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01-31-2015, 12:45 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Salida, Colorado
Posts: 12
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RV-6 Slow Build or RV-7 Slow build?
Everyone,
Thanks in advance for any advise and help you can offer. I am looking at a friends RV6 slow build that is not punched at the factory. He has 1 1/2 wings done along with all control surfaces and empennage. He has the fuselage kit and finish kit unopened in the boxes. His price is 12K and the workmanship is great. I have checked the fuel slosh issue and he used the right tank sealer.
My million dollar question is, should I go this route or buy a RV 7 kit from Vans? Am I missing any gotchas?
I feel it is a good deal and am about ready to pull the trigger, just want to run it past all of you experienced folks first.
Thanks,
Barry
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01-31-2015, 01:18 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 976
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So many factors to consider... Time to build? Resale value? Extra MTOW? Ability to do aeros 2 up?
At a wild guess, I'd say time to complete would be similar - maybe a bit less with the RV-6 as is? Extra value of an RV-7 probably countered by the good deal you're being offered.
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01-31-2015, 01:38 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sherwood, Oregon
Posts: 981
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Choice 6 or7?
Hi Barry,
Looks like you'd save about $8000 over Van's normal RV6 price maybe $10k lesss than if you bought the RV7 from scratch. First off, I bet the 7 would be at least worth that much more when finished so that part is a wash.
The 7 which is all prepunched would go together much easier and faster along with the other reasons some think it better and more modern. Such as 2' more of wingspan, ability for more horspower, larger tanks, etc.
Some will say the 6 is better flying for reasons one may argue. In this case if it were me I'd go with the seven mainly for financial reasons as I think it would hold value much better than the 6. YMMV of course.
__________________
Jerry Cochran
Sherwood, Oregon
RV-7a 707DD Bot from David Domeier 12/01/11
Lycoming IO-360 Catto 3 blade Panel upgrade in progress
RV6a 18XP 1st flite 03/21/07 sold to Dale Walter 10/22/2011
Superior IO-360, Hartzell Blended, GRT/Dynon
Happily "autopaying" DR
"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself."
Mark Twain
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01-31-2015, 04:07 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 1,005
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Do you get a built in 'build buddy' if you buy your friends project?
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Ralph
built a few RVs, rebuilt a few more, hot rodded some, & maintained/updated a bunch more
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01-31-2015, 04:13 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 3,947
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7
I agree with Jerry
The big question is if you're comfortable with building a non pre punched kit. There's still lots of building left. Kits are available on VAF classifieds quite often in various stages. YMMV
__________________
Larry Larson
Estes Park, CO
http://wirejockrv7a.blogspot.com
wirejock at yahoo dot com
Donated 12/03/2019, plus a little extra.
RV-7A #73391, N511RV reserved (2,000+ hours)
HS SB, empennage, tanks, wings, fuse, working finishing kit
Disclaimer
I cannot be, nor will I be, held responsible if you try to do the same things I do and it does not work and/or causes you loss, injury, or even death in the process.
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01-31-2015, 04:35 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NC25
Posts: 3,507
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Jerry and Larry are correct.
The -7 will be a LOT easier for you to build and will be worth more when done.
__________________
Gary A. Sobek
NC25 RV-6 Flying
3,400+ hours
Where is N157GS
Building RV-8 S/N: 80012
To most people, the sky is the limit.
To those who love aviation, the sky is home.
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01-31-2015, 04:57 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Round Rock, TX
Posts: 3,778
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A standard build RV7 takes some dedication and time to complete. The RV6 will take a true commitment for sure and a LOT more time.
__________________
Reiley
Retired N622DR - Serial #V7A1467
VAF# 671
Repeat Offender / Race 007
Friend of the RV-1
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01-31-2015, 08:22 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 671
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6 Fuselage
The standard fuselage kit for the 6 requires a jig to build. (I'm not sure, but I don't think they sell the quick built version any more.) My fuse took a lot longer to build than I expected. Takes a lot of time making sure everything is lined up right before drilling the skin. Having said that, I really like my 6A. I've heard it has the strongest wing, but don't know if that's still true.
One factor to analyze is whether you have more time or more money to work with. Slow build worked for me, because I wanted to pay for everything as I built. As anyone on this site will tell you, the big financial hit comes when you near the end of the build.
I was not so worried about resale because I tend to keep my vehicles for a long time. The newer models are definitely cooler at fly-in's though, and the 7 is supposed to be easier to repair if damaged due to standardization.
John
Last edited by jpowell13 : 01-31-2015 at 08:28 PM.
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01-31-2015, 08:53 PM
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been here awhile
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 4,301
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Quote:
Originally Posted by durtracir
Everyone,
Thanks in advance for any advise and help you can offer. I am looking at a friends RV6 slow build that is not punched at the factory. He has 1 1/2 wings done along with all control surfaces and empennage. He has the fuselage kit and finish kit unopened in the boxes. His price is 12K and the workmanship is great. I have checked the fuel slosh issue and he used the right tank sealer.
My million dollar question is, should I go this route or buy a RV 7 kit from Vans? Am I missing any gotchas?
I feel it is a good deal and am about ready to pull the trigger, just want to run it past all of you experienced folks first.
Thanks,
Barry
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You will be in good shape either way. I would downplay the time difference in the two kits because when you have the airframe nailed together you are only about 1/2 way to a flying airplane.
Firewall forward, avionics, and final finish will take about as long as riveting the airframe for either kit. The slight advantage of build time of the -7 fuse and canopy will not make a large difference in total project time. You will, however, need more in the way of jigging for the -6 fuse than for the -7.
You may have other reasons for picking one kit over the other, but build time won't be a major difference overall.
Last edited by Sam Buchanan : 01-31-2015 at 08:58 PM.
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01-31-2015, 09:31 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Round Rock, TX
Posts: 3,778
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Barry, If this is an older non pre-punched RV6 kit for a first time builder you could have the RV7 fuselage built to canoe before you built the jig for the RV6 fuselage and had the fuselage parts even laid out. Not to say the time and cost for reordering parts that will get laid out and drilled incorrect. You can have your head in the plans on the RV6 scratching your head for 100 + hours or more just figuring things out on just the fuselage. There is a huge difference in the two kits. A non pre-punched kit is a lot of work and for this reason there are garages everywhere full of these unfinished kits. 
__________________
Reiley
Retired N622DR - Serial #V7A1467
VAF# 671
Repeat Offender / Race 007
Friend of the RV-1
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