Instrument panels - 6 vs 7

[JanRV6UK]

Flipped the fuselage today ? big milestone ? Now it is the right way up.

Now looking at the instrument panel ? Can someone tell me if the 7 instrument panel will fit in a 6 ? I believe the 7 panel is slightly taller to allow for mounting switches at the bottom. I plan to make a sectional panels and was thinking of buying a 7 panel and use my original 6 panel as the blank for the cut out sections. Looking at photos of 6 and 7 ? it looks like the 7 have more space at the bottom. Have I got this right ??

I am building a tip up 6

[sjhurlbut]

RV-7 is wider. The panel will not fit. I would just use the one you have as a template, trace it, and extend it lower if you desire. May also want to rivet some angle along the bottom to increase stiffness.

[JanRV6UK]

If the 7 panel is wider than the 6 - is it not just a matter of cutting it down to fit the 6 ? Or has the curvature been cut - Hence the size is wrong so will not fit the curvature of the 6 ?

[Stoo]

You need the oversize 6 panel, it is 13" tall, about 2" taller than the stock panel. Van's part number is F-6103 OVSZ.

Stewart Willoughby
6, finishing.

[JanRV6UK]

Thanks ! Just what I was looking for Stewart .. Have you used this panel ? Does it have a flange bent on the bottom or is it just a flat sheet 13 x 42 ?

Have a good weekend

[Stoo]

Yes, this is what I used, and yes, it has the flange bent on the bottom with 13" of panel height above the flange.

Stewart Willoughby (ex UK)
6, finishing

[shuttle]

Jan,

If you have your original RV-6 instrument panel blank and can find someone nearby that has a sheet bending brake then it is very easy to make a new taller panel from a plain sheet of ally. This is what I did for my -7. Many GA a/c maintenance outfits will have a bending brake and I'm sure will let you bend a single piece of ally.

Bend the bottom flange in the sheet first then overlay the original on the sheet so the top is where you want it. Match drill and cleco sufficient rivet holes to hold the two panels together. Match drill the rest of the rivet holes and screw holes then mark around the outside of the original panel.

How you cut out around the mark-up is up to you. I used a woodwork router with an appropriate cutter that allowed me to use the original panel as the template. I was very happy with the outcome. The advantage over the taller non-standard panel from Van's is twofold:
a) cheaper - buy ally locally rather than ship 5000 miles
b) you can make the panel exactly as tall as you want.

Steve

[JanRV6UK]

Thanks ! That will work to ..

[az_gila]

Originally Posted by shuttle

Jan,

If you have your original RV-6 instrument panel blank and can find someone nearby that has a sheet bending brake then it is very easy to make a new taller panel from a plain sheet of ally. This is what I did for my -7. Many GA a/c maintenance outfits will have a bending brake and I'm sure will let you bend a single piece of ally.

Bend the bottom flange in the sheet first then overlay the original on the sheet so the top is where you want it. Match drill and cleco sufficient rivet holes to hold the two panels together. Match drill the rest of the rivet holes and screw holes then mark around the outside of the original panel.

How you cut out around the mark-up is up to you. I used a woodwork router with an appropriate cutter that allowed me to use the original panel as the template. I was very happy with the outcome. The advantage over the taller non-standard panel from Van's is twofold:
a) cheaper - buy ally locally rather than ship 5000 miles
b) you can make the panel exactly as tall as you want.

Steve

Steve,

Note that the RV-6 panels are not pre-shaped, you mark and cut it yourself....

It is just shipped as a square sheet with a bend along one long edge - at least in the early kits.

Also, if you are sourcing locally, the plans call for the cheaper 6061-T6 material which might be easier to obtain.

[6 Gun]

A guy from florida builds three piece panels with stack off set so you have more panel in front of you and they are stanard or 1.5 wider I have one and its so nice to not have to climb under to work on with my slider if anyone wants info ill post.
Bob