Finally starting

[Mr Grinch]

Originally Posted by Indytim

All - I appreciate the comments from above, particularly about matching the holes for QBW and QBF. I had not considered that, and somehow missed it in my readings. I've gone back and forth on the QB kits all along. I love building, but I'm very concerned about the constraints on my time, and it sure would be nice to be flying before I'm retired.

So, my revised plan is now this:

- Empennage build with Jay. I don't plan to get it all done at his shop - I'll bring whatever isn't done home and finish.
- Order QBW + QBF + Fastback kit. It looks like the turtledeck is not installed on the QB from Vans, so there is little to undo, to install the fastback kit. Brian over at Showplanes sent me a list of the component deletes on my QB order. Brian says it's roughly $800 in savings, although I have not gotten the actual credit amounts from Vans yet.
- And then I wait for the QB kits to show up. I have some R&D I need to do, for the interior - there are some things I want to do that are beyond my current know-how. So it will be a good time to figure all that out, while I wait for the QB kits to show up.

Best wishes. I visited Jay and thought along the same lines. Build the empennage kit with his supervision, using it as an opportunity to learn/refine skills, then the rest with QB in my nifty new shop. Definitely go QB, and if I may, recommend considering carefully before you go nuts with mods. You already know why.

[sheldon63]

Hi,
Just joined this forum today because of my long held interest in an rv8 build. As a "newby" I can only add that I believe the qbf and the qbw is the way to go along with the empennage build course to get off on the right foot. I have been watching for a completed rv8 but sor far, no luck. If I don't find one soon, I'll be ordering my quick build kit very soon. Best of luck from Central Wisconsin!!!
Sheldon

[N363RV]

Welcome Sheldon. This is a great site for inspiration, motivation and RV help.

IndyTim.... I'm excited for you. Jay is a really cool guy that has a great aviation spirit. You will learn a lot from him. I can't say enough good things about Jay.

That said, the build time is highly variable. It took amanda and myself about 2200 man hours to get our QB project flying. We did have help from a local IA and amanda was with me the entire time. It is a tremendous help with everything from inventory(ing), to reading and interpreting the build manual to physically working on the plane... by having a second person helping in a full time way. Vans aircraft is amazing. When you mess up a part (you will) they ship replacement parts out really fast and they are very reasonably priced for replacement parts.

If you aren't in a big hurry... you can get it all done by yourself will a little bit of help when it comes down to rivets, putting on the wings and hanging the engine.

Regardless of your timeline... try to enjoy the build and make a few friends along the way. :-)

[Robert Anglin]

The only thing we have to fear is ----------------. Step off the curb and start taking steps. You are in good company and we have all gone through it.
Welcome to the fun and frustration of such fun. Yours, R.E.A. III # 80888