B-Model Build Ease vs 'Legacy/A' Model

[killerfish72]

Still working up the courage to place an order...and get full spousal permission! She's onboard, but it's more about when vs. if. Today, she didn't say 'no' to getting started right away. She didn't say yes either, but we're getting closer.

Anyway, I'm bouncing between a Sonex B Model or an RV-12is. Obviously, the RV-12is is much more expensive and the mission is a bit different (more of a cruiser). With that said, the important part to me as a first time builder is ease of building. I'm fairly certain that a Sonex A model vs. an RV-12 is more difficult to build. What I'm curious to learn, however, is if there's been a substantial amount of improvements made in the B model to make it more of an 'assembly' vs. build process. It seems the RV-12is is certainly more of an assembly process. The new B model seems to have caught up quite a bit with fit and finish with machined canopy bows, ABS side moldings, etc. But I do not have insight into whether it has gotten easier to build with even less fabrication/head scratching...

Any thoughts from the group is greatly appreciated!

[Bryan Cotton]

I am building my classic A model with my kid. We started when he was 12, now he is 17. I think it is pretty easy.

viewtopic.php?f=39&t=578

I would assume the B build is much like a later A build with a few improvements and a few new problems.

[killerfish72]

Thanks Bryan, I have been following your thread. It seems like the B model addresses 2 'headaches' from the A model: Cowling and Canopy fitting. So that's a good start. Didn't know how much fabrication and/or bending the new B model kit eliminates (if any) vs. an A model kit.

[racaldwell]

KF, I think for somebody to answer your question they would have had to build an A and a B in order to experience the differences. Maybe there is somebody out there who has but I doubt there are more than a few.

I think to make building easiest is just to order as many parts already completed as you can afford. Quick-build, machined parts, bolt-on engine fwf, etc. That's a pricey way to go but the easiest. I am mostly opposite in that I am making parts and it is taking years. But I don't care. I have an RV-6 to fly and I enjoy building. The RV-6 (before quick=builds and prepunched holes) was my 1st plane to build. It takes thousands of hours of labor but the skills are not difficult to learn. I did and many 1,000's of builders have. You can too if you like creating something with your hands.

You will soon forget about the hours building once you have a flying plane. The decision needs to be on what type of flying you want to do and what is the path that will get you there.

Rick Caldwell
RV-6 999 hrs
One Design 250 hrs & sold
Xenos 0057 forward fuselage

[Bryan Cotton]

Also, FWIW, I did not think the canopy or cowl were bad. Not sure if my experience is atypical or if only the troubled builders are vocal. Both are a lot of hours, especially the canopy.

[samiam]

I know exactly what you are asking; it was a difficult question to answer when I was looking at the Sonex.

The original "A" model kit is really hard to define, because it was constantly being refined and upgraded over the years. I bought a 10 year old second hand kit. At that time, the original owner had purchased the "machined parts" and prebuilt spars upgrades. These are now standard on the B model. However, my older kit was before the "laser cut match hole kit", and you had to drill from channel stock. I can now purchase those parts online, but you can see the difficulty here - if you ask an "A" builder how much work they had to do, it really depends on when they built the kit and what upgrades they did or did not go for.

This is purely my opinion, but I don't think the RV-12 would be substantially less work or easier than a late model A or a B model kit. The Sonex is such a simple airframe, and the later models have such a large amount of the work done for you. Lots of parts just cleco together out of the box. It is a very refined kit, and has come a very long way from the first kits that shipped nearly 20 years ago.

The downside of the refinements is obvious - the price has gone up. It's not as expensive as an RV-12 at this point, but not as cheap as original Sonex models either. Even still, the 20k savings is nothing to sneeze at.

So if money is no concern, I would just choose whichever one you like more. Either one is very doable for a first time builder.

Good luck,
Mike

[killerfish72]

Thanks guys, yep - I guess it's the same as buying really....mission, mission, mission. Pick the mission and that's the one to build. thx!

[killerfish72]

One more thought: Any Sonex Builders/Owners at KHAO? Would love to try one on and take a closer look and understand your build experience if you're the builder.

Thanks!
KF

[ihab]

I will say this based on observation of a friend of mine who's building a Sonex "B" model -- don't be afraid to get the tools that will make your work easier. The Sonex literature may or may not call out various "aircraft" tools like angle drills, but if you find they simplify your life, buy them! My friend had a lot of trouble drilling around the tailpost without one!

Ihab

[killerfish72]

I will say this based on observation of a friend of mine who's building a Sonex "B" model -- don't be afraid to get the tools that will make your work easier. The Sonex literature may or may not call out various "aircraft" tools like angle drills, but if you find they simplify your life, buy them! My friend had a lot of trouble drilling around the tailpost without one!

Ihab

Good advice. Plus, you get to have new tools!