Cowling at 95% done

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bruceh
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Cowling at 95% done

Post by bruceh »

Its been pretty quiet on here lately. Here's what I've been up to the last couple of months. Got the last of the cowling interior sealed up with epoxy, so I riveted on the hinges.

Image

Just a few more things to do: fill some places on the inlets, add the nutplates to the inlets, fill around the oil door and side hinges with some micro. Sand (repeat ad nauseum), then seal and prime for paint on the cowling exterior.

Next up is the Filtered Air Box, engine control lines, fuel lines, engine wiring, alternator, starter, and a prop. After that it is instrument panel and interior before we go find a hangar at the airport. Hoping for the end of summer to be at the airport.
Bruce Hill
RV-9A N5771H flying over 1100 hours!
Build Log at http://www.overthehills.com/RV-9A-Project
Blog at https://flyingoverthehills.wordpress.com/
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Spike
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Post by Spike »

Is youre nose pink from cutting and sanding?

John
http://www.rivetbangers.com - Now integrating web and mail!
Current Build: 2 years into a beautiful little girl

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bruceh
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Post by bruceh »

I got rid of the pink, but now the dust is white (and everywhere).

Image

I put a couple of coats of UV Smooth Prime on the cowling, then sanded it down fairly smooth. I rolled on a couple more coats and now I get to do it all over again. This filler/primer is easy to sand, but it creates lots and lots of dust. I'm probably at the 98% done point now.
I haven't decided on paint, so I'm not going to shoot any epoxy primer or paint on there just yet. I also have to get the reflective heat shielding added to the interior of the cowling.

In other progress news, the engine is almost completely wired up. Just a few more wires tonight should complete that work. I did the P-mags last night.

Firewall forward work left is down to installing the fuel hoses and getting a propellor.

Instrument panel is on deck!
Bruce Hill
RV-9A N5771H flying over 1100 hours!
Build Log at http://www.overthehills.com/RV-9A-Project
Blog at https://flyingoverthehills.wordpress.com/
EAA Tech Counselor, A&P

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Joe Parish
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Post by Joe Parish »

Very cool Bruce! 8) Keep up the great work.
Joe
N525XC reserved
Empennage done
wings done
Fuse in progress
RV-9A

Doakes
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Post by Doakes »

Bruce,
Your Cowling looks very good. Nice job. Sounds like your coming closer to the beginning. :)

Dave

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bruceh
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Post by bruceh »

Done with the endless priming and sanding! Smooth as can be now.

Image

Looks like it is ready for the propellor.
Bruce Hill
RV-9A N5771H flying over 1100 hours!
Build Log at http://www.overthehills.com/RV-9A-Project
Blog at https://flyingoverthehills.wordpress.com/
EAA Tech Counselor, A&P

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painless
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Post by painless »

Looks great! You didn't mention any injuries from this process. What's with the crutches??! :o
Jeff Orear
RV6A N782P
Hatz Classic, Welding fuselage
Hatz build log. https://eaabuilderslog.org/?blproject&p ... GNCwv&sid=
Peshtigo, WI

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bruceh
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Post by bruceh »

My wife had a total knee replacement. She has moved to a cane to get around.
Bruce Hill
RV-9A N5771H flying over 1100 hours!
Build Log at http://www.overthehills.com/RV-9A-Project
Blog at https://flyingoverthehills.wordpress.com/
EAA Tech Counselor, A&P

Bob Barrett
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Post by Bob Barrett »

Bruce, We hope your wife's progress is good and complete :!: Your cowl is really smooth 8) Progress on your project is great :!: I found that painting my airplane before final assembly has merits.l People who fly their airplanes nude(with out paint) usually end up flying for a year or more and then have three month or more period of down time for painting. I have to believe in the long run it is cheaper to paint before final assembly 8) You are supposed to use new wing bolts if you fly it first and that costs something. There are probably some other parts that you end up replacing in the process of dismantling for painting. I was really glad I got my paint before first flight. My wheel pants, gear leg fairings. and wing tips were all bare. It wasn't a bib deal to take those off and take them to a paint shop 8)

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BSwayze
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Post by BSwayze »

Nice work, Bruce! I've been following your progress, and it all looks really great. Tell us again, what do you have in mind for a prop?
Bruce Swayze
Portland, Oregon
http://www.BrucesRV7A.com
RV-7A Working on Firewall Forward

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bruceh
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Post by bruceh »

I've decided to get the Sensenich Ground Adjustable prop that just came out for the IO-320.

