I'm building some RV-8 parts in my garage.* I know there are many other BT'ers who are. Speak up!

I know there are RV forums online, but BT is better than any of them for at least two reasons: real names and photo hosting. So, even if we only have one thread, it might be worth BT RV builders coming out for some mutual support and photo sharing.

Here's mine:


I'm working on the left (first) wing, finished laying out the skeleton and skins, procrastinating on the tanks. QB fuse ordered, won't be here till some time between Thanksgiving and Christmas . People tell me SB wings and QB fuselage is backwards, but it's what I've done.

*I tell people I'm building parts so I don't have to estimate when the airplane will be finished. And if I quit before it flies, I'll just say I finished all of the parts I intended to build!

I'm jealous, Stuart. The RV-8 is near the top -- or maybe at the top -- of the list of the most fun airplanes to fly on this Earth..

There are times when I really miss my -6. If only I could have 2 airplanes....

If I should happen to finish mine some time before you and I are too old to fly, I'd be happy to share.

I know where there is a loaded top of the line RV 6A that can be bought. It's not on the market.

Stuart I love the idea. How did you set up your shop air system? Did you go buy Vans suggested tool list or did you buy a set from a vendor? You must give us more!

As the owner of an "ultimate quick build" (bought from builder) RV8, I can tell you it is an absolute delight to fly. Actually one of my all-time favorites.

I just went to Lowe's and bought a compressor, not the oil-free kind. For tools, I bought the RV starter kit from Cleaveland Tools. It was enough for the tail, but I've added a pneumatic squeezer, a DRDT-2, and another 300 3/32" clecos for the wings.

I got a band saw, drill press, and disc sander from Harbor Freight. They're all adequate, but barely.

Twenty years ago, I started an RV-6. It was a terrible time of life for such a project. Since then, I've always felt like Van's and I had unfinished business. A year or so ago, we moved into a house with a big garage. I added heat and air, spent some time researching kits, and wound up with an RV-8. I have days where I'm not at work but I have to be available on short notice. I can't fly on those days, but an airplane project is perfect.

The most important tools are experienced builders who're willing to help and a wife whose father spent evenings in his wood shop. It seems normal to her, so she's very encouraging.

Quick build kit, I completed it in 2001. 700 hrs and still going. They are hard to beat economy, speed, and relatively cheap to maintain. Sometimes though I wish I had more seats like a S model Bonanza or later, but the RV8 meets 90 plus percent of my flying needs.

Recently I've been considering selling my S35 and getting an RV 6 or 8..

This thread gave me a chubby.

It's nice to see craftsmanship.

I built an QB RV-8 to about 50% completion (with about 90% to finish, as we all know). I really enjoyed the learning process, to include the Zen of riveting, countersinking, precise drilling, etc.
One day my IA informed me that a totally cherry Pitts was up for sale. I went to see it, and it was all over. I could fly "right now", instead of building for another 4 to 5 years. (At my age, it is something to consider). I sold the RV project, and became an acro and biplane addict. There is something totally cool about peeling the canopy back on the overhead break; looking for that ever-elusive perfect three-pointer.
I love the Baron for famlily use, Buuut... I still miss the RV thing, and may own one someday. I kept the rivet gun, bucking bars, rivet squeezeer, and all the neat tools, which I still use.
The picture 'splains.

Tom

My RV just hit 1200 hours on the Hobbs and it's the funnest airplane I've ever flown. Keep pounding those rivets, Stuart!

Dave

Good timing Stuart, I just finished this video:

[youtube]http://youtu.be/SgUc_IghkLg[/youtube]

I'm building an RV-8 also. I'm thinking I might set some sort of record for the slowest build in the history of mankind

I think you did good buying the quick build fuse if the budget allowed. The -8 is the only model which utilizes gear towers in the fuse. This area gets very tight and in my opinion is the hardest part of the build so far.

I have completed my wings and while time consuming they weren't all that difficult. I think it would be much more difficult to build the fuse without the skills learned while building the wings. Like the balance of the wings, the tanks are time consuming but not really all that difficult in the grand scheme of things. Get a Semco sealant gun. You won't regret it.

Some of these are old pics. I don't seem to have a current fuselage pic on this computer.

Robert

The RV-8 is my dream plane. I hope to build one with my boys as they get older and become interested
Keep the pics and stories coming.