Of the two chores I wanted to accomplish today, one was disastrous and the other glorious. The painting of the miscellaneous firewall parts with white high temperature paint was a total disaster. The rattle can paint sucked! The white engine enamel I chose was the worst ever … well the paint itself may not be, but the spray can is to be sure. I tried to lightly spray two coats before spraying a third. The spray nozzles splattered and left heavy and light areas which ultimately contributed to many runs. Unfortunately, with this paint I can’t attempt to sand and repaint for 7 days. I’m thinking of letting all the air out of the can and pouring the paint into an airbrush and having another go at it after much sanding. Another option (and likely better) is to throw in the towel and get the parts powder coated. No photos were taken to protect the guilty but it is ugly … very ugly.
With the first setback of the day behind me, turned my attention to installing the F-1201A upper firewall assembly onto the fuselage shelf. During a trial fit of the F-1201A upper firewall onto the firewall shelf had another slight setback. Didn’t like the fit in the area where the F-1201P firewall spacers touched the firewall shelf because there was a little interference with the edge of the firewall shelf. I decided the fit would be more to my liking if the F-1201P spacer received a little trimming.
Edge of the F-1201P spacer extends a little
beyond the 45 degree mating edge.
F-1201P spacer now filed back flush with the 45
degree mating edge.
Van’s recommends using a sealant when mating the F-1201A upper firewall assembly to the firewall shelf to seal off the possibility of fumes from entering the cockpit through small gaps along the mating surfaces. The parts were cleaned and a batch of ProSeal was mixed up then carefully slathered onto the flange of the F-1201A upper firewall … the assembly was then mated with the firewall shelf and secured in position with Clecos. Thought it would be a good idea to offer some additional support, so the panel shelf was left temporarily sitting across the longerons and the holes in the forward edge were used to help support the F-1201A upper firewall so all the weight was not on the firewall shelf.
Clecoing the second of two nutplates in position.
Finally ready to begin riveting the assembly.
I’m glad the side skins were not riveted in place yet because there are a few rivets which are riveted from below the F-1201A assembly … it was an easy matter to set those rivets by reaching in from the sides. Had the side skins been on at this point, the rivets that are installed from below would have been much more challenging to get at.
