bubbling through doors

[HansLab]

..I could not keep this from you: I installed the bubble doors this week. Not too easy, but they fit, and they're beautiful!! It sure adds to the space, looks and comfort of the plane.
Now curious how to get in when the wings are on (I saw some pics that weren't very hopefull..) - 'cause I still have to rig...
Happy Building!!

[hansedj]

I bought 2 new gas door spring struts that are made for the bubble doors. They will not let the door open so far. kitfox has them $33 each. or put some kind of stop to prevent your doors from opening so far.

[SkySteve]

I just took a light chord and tied it to the top and bottom of the door strut so it would open up to but not touch the underside of the wing. Works great.

[ackselle]

Very interesting...... I've got a couple of questions:
1) How much more room do you really get with the bubble doors?
2) Where is the door latch? Pictures?

Cheers,
Ackselle

[Esser]

Whoa tight build area, you must have to suck in your gut a lot to move around now that the doors are on.

[SkySteve]

Ackselle,
My doors add about 3 inches width on each door to the shoulder, elbow and hip areas for a total of 6 inches extra total width. That's a HUGE difference. Also, my doors are strong enough that there is no center horizontal support bar, which gives you the total width of the door as usable space. The door handle is located on the bottom of the door about 6" back from the front bottom corner (inside only). Refer to the small bolt hole at the tip of the arrow in this photo:

o

[ackselle]

Thanks Steve! Those doors look great.

So your doors are different from Hans' doors? There are 2 x horizontal bars in his pictures.

[MLaRosa]

Skysteve,

A great spacial improvement, where did you get the bubble doors for your model2, I have not been able to find them for mine? I have the horizontal cross tube and if I chose to keep it would the bubble door glass contact it or would there be a space between the two? It would be awkward looking if there was a space, is that why you removed the cross tube?

[rogerh12]

Ackselle,
Did you create your own stronger doors, or modify the factory doors?
Roger

[cubtractor]

I put a small piece of clear chafe tape on the bottom of the wing where the door touches it. It's really difficult to see (hides well) and works great.