Matronics Email Lists :: View topic - Kolb Factory's canopy enclosure framework

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

Kolb Factory's canopy enclosure framework

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kolb-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

Dennis Thate

Joined: 18 Nov 2010
Posts: 362

Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 8:06 am Post subject: Kolb Factory's canopy enclosure framework

If any one is interested in a  look at the Kolb Factory's design , here is the overhead hoop (4130) ,and side bows (4130 Steel) RH and LH for the Kolb Firestar.

 I'm still undecided about which of the many canopy designs to incorporate on my Firestar, so I will sell these if I decide not to use them.

DSCN3689.jpg

Description:

Filesize:

99.06 KB

Viewed:

9327 Time(s)

New design.jpg

Description:

Filesize:

115.09 KB

Viewed:

9077 Time(s)

_________________
Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute. ~Gil Stern

Last edited by Dennis Thate on Mon Apr 08, 2013 6:10 pm; edited 1 time in total

lcottrell

Joined: 29 May 2006
Posts: 1494
Location: Jordan Valley, Or

Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 11:19 am Post subject: Kolb Factory's canopy enclosure framework

Dennis,    I have had my Firestar since 97, I have been through most of the variations of windscreens. I have been from the tiny piece of lexan to a full factory enclosure. All have their good and bad sides. The tiny screen was discarded quite soon. I found that the wind hit me in the face and the resultant snot streaks on my glasses were off putting to say the least. Next I bought a full enclosure from Kolb, and didn't like the post in the middle of my vision, so I left it off. On a windy day the wind snatched the lexan out of my hand and snapped it like a piece of glass. I repaired it and used the entire enclosure on my trip to New Mexico. I used it because I had stuff stacked in the interior for my camping. I found that it cost me several MPG and MPH due to the wind grabbing on to the square back side of the curtain. On my return I took the fabric back window off and found that it wasn't noticeably colder without it than with it. Then I decided that I wanted doors and ended up with my current set up. It suits me for once. I have a big enough door that I can sit on the seat and get my head in without any strain and can swing my legs and feet in with little effort.

 



I used the kit from Kolb, and did a few mods to it to make it work for me. I welded some tabs on the top of the hoop, and made a rod that goes from the tabs to my dash. I also welded a tab on the end and I fastened that to the dash in the upper corner. That gave me both bracing and a platform to rivet a door to. 

 



One of the problems that I had with all the other things I tried was that the wind would cave in the sides of the lexan. Now, although I could have done a better job on making the door frames, I have got to be really "rock and rolling" for the lexan to flex. 

 



I am 6 feet tall and a bit chunkier than I really need to be, but I have no problems at all with getting in or out. The wind all goes around, and the prop still gets air.

For what its worth,

 Larry

  



On Sun, Mar 24, 2013 at 10:06 AM, Dennis Thate <retroman(at)frontier.com (retroman(at)frontier.com)> wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		  --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Dennis Thate" <retroman(at)frontier.com (retroman(at)frontier.com)>

  

 If any one is interested in a  look at the Kolb Factory's design , here is the overhead hoop (4130) ,and side bows (4130 Steel) RH and LH for the Kolb Firestar.

  I'm still undecided about which of the many canopy designs to incorporate on my Firestar, so I will sell these if I decide not to use them.

 

 --------

 Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society.  The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute.  ~Gil Stern

 

 

 



 

 

 ===========

 arget="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List

 ===========

 http://forums.matronics.com

 ===========

 le, List Admin.

 ="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution

 ===========

 

 

 

 	




-- 

If you forward this email, or any part of it, please remove my email address before sending.

dash.JPG

Description:

Filesize:

660.91 KB

Viewed:

9314 Time(s)

front.JPG

Description:

Filesize:

588.76 KB

Viewed:

9314 Time(s)

left.JPG

Description:

Filesize:

694.86 KB

Viewed:

9314 Time(s)

open_door.JPG

Description:

Filesize:

711.86 KB

Viewed:

9314 Time(s)

right_s.JPG

Description:

Filesize:

718.06 KB

Viewed:

9314 Time(s)

windscreen.JPG

Description:

Filesize:

633.56 KB

Viewed:

9314 Time(s)

_________________
do not archive

Dennis Thate

Joined: 18 Nov 2010
Posts: 362

Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 3:57 pm Post subject: Re: Kolb Factory's canopy enclosure framework

Thanks for posting your experiences with the many variations of your Firestar cockpit's windscreens and the clear photos you posted ....it's a great help. Especially regarding my concerns about choking off prop air. This forum can be an invaluable asset at times.



Eleanor Roosevelt - "Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself. " 

Fly Safe

Dennis

Dennis Thate

Joined: 18 Nov 2010
Posts: 362

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 12:56 pm Post subject: Re: Kolb Factory's canopy enclosure framework

Finally  .....the hard part is over ...Deciding what to build ! Now the fun begins , getting all the angles and shapes correct and making a  firmly supported mock-up to take to the shop for final inspection and weld-up, and  hopefully getting it right the first time.



