrained with time.

Money is an issue, this project will suck up lots so if a budget is in mind then the slow build is the better way. If money is not short a QB helps with TIME!

Good luck

[chrishalfman]

Does not look like Van's still offers it, but back in 2005 I bought finished tanks with my standard (not slow ) build wings. If you're only afraid of the goo, might be worth having someone finish that tanks for you. That alone won't ruin you getting your repairman cert.

I have actually fallen in love with pro-seal. Have a tube in the freezer for non-airplane purposes. Stuff is awesome-it'll seal/join/fix dang near anything. With that being said, still glad I bought pre-built tanks.

[rv7charlie]

15 or 20 years ago, some at Van's used to hint that the QB option was ~$8.00/hr.

Slow build or quick build; the riveting time will seem insignificant compared to finishing the plane.....

;-}

[Michael Henning]

The wings on the RV-4 took a year to build. No prepunched parts. The only shortcut was the Phlogiston spar. Piece of cake. Enjoy the build and marvel at what you built.

[Adam W]

thanks for the words guys
i think it will be SB wings and QB fuselage
unless i find a QB wing kit for resale relatively untouched

[Bevan]

Compared to some other kits and before the pre-punched kits were available, current RV's "are" already sort of quickbuilt kits.

You could have QB tanks that leak and have to be repaired.

Most of the build time is spent after the QB stage. I did slow build over 14 years and don't regret it. I learned a lot and got the airplane I wanted.

You have to acquire the skills anyway. Better to do that on smaller assemblies growing your skills while the airplane grows. Screwing up on a QB assembly could be more costly/disturbing.

Bevan
I too love pro-seal. Keep it in the shop fridge and use it for many tasks. Just take it out of the fridge the day before to let it come up to room temperature.

[rv7charlie]

Or, keep it in the freezer & scoop out what you need when you need it. The amount you're working with will be room temp by the time it's mixed & applied to the parts. :-)