RivetBangers.com

Howdy,

I'm new to this website but allow me to introduce myself - Scott "Krunch" Reddout and I live in the DFW area. I have recently flown a RV-6 and liked it well enough to contemplate building the RV-7. Is the tail kit the logical starting point? I know it's by far the cheapest investment, but are there any considerations to the tail kit or do you just jump in and get started regardless of planned powerplant, configuration etc....

Thanks for any info,
Krunch

Buy the tail kit and get started. Everything else can be sorted out later.

Welcome, and ditto to the above. You will likely need some special tools as well, but that's about it to get started.

Welcome Krunch!

Yup, the tail kit is the place to start. Set up a work space, gather some tools, and you can be building in no time!

You only need to decide a couple of things to get started with the tail.

Choose your model ... you mentioned the RV-7 so, I assume you like the side-by-side seating ... so ya just have to compare the -7 and the -9 ... both are good choices. Take another look at the tandem models, some folks like that arangement. Make sure you are happy with your choice. It would be hard to change your mind down the road, the tails are not interchanable between the different models.

Choose the landing gear ... the tail is built a little differently for the tail-dragger (RV-7) vs the nose-dragger (RV-7A). Changing your mind on this is not impossible, it has been done by other builders.

The other 1000 choices you need to make before the plane is finished can be made later. Engine, prop, quick-build wing, quick-build fuse, slider/tipper canopy, panel, lights, fuel caps, paint, buttons on the control stick, ... you can get plenty of opinions all all these choices right here at Rivet Bangers

Hey Krunch! Welcome aboard!

I will echo the thoughts of those above, but will add this...BEFORE you start the tail, get a training kit or two, and make sure metal is what you want to work with. The training kits come in sample control surface flavor, or tool box flavor. These run about $30 a piece. You must order preview plans either with the tail, or before (Van's requires it). I ordered preview plans and a training kit, followed by another training kit before I comitted to the tail. The tail IS, by far, the smallest investment to make. If you don't like it, you can easily get most of your money back by selling it.

The only choice that is tail specific when you order it, it manual or electric trim. You can decide on a taildragger or nosewheel later in the tail build when the vertical stabilizer is being completed (and even then, it's still up in the air...ask me how I know, and how I got my nickname...).

I'm sure you will love it though, so get started!!

Welcome The others have covered your answer well. Glad you stopped in, stick around and participate!

- Spike

Welcome Krunch! Are you any relation to Derrick Reddout? (guy I work with). I'm thinking Krunch is/was your F16 callsign?

No relation on the first one, but shack on the second....

Welcome aboard Krunch! I jumped right in and started on the tail. I did attend a 30 minute metal workshop at Osh which is what made me say "Hey, I can do this!" The sample kits are probably a good investment to give you an idea of what you are gettign into.

Also, if you haven't already, lookup the local EAA chapter and talk to the people there. I would bet there are several RV builders that would be glad to show you the ropes.

Welcome Krunch! Not only is the empenage the logical place to start it is THE place to start. Genarally that's what Van's wants to sell first anyway. That way if building isn't your thang then you sell it and your tools for around what you invested and go on your merry way. You'll find you've made the right decision. Smokey on the other forums converted practically his whole ANG group to RVs by giving them rides one by one. The RV won't be quite the let down you might experience for instance stepping from an F-16 to, oh say, a Cessna 182.

Don't discount the other models too soon though. If you like the fighter cockpit feel maybe the RV-8 is for you, if you're starting a family in the future maybe you need the 4 seats of the RV-10. If you want to build a nice comfortable cross country machine that you can wring out every once in a while, then you've hit on it, the RV-7. Any RV you build, you'll be happy.