Congrats, and Welcome! I just finished my empennage last night for my 9A, 2 calendar months and 135 hours of work, wings are ordered with expected delivery end of May.
You'll find that early on in the tailkit, the directions are very precise and explicit, and as you go further into it they become much shorter and more vague. You will be expected to learn from the first explanation and remember it for later applications, and you'll probably find yourself referring back to earlier explanations occasionally. When I first started on the HS the instructions were so good I was able to go through a half page of the builders manual in an easy afternoon - and then later on into the elevators there are places where a single sentence costs you 5 hours of build time. Just roll with it, and keep on keepin' on.
Take LOTS of pictures! Not only for your builders log but for your own sanity as well. There have already been dozens of times I've been glad I shot many pics as I was building, when somebody asked about how to do this, or how to handle that. Your memory may falter about your steps and how you did it (and you'll start to doubt yourself about whether or not you did it the "correct" way) but the pictures will always be there. I'm guessing they'll also come in real handy during annuals and inspections, or for any future repairs or modifications, as a reminder of exactly what metal is where and which parts may need more TLC than others.
Looking back on the way I built up my tool stock, the only advise I can give is to consider tool budgets like a Skunk Works project budget - don't question it, just write the checks. There is nothing like having the right tool for the job. It's almost certainly going to be more than you expected, and it's so, so worth it in time and aggravation fighting with improper tools.
Make good friends with your neighbors!
