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08-05-2014, 12:54 PM
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: San Antonio TX
Posts: 5
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Getting started.
Howdy everyone!
I'm a long time lurker who has always dreamed about building an RV-7 and now I am finally in a position to begin. I was an airframe mechanic in the Marine Corps and I have an A&P but haven't used it in almost 10 years. I just bought the preview plans from the Van's tent in Oshkosh last week and I intend to get started this fall.
What are some of your suggestions for setting up shop and buying tools before ordering the tail kit? What other pieces of advice do you have for a first time builder before taking the plunge?
Scott Beadle
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08-05-2014, 01:00 PM
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Senior Curmudgeon
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
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Welcome to VAF!
Scott, welcome aboard the good ship VAF
Long time lurker indeed..............
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909
Rv-10, N210LM.
Flying as of 12/4/2010
Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011 
Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.
"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
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08-05-2014, 01:07 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Oliver, B.C. Canada (Okanagan valley)
Posts: 786
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Welcome to the world of VAF. There's a lot to consider in setting up your shop.
Of course you'll start with a compressor, big IS better. Big as in - big capacity and big voltage (220V).
But a smaller one will work as well. If you find quality used tools, buy them. Savings of 30 to 50 percent are likely.
Same with air tools. There is a lot of information within the VAF search engine. Best of luck.
__________________
Lorne
RV 7a tip-up
Pre-cover MD-RA Inspected.
Canopy completed. Bonded with Sika-Flex.
Up on her mains, Firewall Fwd and wiring on going.
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08-05-2014, 01:08 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Louisville, Ga
Posts: 7,840
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Welcome to VAF
Scott, a good starting point would be to find a local EAA chapter. Join EAA as well and find lots of articles in the monthly magazine.
An EAA chapter may well have some guys in the building phase and they could use some riveting/bucking bar help.
Obviously, you need a work table, clecos, a portable drill...air or battery and the basic tools and some space. Guys here have built in freight containers, single car garages and even several floors upstairs in apartments!
Again, welcome to VAF.
Best,
__________________
Pierre Smith
RV-10, 510 TT
RV6A (Sojourner) 180 HP, Catto 3 Bl (502Hrs), gone...and already missed
Air Tractor AT 502B PT 6-15 Sold
Air Tractor 402 PT-6-20 Sold
EAA Flight Advisor/CFI/Tech Counselor
Louisville, Ga
It's never skill or craftsmanship that completes airplanes, it's the will to do so,
Patrick Kenny, EAA 275132
Dues gladly paid!
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08-05-2014, 01:11 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: West Chester, Pa
Posts: 583
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Take the plunge before you read the rest of the preview manual. It can be overwhelming to look at  Welcome, you will have a ball building it!!
__________________
Jeff Vaughan
RV 12 N237VW ELSA
RV 7A N561EV Sold
West Chester Pa
2020 donation current
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08-05-2014, 01:12 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In New Braunfels, ist das Leben schön!
Posts: 871
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Scott,
Semper Fi. Private Message sent.
__________________
Larry New
RV-7A - Built, flying 900+ hrs
RV-10 - Built, flying 2.9 hrs
??? - RV-12, Subsonex
48 States in 7 Days!
VAF Paid - Annual Autodraft
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08-05-2014, 01:25 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Southern California
Posts: 617
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Getting Started...
Greetings Scott!
Congrats on getting started. It seems you have all the right credentials for starting.
My advice is that Information is cheap at the beginning, and lack of information can be real expensive. For example, I have a few tools I NEVER used. *sigh*
Lurking for a long time is actually pretty good, and will help you in the long run. I was a lurker for two years before I started.
Here are my tips:
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1. The Internet is a good place to get good and bad advice. Double check all advice you get.
2. Visit a workshop or two. Try to go to a shop that is in the early stages of development. Post empannage but pre wing installation. EAA members can help with this. This can be a home or a hangar.
3. Take a ride in your model. Pay for the gas (If they let you) and buy lunch.
4. Have a plan. You can save a bunch of money deciding what kind of plane you want and sticking to it. Hot Rod? Econobuild? Factory Original? You get to pick! You can change this, but if you have a plan, you will need a good reason to change it.
5. Have a budget. Good luck trying to keep to it, but having a realistic budget helps you see the future.
Congrats!
CC
__________________
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David Boeshaar
RV-9A - N18TD (reserved) - Fuselage.
"My greatest fear: What if the hokey pokey really IS what its all about?"
TDAircraft.com
-July-
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08-05-2014, 01:48 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Omaha, NE (KMLE)
Posts: 2,247
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As others have noted...
- Used tools are often a good deal. Watch the VAF classifieds like a hawk, and don't delay if you see someone selling what you need for a decent price. Guarantee if you think about it for more than 5 minutes, it's already sold.
- Big workbench. Mine is 3' x 8', just about right, and I just built another smaller one (half an EAA 1000 bench) on casters to hold the band saw, sander, buffer and drill press.
- Big compressor, but you don't need to mortgage the house for it. I have a 110V 30 gal. from Northern Tool, because I have no 220 in the garage. Works fine.
- Get two pair of cleco pliers, so you'll always be able to find one pair.
- I find a chucking reamer works better than a drill bit for match drilling holes. get a #30 and a #40.
- If you don't have a decent shop vac - get one.
- It's true, people have built planes in very small places. I don't envy them though, the more space you can get the better... but always remember, no matter how much space you need, your wife's car gets parked inside.

- Good advice to plan your build and stick to it. At the same time, sit down before each major phase and review what you're planning to do. Priorities change. As I started my fuselage I decided to drop some things I had considered "must haves" (like dual brakes) and add a couple I never thought I'd want (like smoke).
- Always listen to advice... but you don't always have to take it. Different people have different missions and priorities.
__________________
Dale
Omaha, NE
RV-12 # 222 N980KM "Screamin' Canary" (bought flying)
Fisher Celebrity (under construction)
Previous RV-7 project (sold)
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08-05-2014, 02:05 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,151
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Welcome to RV World usmcmech
Scott you don't know what you are getting into. Before it's too late return those preview plans and get a full refund
Fencer of JC
Last edited by Vlad : 08-05-2014 at 05:20 PM.
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08-05-2014, 04:11 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Hillsboro,OR
Posts: 136
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Just buy the kit!!
I was almost ready to start for years. Then I got lucky, my wife bought me the tail kit for Xmas 2012, it was totally unexpected  Now I'm working on the fuselage.
The hardest part is deciding your ready. Once you get going it all comes together.
Disclaimer: It didn't work out that way back in the early 90's when I bought my RV 4 tail kit.
It is still in the rafters of my shed out back, had kids end of story. Now the kid's are having kids of their own and I can play with my own toys. Maybe after the 7 is done I'll get started on the 4.
__________________
#74163
N17BJ
RV-7 Tip Up slow build
200HP IO-360-A1B
Hartzell CS
Working on wiring and Fw Fwd
Got my RV-7 tail kit for X-mas 2012 
Guess the Wife's on board!!
Dues paid 3/11/2019
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