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  #1  
Old 01-31-2015, 12:45 PM
durtracir durtracir is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Salida, Colorado
Posts: 12
Default 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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  #2  
Old 01-31-2015, 01:18 PM
Andy Hill's Avatar
Andy Hill Andy Hill is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 976
Default

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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  #3  
Old 01-31-2015, 01:38 PM
Jerry Cochran's Avatar
Jerry Cochran Jerry Cochran is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sherwood, Oregon
Posts: 981
Default 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.
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RV-7a 707DD Bot from David Domeier 12/01/11
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RV6a 18XP 1st flite 03/21/07 sold to Dale Walter 10/22/2011
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  #4  
Old 01-31-2015, 04:07 PM
Ralph Inkster Ralph Inkster is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
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Do you get a built in 'build buddy' if you buy your friends project?
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built a few RVs, rebuilt a few more, hot rodded some, & maintained/updated a bunch more
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  #5  
Old 01-31-2015, 04:13 PM
wirejock's Avatar
wirejock wirejock is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Estes Park, CO
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Default 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
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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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  #6  
Old 01-31-2015, 04:35 PM
RV6_flyer's Avatar
RV6_flyer RV6_flyer is offline
 
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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.
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  #7  
Old 01-31-2015, 04:57 PM
LifeofReiley's Avatar
LifeofReiley LifeofReiley is offline
 
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Location: Round Rock, TX
Posts: 3,778
Default

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.
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  #8  
Old 01-31-2015, 08:22 PM
jpowell13 jpowell13 is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 671
Default 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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  #9  
Old 01-31-2015, 08:53 PM
Sam Buchanan's Avatar
Sam Buchanan Sam Buchanan is offline
been here awhile
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 4,301
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by durtracir View Post
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
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.
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Last edited by Sam Buchanan : 01-31-2015 at 08:58 PM.
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  #10  
Old 01-31-2015, 09:31 PM
LifeofReiley's Avatar
LifeofReiley LifeofReiley is offline
 
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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.
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