Tag: Drilling

Panel, finish, cowling continued…

My Stein Air panel in as-received condition – just removed from the crate for the first time since it arrived about four months ago. What a rat’s nest!!

A slightly wider view of the panel showing all of the radios and other miscellany. Lots to do.

Oil door drilled to the hinge gooseneck and the hinge door lugs drilled to the cowling.

Oil door and all components riveted and ready to fly.

A little gently relieving was necessary along the upper edge of the recess in order for the door to hinge properly.

Oil door and all components riveted and ready to fly.

A little gently relieving was necessary along the upper edge of the recess in order for the door to hinge properly.

One of my pending tasks finally checked off:

Empennage fairing and gap covers screwed down for keeps – or until the airworthiness inspection!

One of my pending tasks finally checked off:

Empennage fairing and gap covers screwed down for keeps – or until the airworthiness inspection!

Firewall forward, finish, cowling progress

Oil door fitting underway. It was actually not bad right out of the box – even the curve was a good match for the cowling.

Taped in place for drilling.

Camloc receptacles installed.

The upper edge will have to be trimmed/sanded/massaged a bit to accommodate the gooseneck’s horizontal flange. As it is right now, the edge of that piece butts against the edge of the cutout and won’t permit the door to sit down properly in its recess.

So, a bit more fiddling to do tomorrow.

Firewall forward, finish, cowling underway

I was happy with the behind-the-spinner nutplate installation until I realized that I put them on the top cowl when they belong on the bottom. Argh!! What an idiot!

I fixed them today and will flox those eight rivet holes sometime in the next few days.

I was happy with the behind-the-spinner nutplate installation until I realized that I put them on the top cowl when they belong on the bottom. Argh!! What an idiot!

I fixed them today and will flox those eight rivet holes sometime in the next few days.

Cowl inlet ramps with scribe lines highlighted for trimming.

Cowl inlet ramps with initial trim completed. The glass is fairly easy to cut with a combination of left & right tin snips.

Cowl inlet drilling to the upper cowl underway.

Cowl inlet drilling to the upper cowl complete. The four clecos securing each inlet to the cowling are drilled only through the honeycomb and NOT through the fiberglass, itself. Carefully, carefully…

Left cowl inlet with prop governor clearance hole cut out.

First test fitting of the cowl halves with the inlets in place. Everything went on like it should, so I was pleased if more than a little surprised.

Cowl inlets floxed in place.

Cowlings set in place overnight to permit inlet ramp flox to dry in its actual position.

Firewall forward, finish, cowling progress

Snorkel marked for initial trimming to air filter frame.

Snorkel marked for initial trimming to air filter frame.

Snorkel marked for initial trimming to fuel servo.

Snorkel being reformed (via heat gun and pressure (I used both the beer bottle and hammer handle)) to clear the Cylinder 2 intake tube.

Air filter frame and snorkel drilled together in final position.

Air filter frame and snorkel floxed together.

Upper cowling interior coated with epoxy resin.

Lower cowling interior coated with epoxy resin.

Empennage fairing interior coated with epoxy resin