June 30, 2025 - RV-10 Status Update
|
| Throttle body - control cable bracket. |
| |
 |
|
|
The top cowl was not laying down right. I figured out that the inside trialing edge needed trimming where it was hitting the camloc tabs.
|
| |
 |
|
| I marked the areas that need trimming. |
| |
 |
|
|
More trimming was needed on the left side for some reason.
|
| |
 |
|
| Trimming was easy with the dremel tool - sanding cylinder. |
| |
 |
|
| Now the top cowl sits down nicely. Notice that the prop and spinner are mounted. The top cowl aft edge has been trimmed so it butts up against the fuselage top. |
| |
 |
|
| Spacing between top cowl and spinner looks good. |
| |
 |
|
|
And the left side.
|
| |
 |
|
|
The gap between top cowl and fuselage probably isn't going to win a workmanship award at AirVenture but it will suffice.
|
| |
 |
|
|
Gap on the left side.
|
| |
 |
|
| We cut out the opening for the nose gear strut on the bottom cowl. |
| |
 |
|
| Another look at the stock bottom cowl. |
| |
 |
|
| Trying to fit the top and bottom cowls together. The initial fit was not good. |
| |
 |
|
|
Nhu-An trimming an air inlet ramp for the top cowl.
|
| |
 |
|
| The air inlet ramps clecoed to the top cowl. |
| |
 |
|
|
Nose gear and three-bladed prop on a RV-10 make it difficult, if not impossible, to get the lower cowl on. The answer: split the lower cowl. We decide to do that. Here, the lower cowl is prepped for the big cut.
|
| |
 |
|
| Nhu-An working on the bottom cowl. |
| |
 |
|
| Cutting fiberglass cloth. |
| |
 |
|
| Building up one side of the bottom cowl so that it can handle the camloc anchor strips. |
| |
 |
|
|
Anchor strips clecoed on.
|
| |
 |
|
| Epoxy and microballoon fillter for the air inlet ramps. |
| |
 |
|
|
A little bondo to feather the edges.
|
| |
 |
|
| Looking at the camloc anchor strips from the outside of the bottom cowl. |
| |
 |
|
|
Now riveted in.
|
| |
 |
|
| Looking good! |
| |
 |
|
| A rare sight: the work table is empty and clear! It won't stay this way for long. |
| |
 |
|
| One side of the bottom cowl is done. Now for the other side. |
| |
 |
|
| |
| |
 |
|
| |
| |
 |
|
| First, we drill some temporary holes to #40 and cleco. |
| |
 |
|
| Now fitting the entire bottom cowl. The right side looks pretty good, although it needs trimming of course. |
| |
 |
|
|
The center look.
|
| |
 |
|
| The right side bottom cowl aft edge has been trimmed. |
| |
 |
|
|
Uh oh, a good-sized gap on the left side. Keep in mind we did not trim the horizontal edges of the bottom cowl at all yet.
|
| |
 |
|
| Grafting on an extender to the bottom cowl left horizontal side. |
| |
 |
|
| Glassing on some reinforcing strips. |
| |
 |
|
| Happy with the top cowl. |
| |
 |
|
|
Have rivet squeezer, will travel.
|
| |
 |
|
| The extension looks ugly. But it will be cleaned up. |
| |
 |
|
|
Starting to trimp the bottom cowl horizontal edge right side.
|
| |
 |
|
| The top cowl aft edge looking good. |
| |
 |
|
| Bottom aft edge camloc anchor strips. |
| |
 |
|
| Cleaning up the bottom cowl horizontal edge left side. |
| |
 |
|
|
Right side getting better.
|
| |
 |
|
| Left side getting better. Nhu-An drills the left bottom cowl aft edge to the camloc anchor strips. |
| |
 |
|
|
Left side getting there but still has issues.
|
| |
 |
|
| Finally drilled holes in the bottom cowl left side for the camlocs. |
| |
 |
|
| Riveted the camloc recepticles to the bottom cowl. |
| |
 |
|
| Preliminary work on the oil filler door on the top cowl. |
| |
 |
|
|
Camloc hardware.
|
| |
 |
|
| Drilling and clecoing the camloc anchor strips to the bottom cowl left side. |
| |
 |
|
|
I took all the baffle pieces home to edge-smooth them.
|
| |
 |
|
| Back at the hangar, Nhu-An clecoes the baffle pieces into quadrants. |
| |
 |
|
|
The baffles get mounted on the engine for the first time.
|
| |
 |
|
| Baffle components get primed and painted Chrysler Red. |
| |
 |
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|