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01-12-2010, 10:12 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Okemos, Michigan
Posts: 45
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QB 7a Build Time
I'm about 450 hours in on my QB 7a. I am trying to get an idea of how many hours of building time it actually took those of you with completed QB 7a to complete your project. I need some inspiration about now - I am beginning to understand the comment "80% done with 80% to go". Thanks!
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Steve Houghton
RV7a
Okemos, MI
N807SH
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01-12-2010, 10:21 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 65
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quickbuild time
I'd be interested to hear this also... i just finished my empennage and am expecting the QB wings and fuselage next month... get excited about lots of building but curious how long it'll take me at 10 hours a week...
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Joshua Siler
RV-7A QB
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01-12-2010, 10:22 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Boise, ID
Posts: 1,095
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Hi Steve,
You didn't say where you are on your project, so it's hard to say how much you have left. Van's website states 800-1200 hours to finish a quickbuild. I'm guessing it's something closer to the high end of that. I've probably got 1,500 hours in mine, but that includes painting it myself, which was a huge amount of work.
I think the hours are tough to figure...It almost makes more sense to put in terms of years and/or months. I built a QB -7A and did everything myself. Including building the ECI 0-360 kit engine (with the help of an A&P, of course), painting it, all the elctrical, etc. Not counting the paint, I had it flying in 2 years & 4 months. I worked pretty steady on it, and if I had to guess, most of the time I averaged 12 hours a week.
There were a couple times when I just didn't feel like building. I had a serious case of being fed-up about 5 months before moving it to the hangar. That lasted for almost 2 months and it seemed like I was never making any progress. Everything was such a small detailed task at that point...I didn't seem to get any gratifictation.
But, if you persist, the rewards of your efforts can be a lot more than you think! Hang in there...just dedicate 10 hours a week and you'll have it flying in less than a couple years. Trust me, 2 years is not that long! 
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Sonny W
Boise, Idaho
RV-7A Flying!
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01-12-2010, 10:30 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 934
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On a -7 slo-build, I completed right at 6 years, doing about 10 hrs a week (around 1400 hrs) and that included a new kid, relocation and two new jobs during that time. Just keep plugging away, chew it up into smaller projects, and you'll git 'er done! It's all worth it in the end!
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01-12-2010, 10:30 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Boise, ID
Posts: 1,095
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By the way, just a quick follow up. I found the overall project to be pretty enjoyable, but there were 2 parts of it that I wouldn't wish on anyone! They were the canopy and the cowl/FAB/baffle. I count the cowl/FAB/baffle as one part because they were all done one right after the other and I didn't like any of them! Separately, they're not difficult, but I combine the 3 to make it one big effort that (in my opinion) sucked!
An interesting side benefit (to me anyway): I was out working on the airplane today (Pitch Servo for the autopilot needs repair). As I was sitting there removing the servo, I looked into the aft fuselage at the different things there and I could recall details about all of it! I feel as if the experience of building my airplane gave me so much more insight and satisfaction than if I had just bought an airplane. (My last airplane was an experimental built by someone else, and I didn't know nearly as much about that aircraft as I do about this one!).
Building certainly isn't for everyone. If you don't like building, just buy an airplane and enjoy it. If you like building AND flying, then enjoy the build while you can! You'll be flying it very soon and you'll appreciate what you've accomplished. 
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Sonny W
Boise, Idaho
RV-7A Flying!
Last edited by lostpilot28 : 01-12-2010 at 10:32 PM.
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01-12-2010, 11:56 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Trabuco Canyon, California
Posts: 95
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One build website I just looked at....
The hours he mentioned to slow build an RV-7:
Empennage: 181 hours
Wings: 469 hours
Fuselage: 511 hours
Finish: 800 hours
Total: 1961 hours
At 12 hours a week, that's just over 3 years. Bump it up to 20 hours a week and it's flying in 22 months. Maybe I should move into the garage?

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01-13-2010, 12:29 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Arlington, WA
Posts: 799
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Time to build...
Steve,
My slow build RV-7 took me three years and ten months. I rebuilt the engine, did my own paint, and did all of my own panel/wiring. I completely enjoyed building, and now I'm enjoying flying off my phase one time.
My shop is in my backyard, so I could head out at almost any time and spend a couple of hours bucking rivets. Building at home will easily cut your building time in half.
You didn't mention if you have any builder support. I had four or five guys who would stop by regularly and buck rivets, help with the engine rebuild, feed wire through conduit, and tell lots of "hangar flying" stories. I also had family support, especially my wife and 16 year old son. Are you in the local EAA chapter? There's probably a couple of RV builders there, or even some "newbies" who would love to get involved in a project. More hands makes the work easier, more enjoyable, and go much faster!
Finally, head down to the airport and wander around the hangars. It may help if you choose a warmer day when the hangars are opened up. Peek your head in and introduce yourself around. Sometimes just getting in the same hangar with a completed RV will get you motivated. I even managed to get several flights in RV's while I was building by doing this.
Long story short... Just keep on making parts. When you can't make any more parts, start bolting the parts together. When there are no more parts to bolt together, put some gas in it and go flying. 
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Scott "Grumpy" Stewart
RV-7 N957RV (First Flight on Dec 18, 2009 )
RV-14 N144P (Empennage complete, wings almost complete, fuselage almost complete)
#866 on the Van's RV-7 hobbs
#6563 on Van's generic hobbs
Arlington, WA
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01-13-2010, 05:12 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: South Africa
Posts: 840
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We have done it in 1100 hours. Standard as per Uncle Van's instructions and including painting. Keep on pounding! When it flies, you will never look back 
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Jan Hanekom
South Africa
Approved Person nr 325
http://www.rvbits.com
RV10 - ZU-XOX - (Flying)
RV7A - ZU-JRV - (Flying)
RV10 - ZU-JVR - (Written off)
RV7 - ZU-LOL - (Flying)
RV10 - ZU-RVI - (Flying)
RV7A - ZU-MER (Bought back)
RV7A - ZU-JAD (Sold Flying)
Dues paid for 2020 WITH A SMILE
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01-13-2010, 08:47 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Boise, ID
Posts: 1,095
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Another follow up
Steve makes a great point about building at home vs. a hangar. I had the advantage of spending 25 months out of a 27 month build in my garage. If I had to drive to a hangar to build I would probably only be halfway done by now!
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Sonny W
Boise, Idaho
RV-7A Flying!
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01-13-2010, 08:52 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: York, England
Posts: 381
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RV7
Who wants to finish building ? it's great fun...... will miss it when it's over 
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Emp painted, wings painted, finishing the fiberglass work on the fuse and then ready for painting.....
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