How much riveting in a QB kit?

mmiller604 · #1 07-09-2013, 12:08 PM

Hi All,

I'm trying to decide what kit to build, and I've narrowed it down to either the RV-7 or the Sonex/Waiex. In a perfect world my preference would be the RV, however the main reason I'm considering the Sonex is the fact that it uses pulled rivets and is apparently quieter to build. I don't like the fact that the cabin is only 40" wide, and only holds 40lbs of baggage.

If I order a quick build RV-7 kit (wings & fuse), how much solid riveting is left to do aside from the empennage and the remaining skin panels? This is my main concern with the RV-7 vs the Sonex. I don't want my neighbors to end up hating me!

I know this forum is probably biased towards the RV, but I'd still appreciate any input you might have.

Thanks,
Mike

lorne green · #2 07-09-2013, 12:23 PM

Mike, I'm going to say that 80% of the riveting is done, going with QB. Excluding the emp.
There's lots of riveting required, but you will save, I'm told, about a year of building time.
Regards

mmiller604 · #3 07-09-2013, 12:48 PM

Thanks, Lorne. In your best guesstimate... how many hours of riveting would you say is required, and would it be long periods of constant riveting or is it spread out over fairly small tasks?

I could probably get away with a half hour of riveting a couple times a week. Is that a realistic target or will I never get the kit completed at that rate?

Thanks,
Mike

bill@fusion4.net · #4 07-09-2013, 12:48 PM

Riveting noise is really not that loud. If you live in a single family home they won't mind at all. Did all my riveting in the basement, and the family could still watch TV directly above without complaining once. On the second floor could not notice the riveting at all.... now if you are in an apartment, never mind.

Many of the rivets can also be squeezed, and that makes no noise.

UnPossible · #5 07-09-2013, 12:53 PM

I just finished my QB 7A last summer. One thing I really didn't understand before I built it, was how little time was spent actually riveting it together.
Below is my best guess on the time I spent riveting on the major skins.

As you can see, it was somewhere around 20 hours out of a 1000+ hour build. I really would not let the noise of 20 hours or riveting spread out over a multi-year build sway you from building what you really want.

Jason

Vertical Stabilizer: 2 hrs
Horizontal Stabilizer: 2 hrs
Elevators: 3 hrs
Rudder: 4 hrs

Wing Bottom Skins: 6 hrs

Turtle Deck (rear fuselage): 2 hrs
Fuselage Top Forward Skin: 2 hrs

bill@fusion4.net · #6 07-09-2013, 12:54 PM

Most of the time building the kit is not riveting, riveting is 10-20% (less if you count the finishing and engine install) of the time, and 60%-70% of the rivets can be squeezed, so count on 5-10% of the kit time banging rivets.

I'm building a slow build 10, but I would guess less than 100 hours total of actual banging rivets on a quickbuild 7 using squeezers when possible.

mmiller604 · #7 07-09-2013, 01:03 PM

Thanks guys. I should mention I live in a townhouse with one wall shared with my neighbor, plus I have more neighbors within 15-30 feet in all directions.

I might just have to order a tail kit and see how it goes before pulling the trigger on the QB kit.

DonFromTX · #8 07-09-2013, 01:27 PM

Not sure of your needs, but compared to a Sonex, why not do an RV12? Absolutely NO banged rivets, very quiet to assemble, and the cockpit is wider than theRV7 you are considering.!

Sig600 · #9 07-09-2013, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmiller604

Thanks guys. I should mention I live in a townhouse with one wall shared with my neighbor, plus I have more neighbors within 15-30 feet in all directions.

I might just have to order a tail kit and see how it goes before pulling the trigger on the QB kit.

Not a bad plan, plus you can do your riveting during the day when everyone should be at work. Insulating your shop will help too.

Building the tail, you can back rivet most of the skins which is significantly quiter. Squeezing rivets is also silent (lots but not all can be squoze).

Like others have said, the actual act of riveting is not that time consuming. It's the drilling/deburring/dimpling/prep work that happens before hand. Using an air drill with an oilfree compressor nonstop will be more of a nusance, but you can mitigate that with a good cordless drill.

The 7 wings need one skin riveted on each, with a partner takes an hour each. The fuselage has two skins too. As was mentioned probably 80% or more of the riveting is done for you. I'd venture I've spent less than 8 hours total riveting the QB stuff, sans empennage.

Build a Sonex, you're always going to be jealous of the RV "ramp fleas" that will be at every airport you go to!

mmiller604 · #10 07-09-2013, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonFromTX

Not sure of your needs, but compared to a Sonex, why not do an RV12? Absolutely NO banged rivets, very quiet to assemble, and the cockpit is wider than theRV7 you are considering.!

The RV-12 looks great, but aerobatic capability is #1 on my requirements list! I like to get upside down as often as I can

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sig600

Build a Sonex, you're always going to be jealous of the RV "ramp fleas" that will be at every airport you go to!

That is what I'm worried about. While the Sonex does meet 95% of my mission, it just doesn't quite have the same appeal to me as an RV.