I recentley recieved my -8 QB Fuse and wings from Vans. I took advantage of a discount Van's offered to get rid of a few QB kits that were built up from the earlier partial pre=punched kits.
There are actually many small differences between the kits, and more often than not, I find myself wishing I'd gone with the newer -1 kit.
I want to be really fair here so understand that in the end, I'm not really sure that I'll be spending more time with this kit than the I would have with the -1, it just really seems like it.
For the most part, even though the parts aren't "match drilled" there are at least guide holes in one of the skins/parts to guide you with final/match drilling. The biggest thing is that you end up fabricating a lot of small parts from bulk stock material whereas the newer kits have the parts already made. For instance, the rear mount for the control column is a very nice stamped, prefabricated part on the new kits, whereas with the earlier kits you have to fabricate the mount with bulk angle stock and bulk square tube stock. The new one is much nicer.
As I have the preview plans that are "current production" I can compare those with the earlier plans and instruction sheets. Clearly Van's has moved the state of the art a long way with the new kits, and I find myself trying to use the new instructions and plans. The problem with that is that I keep looking for a part that is fabricated when I actually have to fabricate it myself.
I think the one item that most bothers me the most is the rear seat back. The older QB kit that I have utilizes a fiberglass seat top that must be cut and shaped to fit. In the new kits, the rear seat back top is made of aluminum and the parts for that are completely pre-fabricated. They look very nice in comparison whith the parts I have.
In the end, I would go with the newer kit and spend the $1k, but that's me.
I want to get the building over so I can fly. If you're the builder type, then the older kit will be fine. Not the end of the world either way.