firewall installation in fiberglass fuse

[Anne & Xavier]

Thanks David, Nedim and others
The firewall is now cut and fit nicely. It went better than I expected thanks to your informations. I should have tough about the book and Dave's website :-)
I hope to fly the plane this next weekend.
Xavier


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David Flynt 
  To: xavier.mouraux at sympatico.ca 
  Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2003 11:54 PM
  Subject: RE: firewall installation in fiberglass fuse


  Xavier,

  I usually make a dry run with a piece of light ply to find the shape of the firewall.  I just take my time; the fit of the firewall is correct when there is no pressure between the fuse and the firewall, and no large gaps.  A millimeter gap around then entire circumference is what I am looking for.  If I make a mistake, then I start over with  another piece of light ply.  Once I have a good shape, I trace it onto the firewall.  I find this especially important with a kit that has a nice carbon fiber honeycomb firewall.

  I do the nose ring after the firewall is glued in, and after the engine mount has been fastened to it.  When gluing the firewall to the fuse, I tack it in place on top, bottom, and both sides.  When this is dry, I follow it up with a clean fillet of low viscosity epoxy and micro balloons.  I mix it into a toothpaste consistency, and clean off excess with the corner of a credit card.  I don't find it necessary to add fiberglass reinforcement, but you could.

  There is probably more than one way to do this, however I have always followed the method that is described in Bruce Thomson and Don Atwood's book "Building a Pattern Plane".

  Regards,

  David Flynt



    
    -----Original Message-----
    From: discussion-request at nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Anne & Xavier
    Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2003 7:36 PM
    To: discussion at nsrca.org
    Subject: firewall installation in fiberglass fuse


    Hello all expert builders...
    I have to install a new firewall in the fiberglass fuse of my Nova and I want to do it right. I have a few questions.

    What is the more efficient/easy way to figure the exact contour to cut the firewall?

    Once the firewall is properly cut, I am intending to:
    Glue a shim behind the backplate
    Install the engine on the engine mount
    Install the nose ring
    Install the backplate and cone
    Suspend the plane nose up to locate the firewall
    Tape the cone to the fuselage
    Tack glue the engine mount on the firewall with CA
    Glue the firewall with epoxy and fiberglass on aft face
    Once dry, remove the engine and engine mount
    Add fiberglass on foward face of firewall. 

    Do I forget something ?

    Thank you

    Xavier

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