forecast=20,complete=true
The firewall section is finally complete. I had five rivets left inside the firewall recess (to the rudder pedal brace) that required a swivel head rivet set. I had purchased the set a while back but never got around to… Read More »Firewall Section Complete
Well, mostly. I need to get a swivel head for my rivet gun to rivet the rudder pedal brace, but otherwise the firewall section is complete. I also didn’t attach the heat selector boxes yet as I can easily attach… Read More »Firewall Complete
I continued riveting the firewall section of the plans today. I started with the nutplates that hold the tunnel cover in place. These were all set with the pneumatic squeezer. I then riveted the nutplates to the Airward access panel… Read More »Forward Tunnel Riveting
The replacement upper right engine mount attach bracket arrived today so I got back to work on riveting the firewall. The new bracket aligns much better. The AN426AD4-5 rivets are a bit too short for the steel brackets so I… Read More »Firewall Riveting Continued
I started riveting the firewall yesterday but I noticed a problem before getting too far. The WD-1002-R-PC upper firewall bracket does not align well with the F-1004G-L rivet line. I clecoed the F-1040-R side channel into place to check the… Read More »Firewall Riveting
Another batch of parts primed and ready for riveting. This includes all of the firewall parts and few extra from the next section of the plans. Oh, and my forward center section bulkhead arrived today (had been backordered for a… Read More »Firewall Parts Primed
I ordered two Airward tunnel access panels to install into the forward fuselage tunnel. As other builders have noted, this simplifies access to the fuel filter and fuel lines during inspections. I could have fashioned my own panels but I… Read More »Tunnel Access Panels
The final step before riveting the firewall is to countersink all of the parts that rivet to the back of the firewall (to accept the dimples). This was a simple enough task, just lots of countersinks. I also got started… Read More »Firewall Assembly Countersinking
While waiting for the primer to cure I got back to work on the firewall. I had previously decided to order a new firewall recess and not upsize the holes this time. I’ll plan on making whatever changes I need… Read More »Back to the Firewall
While waiting for the primer to harden up, I got started on the firewall. There are a lot of parts that attach to the firewall so this mostly involved digging through parts, removing vinyl, and deburring edges. I dimpled the… Read More »Getting Started on the Firewall