Tom Maxwell
Well Known Member
Perhaps this is not the appropriate forum to post this in, if so, I apologize.
I just read Dougs vision of this site and I am looking forward to the ability to host images directly on this site. This will be a great feature that many have been asking for.
What else would you like to see on this site?
I for one would like to see the Van's builders manuals expanded to include a crossreference by building step number, part number, part name. It could include all of the neat pictures that everyone have already taken so I think it could be put together fairly quickly. Here is what I would like to see:
1) A separate area for each model (Doug already has this).
2) Written instructions beyond what is already in the building manuals.
3) A picture or pictures of the the step before during and after completion.
4) List of special tools or techniques used to complete the step.
5) Any "gotchas" or special instructions for that step.
I know that the many builders' sites out there already have tons of information on them. What I am proposing is that we bring all of that brainpower, experience, and pictures together into one location.
The way I envision this working is if I am building an RV7A and have a question or some doubts about a particular part or step, I go to the RV7A builders guide and:
1) Conduct a search by van's part number or...
2) Conduct a search by part description or...
3) Conduct a search by the construction step number in the manual or...
4) Conduct a search by major assembly or subassembly.
Immediately displayed is the step, a description of what is going on, anything special to look for, pictures of the parts involved, and pictures of the assembly process and final outcome.
Yes this would be a lot of work but I think considering the expertise of everyone on these boards, most of the work has already been done. It would just be a matter of pulling it all together, organizing it, and publishing it on the site.
This could be a volunteer project with a lead project manager for each model of RV and contributing volunteers. They could meet in a chat room and then take it one step at a time with everyone volunteering their experiences and pictures for each step. The manager might say, "OK let's work on step 1 of the empennage tonight. Does anyone have pictures of laying out the taper and radi on the HS-609PP reinforcement bars? Were there any special problems or procedures you used in doing this?" The project manager could then compile all of the information, weed out the duplicate, make some judgement calls on what is needed and what isn't, and then add it to the overall project.
Yes it would take a while to accomplish this but it would be a great resource for everyone to use and who knows, Van might be interested in publishing them as the official installation guides for building Van's aircrafts.
My thinking is kind of along the lines of Chilton's auto repair manuals only RV builder's guides.
Would this be worthwhile to everyone or is there already too much information out there amd this would just be more of the same and too much effort?
How about other features you would like to see on this site?
I just read Dougs vision of this site and I am looking forward to the ability to host images directly on this site. This will be a great feature that many have been asking for.
What else would you like to see on this site?
I for one would like to see the Van's builders manuals expanded to include a crossreference by building step number, part number, part name. It could include all of the neat pictures that everyone have already taken so I think it could be put together fairly quickly. Here is what I would like to see:
1) A separate area for each model (Doug already has this).
2) Written instructions beyond what is already in the building manuals.
3) A picture or pictures of the the step before during and after completion.
4) List of special tools or techniques used to complete the step.
5) Any "gotchas" or special instructions for that step.
I know that the many builders' sites out there already have tons of information on them. What I am proposing is that we bring all of that brainpower, experience, and pictures together into one location.
The way I envision this working is if I am building an RV7A and have a question or some doubts about a particular part or step, I go to the RV7A builders guide and:
1) Conduct a search by van's part number or...
2) Conduct a search by part description or...
3) Conduct a search by the construction step number in the manual or...
4) Conduct a search by major assembly or subassembly.
Immediately displayed is the step, a description of what is going on, anything special to look for, pictures of the parts involved, and pictures of the assembly process and final outcome.
Yes this would be a lot of work but I think considering the expertise of everyone on these boards, most of the work has already been done. It would just be a matter of pulling it all together, organizing it, and publishing it on the site.
This could be a volunteer project with a lead project manager for each model of RV and contributing volunteers. They could meet in a chat room and then take it one step at a time with everyone volunteering their experiences and pictures for each step. The manager might say, "OK let's work on step 1 of the empennage tonight. Does anyone have pictures of laying out the taper and radi on the HS-609PP reinforcement bars? Were there any special problems or procedures you used in doing this?" The project manager could then compile all of the information, weed out the duplicate, make some judgement calls on what is needed and what isn't, and then add it to the overall project.
Yes it would take a while to accomplish this but it would be a great resource for everyone to use and who knows, Van might be interested in publishing them as the official installation guides for building Van's aircrafts.
My thinking is kind of along the lines of Chilton's auto repair manuals only RV builder's guides.
Would this be worthwhile to everyone or is there already too much information out there amd this would just be more of the same and too much effort?
How about other features you would like to see on this site?