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Rebel Modifications
The Rebel has been around for almost twenty years. With a long history of big engines and float operations, there are modifications that have shown themselves to be helpful and sometimes necessary.
There are also mods that I've chosen to build in for my own reasons. Here's a list of all the mods I can remember doing along with a short explanation where I feel it's necessary.
1. Reinforce elevator outboard corners
2. FUS-30 doubler
3. Fuselage door channels .032
4. FUS 25 increased to .040
5. FUS-26 increased to .040, modified for gull wings and wraps under bottom of fuselage.
6. Corner wraps-all increased to .025, forward lowers to .032
7. Tailcone floor increased to .040
8. FUS-11 increased to .040
9. Cut firewall back 3"; recommended by MAM for large engines and/or floats
10. Reverse firewall-places flanges to rear for better cooling air movement
11. MAM and Wayne O'Shea's firewall mods
12. Axle/wheel upgrade-1.25" axles and Grove 6" wheels/brakes
13. Landing gear safety cable- places cable outside to allow for inspection
14. Flap handle - changed design and operation for looks and function
15. Tailcone stiffeners- designed by Si Smith-go on sides and top of cone adds considerable stiffness
16. Seaplane doors
17. Door latches-changed to match new doors
18. Panel channel- added 2" channel on bottom of panel for additional room
19. Rudder pulleys at carry through to prevent stiff rudder
20. Tailwheel upgrade to 8" Barrows-type wheel
21. Dorsal fin- looks cool and might assist control surface authority on floats
22. Powder-coated landing gear components for durability
23. Additional window in doors for better visibility
The great thing about building experimental is the freedom to do all of these things and more. It's one of the things I like most about building an airplane. Remember though, many mods sound great and are desired but they also create not only more work but also some other change/mod at some point down the road! Mods equal time!
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