Today I applied epoxy resin (West Systems 105 Epoxy Resin and West Systems 206 Hardener) to all the heat shield seams to preclude any separation if/when the glue fails. I cleaned all the aluminum surfaces with rubbing alcohol and started applying clear epoxy. I soon realized I couldn’t tell where I’d applied the epoxy and where I didn’t, so I added black epoxy coloring to the mix and this made a huge difference min the application process. It took a couple hours to apply and the stuff ran down the aluminum, so I was constantly wiping, reapplying, and wiping the excess epoxy off the aluminum. After an hour, it started to set up and was much easier to apply with a brush, but I had to work more quickly (which is definitely not my strong suit). I’ll let this cure overnight, then will begin the task of glazing/epoxying the tops of the cowlings to prepare them both for primer and paint. I’ll be glad when I no longer have to look at pink cowlings and, mentally, I’ll feel some sense of accomplishment (which is always a good thing)!
