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Factory upholstery kit

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Kelvin Weston

Joined: 14 Apr 2010
Posts: 90
Location: Hampshire, UK

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 10:49 am Post subject: Factory upholstery kit

Hi all



If anyone has the Europa supplied seat and upholstery kit, I would like some information regarding the seats.



How well does the seat back cushion fit around the wing spar pins? and do the cushions provide support in the lower back area?



I saw some examples of the seats at the LAA Rally a few weekends ago.  The seat base looks ok but the seat back looks like a very simple flat, slab-like arrangement.

On returning home and looking at the cockpit module, it would appear that the back cushion will conflict with and cover the wing spar pins.

Has anybody experienced problems in this area?



In addition, I was also very aware of the change in angle of the cockpit module front face.  There is a tendency to think of this as a flat face but there is actually quite a large change of angle.  From sitting in the seat - something I do quite a lot, with associated noises, etc, I have come to the conclusion that any seat back cushion should follow the headrest angle down to the seat base.  Is that correct?



This would leave a triangular shaped void between the bottom of the seat back cushion and the cockpit module.  This would almost certainly need some additional foam / support if bad backs were to be avoided.  Anyone had any problems like this?

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_________________
Regards

Kelv Weston
Kit 497
kelv@kdweston.co.uk

keithhickling(at)clear.ne
Guest

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 3:04 pm Post subject: Factory upholstery kit

Hi Kevin,

I used the factory upholstery kit. I made a triangular wedge shaped piece of 

stiff foam rubber to fill in the lower part of the seatback so that in 

continues the slope of the upper seatback. This is fixed to the seatback 

with velcro.  I made a cutout for the wingpins, and these are then 

effectively in a recess in this foam and behind the seatback cushion, so 

they do not protrude into the cushion.  The result is quite comfortable.



I can't find a photo of the actual foam wedge at the moment, but attach a 

photo showing the velcro on the seatback where it attaches.



Regards,

Keith.

--------------------------------------------------

From: "Kelvin Weston" <kelv(at)kdweston.biz>

Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2013 6:50 AM

To: <europa-list(at)matronics.com>

Subject: Factory upholstery kit



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Hi all



 If anyone has the Europa supplied seat and upholstery kit, I would like 

 some information regarding the seats.



 How well does the seat back cushion fit around the wing spar pins? and do 

 the cushions provide support in the lower back area?



 I saw some examples of the seats at the LAA Rally a few weekends ago.  The 

 seat base looks ok but the seat back looks like a very simple flat, 

 slab-like arrangement.

 On returning home and looking at the cockpit module, it would appear that 

 the back cushion will conflict with and cover the wing spar pins.

 Has anybody experienced problems in this area?



 In addition, I was also very aware of the change in angle of the cockpit 

 module front face.  There is a tendency to think of this as a flat face 

 but there is actually quite a large change of angle.  From sitting in the 

 seat - something I do quite a lot, with associated noises, etc, I have 

 come to the conclusion that any seat back cushion should follow the 

 headrest angle down to the seat base.  Is that correct?



 This would leave a triangular shaped void between the bottom of the seat 

 back cushion and the cockpit module.  This would almost certainly need 

 some additional foam / support if bad backs were to be avoided.  Anyone 

 had any problems like this?



 --------

 Regards



 Kelv Weston

 Kit 497

 kelv(at)kdweston.biz





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rparigoris

Joined: 24 Nov 2009
Posts: 796

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 5:42 pm Post subject: Factory upholstery kit

Hi Kelv 

 	If anyone has the Europa supplied seat and upholstery kit, I would like some information regarding the seats. 

 	We purchased Factory seat cushions. This was I think in 2007. The fit was not great. I don't know if Europa changed dimensions since then. 

 	Here is a link to how my cushions fit when I first got them, you can see the spacer I made out of blue foam and Balsa, you can see how I mutilated the supplied cushion foam. I sent back to Europa and they modified the covers and location of velcro and now all is well, except that my bird is not yet flying. 

 	Note that I have long wings too, so the balsa and blue foam will allow for airbrake cable routing as well: 

 	http://www.europaowners.org/main.php?g2_itemId=86921 

 	Ron Parigoris 

 	 	 	     [quote][b]

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Kelvin Weston

Joined: 14 Apr 2010
Posts: 90
Location: Hampshire, UK

Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 12:09 am Post subject: Re: Factory upholstery kit

Thanks Keith / Ron



You have confirmed my thoughts about the seat back cushion.



I spoke with Ingrid at Auto-Trim, the company that makes the factory kit and she sent me this reply regarding the conflict with the wing spar pins:

 

Having seen the aircraft, the position of the pins and the comments from potential customers I have made the decision to modify the pattern and cut away the foam in that area and re shape the cover accordingly. 



Good to hear, a bit late for those that have already purchased a kit or seats and still doesn't address the potential problem of the gap between the bottom of the seat back and the cockpit module.

 

At the moment, I am investigating some local upholstery businesses to see what they can offer and at what price.  Living near to the sailing areas of Portsmouth and The Solent, there are lots of marine upholsterers that have shown an interest.  I have also approached some car and vehicle trimmers.

 

To assess what I wanted from the seat cushions, I purchased some foam from a company that will cut any shape and size for you either regular shapes, or to your supplied template.  I had some rectangles cut to the required thickness for the main part of the seat base and seat back and also some trapezium and triangle shaped bits for under the knees and as an infill for the gap at the lower back.

 

I glued the various bits together to form the two cushions and cut the back to the headrest shape.  They look good even without covers, are really comfortable to sit on and should give me a good template to take to the upholsterer.  I will probably substitute some Dynafoam or Confor foam for the seat base in the final configuration.



I ordered enough foam for two seats to allow a bit of experimenting and this only cost 20 uk pounds.  Well worth the expense and time getting it right if I'm going to spend several hundreds on the final upholstered article.

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_________________
Regards

Kelv Weston
Kit 497
kelv@kdweston.co.uk

richard collings

Joined: 08 Jul 2011
Posts: 73
Location: warwickshire england

Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 4:36 am Post subject: Factory upholstery kit

Hi Kelvin

I found the solution to your problem was to make two cushion shaped seat 

backs in 3mm ply wood. I covered both sides with bid and re-enforced with 2 

lengths of 1/2 inch tube approx 12 inches apart running down about 12 inches 

of the back surface  and extending about 1 inches from the bottom edge. I 

made 2 holes in the 3mm ply wood seat floor for the extended  re-enforcement 

tubes to locate at an angle that best suited  my comfort and cut out the 

profile of the wing pins on each side . I just lay the seat cushion back up 

against these back rests and hold them in place with the Velcro flap at the 

top and the seat cushion at the base,  problem solved. It would be possible 

to add further holes in the seat base to alter the seat position but I have 

not found it necessary.

Best of luck Richard

--

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