Brief Description: The cowling chronicle continues - 02
After marking the firewall reference line on the cowling I pulled the top cowling to start figuring out how well, or not, the lower cowling mated to the top. Or not is really wide of the mark, significantly. To get the two to nest semi nicely to much more work that I thought it should. Steps so far.
The cut line on the top cowling was really pretty close to straight. Close enough that it was within a degree or two. In image one you can see the cut line defined as the top edge of the piece of angle lying on the cowling. It is 6.5" down from the top and slightly over 6.5" from the bottom. With a little more work is a file I can probably close that bottom measurement.
1. Using the top cut line as a reference I drew a cut line on the bottom cowling. The intent is to have the cut line on the outside of the air inlets perfectly match the cut lines on the spinner ring area (spinner ring is my name for the large circular opening just aft of the spinner. There are inner flanges on the lower cowling at the spinner ring that nest behind the top cowling. Ha, ha ha (histerical laughter) After an hour of sanding and filing I finally got the upper and lower to kind of nest together. Close enough to get the cowling mounted, not nearly close enough for finish work. It will take a few layups to get a nice finish. 2. Part of the process of getting the inner section to nest was slowing cutting the lower cowling at the outer edge of the air inlets. I initially cut the outer edges about half way towards the cut line and then slowly sanded towards the line. At some point the top and lower cowl will just touch at the outer curve of the air inlet. After the cowling is mounted properly I will build a fiberglass inset on the inside of the lower cowling that will nest behind the upper cowling. 3. At this stage the cowling looks symetrical, but is slightly off. The cut lines need work at the outer curves of the air inlets. A lot more sanding is required.
Next is mounting the Skybolt fastener system to the up