Check out the Archaeopteryx's removable cockpit door (at) 6:45.



http://player.vimeo.com/video/39325401

Cockpit Template.jpg

Description:

Filesize:

83.8 KB

Viewed:

9175 Time(s)

Eugene Zimmerman

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 392

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 2:38 pm Post subject: Kolb Factory's canopy enclosure framework

Here is another way to do the windscreen that allows for optimum access for old bones, and no center post in field of vision.

IMG_3817.JPG

Description:

Filesize:

204.37 KB

Viewed:

9202 Time(s)

P4020342.JPG

Description:

Filesize:

154.44 KB

Viewed:

9202 Time(s)

lcottrell

Joined: 29 May 2006
Posts: 1494
Location: Jordan Valley, Or

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 3:12 pm Post subject: Kolb Factory's canopy enclosure framework

Pretty slick.Larry



On Thu, Mar 28, 2013 at 4:37 PM, Eugene Zimmerman <etzimm(at)gmail.com (etzimm(at)gmail.com)> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 Here is another way to do the windscreen that allows for optimum access for old bones, and no center post in field of vision.

 

 



 

 

	




-- 

If you forward this email, or any part of it, please remove my email address before sending.

 

 

  [quote][b]

_________________
do not archive

capedavis(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 4:20 pm Post subject: Kolb Factory's canopy enclosure framework

Larry recieved your email on my list but no picture ? Was it attached or just included in the email? thanks Chris

 

  

 Chris Davis

KXP 503 492 hrs

Glider Pilot

Disabled from crash building Firefly

 

 [quote]    

From: Larry Cottrell <lcottrell1020(at)gmail.com>

To: kolb-list(at)matronics.com 

Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 7:12 PM

Subject: Re: Kolb Factory's canopy enclosure framework

 Pretty slick. Larry



 On Thu, Mar 28, 2013 at 4:37 PM, Eugene Zimmerman <etzimm(at)gmail.com (etzimm(at)gmail.com)> wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		  

Here is another way to do the windscreen that allows for optimum access for old bones, and no center post in field of vision.



	




 



-- 

If you forward this email, or any part of it, please remove my email address before sending.

 



 	  Quote: 	
		  

	






[b]

lcottrell

Joined: 29 May 2006
Posts: 1494
Location: Jordan Valley, Or

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 4:54 pm Post subject: Kolb Factory's canopy enclosure framework

No attachment from me. I just thought that Eugene Z's enclosure was pretty slick. If you want to see the picture that I was talking about you will have to open his email.Larry



On Thu, Mar 28, 2013 at 6:20 PM, chris davis <capedavis(at)yahoo.com (capedavis(at)yahoo.com)> wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		  Larry recieved your email on my list but no picture ? Was it attached or just included in the email? thanks Chris

 

 

  

 Chris Davis

KXP 503 492 hrs

Glider Pilot

Disabled from crash building Firefly

 

  	  Quote: 	
		       

From: Larry Cottrell <lcottrell1020(at)gmail.com (lcottrell1020(at)gmail.com)>

To: kolb-list(at)matronics.com (kolb-list(at)matronics.com) 

 Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 7:12 PM

Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Kolb Factory's canopy enclosure framework

  Pretty slick. Larry



 On Thu, Mar 28, 2013 at 4:37 PM, Eugene Zimmerman <etzimm(at)gmail.com (etzimm(at)gmail.com)> wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		  

Here is another way to do the windscreen that allows for optimum access for old bones, and no center post in field of vision.

 





	




 



-- 

If you forward this email, or any part of it, please remove my email address before sending.

 



 	  Quote: 	
		  

	










get="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List

tp://forums.matronics.com

_blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution



	


	




-- 

If you forward this email, or any part of it, please remove my email address before sending.

 

 

  [quote][b]

_________________
do not archive

Dennis Thate

Joined: 18 Nov 2010
Posts: 362

Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 4:38 am Post subject: Re: Kolb Factory's canopy enclosure framework

 	  Eugene Zimmerman wrote: 	
		  Here is another way to do the windscreen that allows for optimum access for old bones, and no center post in field of vision. 	


Eugene,

Nice concept... I'm surprised the Kolb company doesn't offer that as an option. Thanks for the post !



Dennis

_________________
Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute. ~Gil Stern

Eugene Zimmerman

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 392

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 8:38 am Post subject: Kolb Factory's canopy enclosure framework

On Mar 29, 2013, at 8:38 AM, Dennis Thate wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  Eugene,

Nice concept... I'm surprised the Kolb company doesn't offer that as an option. Thanks for the post !



Dennis 	




One of the advantages of the design is that it can easily be made to any size or degree of wind protection desired, from small wind deflector, to full enclosure. 

It attaches with only two hinge pins or bolts so one could change and exchange from small wind deflector to full screen in a matter of minutes.

It would be an excellent option for the factory to offer as it does require a rather specific hinge geometry for it to operate ideally.

IMG_3817.jpeg

Description:

Filesize:

136.04 KB

Viewed:

9153 Time(s)

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kolb-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum