Builder Mods
   Home > Builder Mods

• Lower Cowl baffle development by Bob Axsom.
   
• New Tailwheel Fork by Doug Bell Jr/Sr.
   
•  Air Filter Bypass Failure and My Fix  by Bob Axsom
   
• Center Console
  ...from Derre
    This is a center console for a Vans Aircraft RV7 / RV7A. It was designed and built by Bryan Fillman in Holland, Michigan for his own RV7A for a couple reasons. He wanted a center mounted throttle quadrant, and a center armrest. He also designed a storage area within the armrest similar to what you would find in an automobile console (but to RV scale). The arm rest (which is not yet padded & upholstered in these photos) is hinged and will lift up and back to provide a storage area in the console that is about 10” x 2 ½”. The opening is about 6” x 1 ¾”. It is a little tight to get your hand into, but it is great storage for books, charts, and preflight check list.
  
  Flying with this console will be very comfortable with both elbows on an armrest and hands operating the stick and throttle without having to hold your arm in the air to keep a hand on the traditional panel mounted plunger style throttle. The fuel selector is an Andair fuel selector with an extension valve. The throttle quadrant is a special order DJM Mfrg. Model. The upholstery is very high quality leather like vinyl with wear and fade properties better than leather.
  
  After building this and getting so many compliments from other builders, this builder has decided to build more of these, and is now in the beginning stages of marketing this console. The console will be available in a couple of colors (others available on request). The console will also be available with or without the cutouts for the throttle quadrant and fuel valve as these items will be optional as well. He also hopes to make this for the RV6(A), and RV9(A) very soon as well. As it is right now, the console will bolt directly in to a RV7 or 7A with no modification and only requires a couple of screw holes to be drilled (the throttle quad. & fuel selector, if used, will require some modifications to be made). The custom panel in this picture is also 1 ½” lower (bigger). This means that if you have a standard vans panel, this will require a 1 ½” channel spacer between the console and the panel. What’s great about this is that if you have the below panel mounted throttle/mixture controls, the console will not interfere if you want to continue to use these.
  
  If you would like to contact him with any questions or pre orders, here is info:
  Bryan Fillman
  Home - (616) 786-3615
  Cell - (616) 862-3545
  Email: bkfillman at chartermi.net
   
• Vixen Plane
  ...from Derrell Brooks [derrell at brandywineprinting.com]
  I've attached a pdf of a tool I made. I can't take credit for the idea, Wiley Scharnhorst (RV4 - N360WS) bought one at a flea market from a retired Lockheed employee. I took the idea & made my own. I made the handle from some 1/2" scrap plexiglass. This to me, is much more controllable than a file with a handle. It works great for "breaking" the edges of sheet or bar stock.
  Derrell Brooks
  derrell at brandywineprinting.com
  View PDF File
   
• Mirror Mount
  from David Kumhyr <dkumhyr at us.ibm.com> 
  Here is a simple rear view mirror I made so I could 'check 6' or simply see if my backseater was still having fun.   Start with a suction cup mirror from Autozone, grind off the ball mount and add an aluminum mounting plate. The semicircle roll bar mount is a section of left over control rod tube cut in half. The slot is made with a pass of a milling bit (but you could do the same with a drill and a hacksaw). The plastic covered mounting bolt is from Radio Shack. To mount just drill and tap a hole in your roll bar. The only tricky part is to be sure that you drill the mounting holes in the back of the mirror on a drill press with the limit stop set, else you will mar the reflector on the back of the mirror. 
  Davidk 
  David B. Kumhyr 
  
  
• Various Tips by David Kumhyr  
  
• Using L.E.D.'s to illuminate your interior
  
• Installation Instructions for Flush Wing Tip Antennas submitted by Mitchell Lock (designed by Bob Archer)
  
• Making Lemonade Out of Lemons (D.Reeves)
  
• Scott Jackson's Dual Throttle Setup  
  
• Norman Hunger's Luggage Compartment / Ski Rack for RV-6/9
  
• Eustace Bowhay's RV-6 (floats, left hand throttle quadrant)  
  
• Mod installing the inboard and outboard top main skins (Mike Nellis)
  
• Bernie Kerr's Clothes Hanging Rod 
  click to enlarge
  
• Eric Henson's Canopy Alignment Tip:
  Most Rv-6 slider canopy frames end up with the back bows too high to give a good skin line to the rear skirts. I cut the frame so you could put wood dowels in the tubes while you work with it. This works great.  Tape additional dowels to skin to continue the skin line. You want the back bow tubes 1/8 inch below the skin lines to allow for the canopy.  Don't drill the rear blocks until the canopy is drilled on and this will let you true it up.  Eric Henson - jarhed at bellsouth.net 
  click to enlarge
  
• Roger Hirschbein's Oil Access Door Modification (no turn screws)
  
  
• Mike Nellis Aileron Trim Mod
  "I recently finished installing my electric aileron trim.   I modified the plans from Vans and installed a "built in" trim tab similar to the elevator tab. The link to the web page is http://bmnellis.com/wings_ailerons_trim.htm."