What I think...
After looking at RV's at my home field, airshows and web I think the basic white base coat with two color stripe in the classic RV wedge is one of the sharpest, at least for the side-by-side:
RV-7 example
http://www.vansairforce.net/rvoftheweek/2002/83.jpg
RV-8 example:
http://www.vansairforce.net/rvoftheweek/2002/75.jpg
This design usually has the two stripe colors, top filling the vertical stab and the bottom filling the rudder. I prefer brighter stripe colors than the above, but you get the idea. I think Van invented this based on a modified Bonanza design. Van actually owned a Bonanza at one time. In fact all these paint schemes have been ripped off in one what or another.
The next is the to bright solid color on the top or bottom of the whole plane over a white base:
http://www.vansairforce.net/rvoftheweek/2005/37a1.jpg
http://www.vansaircraft.com/images/rv-7_I.jpg
Again the accent colors are not my choice or favorite; The RV-7 strip/logo Van's put on the prototype RV-7 is overused, but it does look nice. Again nothing wrong with coping a good idea, gratuitously. I know I am not ashamed to steal a good idea. At least you know what you are going to get. Also putting the dark accent color on the bottom, leaving the lighter base white on top also looks nice, but did not have a handy example.
Wing trim. You know it really does not show up that much. The classic RV strip along the leading edge span wise shows up:
http://www.vansairforce.net/rvoftheweek/2002/80.jpg
It looks great but make sure there is no lip where the trim color starts/stops. I think it could trip the airflow if too close to the leading edge. The other wing treatments is painting the tip and invasion strips about mid span going chord wise. The other wing trim I like is the acro starburst (like a Pitts, C-Eagle or Citabria). I had that on my RV-4, was a pain to layout and paint and really it did not show up in pictures. I guess if your are in a 90 degree bank or inverted it shows up. On my next RV I think I am going to leave the wings with just the base color and no stripes, simple and clean.
Believe me I know how hard it is to resist the crowd and wanting to make your own mark, but to be honest it has all been tried and still think the basic scheems (mostly pioneered but the factory) and their variations are the best overall. I have yet to paint my unfinished RV-7.
I am tempted to go with a bright base coat color scheme like all RED, with no stripes! I also like checkerboards and YES flames. This one is awesome, but the cost was high I am sure:
http://www.vansairforce.net/rvoftheweek/2005/35.jpg
I have seen some awesome paint jobs with graphics and wild patterns, they look great, don't get me wrong, but the RV just looks right with the above simple patterns and one or two trim colors.
The white base with simple stripes going into solid colored (vertical) tail feathers is always a winner, to me at least. That is my story and I am sticking to it. Now whether I go with it remains to be seen. The song, I got to be me, comes to mind. You got to be you. However simple is usually best, and please no purple RV's; there is already one and that's enough.
George