Another -9A owner here at Ramona just put one on his plane and is getting some good extra speed from it over the metal Sensenich which was limited to 2600 RPM.

I like having the ability to fine tune the pitch to meet your needs for speed or climb and to get the most RPM out of the engine.
Bruce Hill
RV-9A N5771H flying over 1100 hours!
Build Log at http://www.overthehills.com/RV-9A-Project
Blog at https://flyingoverthehills.wordpress.com/
EAA Tech Counselor, A&P

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captain_john
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Post by captain_john »

Bruce,

Will you do my hinge pin covers too?

They look great!

:mrgreen: CJ
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It's all over but the flying! 800+ hours in only 3 years!

Bob Barrett
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Post by Bob Barrett »

Another way to do the hinge pins for the cowl sides is to run the hinge pins in from the cockpit and fasten them in the cockpit. It doesn't work on the RV-4's but is great on side by sides.

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bruceh
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Post by bruceh »

I thought about the interior pin concept, but after looking at it I couldn't see how to make it work without a lot of design and effort.

Making the hinge pin covers was not that hard. I put a bunch of photos of the process up on the web site. Hardest part was finding the right shape to use. I ended up using a guitar pick shape. I wanted some sort of triangular arrow, but having enough space to put some nutplates behind it dictated the overall size.

BSwayze: How is your cowling work progressing?
Bruce Hill
RV-9A N5771H flying over 1100 hours!
Build Log at http://www.overthehills.com/RV-9A-Project
Blog at https://flyingoverthehills.wordpress.com/
EAA Tech Counselor, A&P

Spike
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Post by Spike »

I have a good friend that did the internal hinge pin and after 7 years or ownership or so he has decided its a PITA.

Your cowling looks quite lovely :thumbsup:

Spike
http://www.rivetbangers.com - Now integrating web and mail!
Current Build: 2 years into a beautiful little girl

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captain_john
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Post by captain_john »

Mikey did his pins from the inside.

Not sure how he likes it...

Besides, I have them already sticking out the front.

:wink: CJ
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It's all over but the flying! 800+ hours in only 3 years!

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BSwayze
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Post by BSwayze »

bruceh wrote:BSwayze: How is your cowling work progressing?
Well, that's a good question, Bruce. Sad truth is, I haven't even started yet. I still don't have a prop flange or crush plate to use for alignment, and I want to get it right, so it may be a short while before I get going on it. I'm currently focusing on getting the fuselage wiring done. I'd like to get that final top aft skin riveted on so I can work on the rear window and get it installed while it's still summer and warm weather is here, for working on the final trimming and fitting of the plexi window.

Meanwhile, I have ordered my Vertical Power unit, and can't wait to get going on more wiring! It should be here in a few days. :)
Bruce Swayze
Portland, Oregon
http://www.BrucesRV7A.com
RV-7A Working on Firewall Forward

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Wicked Stick
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Post by Wicked Stick »

Spike wrote:I have a good friend that did the internal hinge pin and after 7 years or ownership or so he has decided its a PITA.

Your cowling looks quite lovely :thumbsup:

Spike
I did mine from the inside and don't mind it at all. It was an easy install and probably faster than having to make and cut-out the outside ones.
Dave "WS" Rogers
RV-8 (125 hrs & counting)
N173DR

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hydroguy2
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Post by hydroguy2 »

Wicked Stick wrote:
Spike wrote:I have a good friend that did the internal hinge pin and after 7 years or ownership or so he has decided its a PITA.

Your cowling looks quite lovely :thumbsup:

Spike
I did mine from the inside and don't mind it at all. It was an easy install and probably faster than having to make and cut-out the outside ones.
Hidden hinges are faster....looking anyway.

Image
Brian
Townsend, MT

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captain_john
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Post by captain_john »

Bri,

That plane looks saweet!

...but I think you already knew that!

:wink: CJ
RV-7
Garmin G3X with VP-X & a TMX-IO-360 with G3i
It's all over but the flying! 800+ hours in only 3 years!

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