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RAF56_Ball · 4 September 2009, 11:38 PM

My apologies to all, I have been up to my eyeballs with work (again apologies for using 4-letter words in a family forum)!

Was about to mount my firewall, but the guys here at the hangar all came unglued. “Aluminum?!?” “Are you crazy?” “Glenn, I’m sorry but that is just foolish”. Those were the nice comments.
I figure all of the brouhaha might be settled by putting a heat blanket on it. No stainless steel 0.015” or even less than or equal to 0.025” is available in the area, (the thinnest I found was 40 thousandths – about three times the weight, a bit pricey, too) and ACS wants almost twice the cost of the sheet to ship it (oversized-package pricing costs).
I know safety is the concern, but the fire ratings are based on being at 17-18,000’ and needing to get down and land in 15 min or less. I doubt I will be over 10,000’ ever, and would need less rating. But I am looking at 2000 degree batting, which with the standard firewall, should be just fine.

So, just updated the site. Some of the new pics with my new cell phone (had to replace the old one as it was dying) are a bit yellow/green, and focus is a pipedream. Still, they should satisfy the FSDO when it comes to the inspection.
I just mounted my center wing panel after taking off the gear, tail feathers and building wing trusses. Hope to have wings mounted by the end of the Labor Day weekend, with ribs attached. Am doing all this solo, although tomorrow may have help from youngest son.

The prop came yesterday. Culver’s makes a beauty, gents. The dark stain is primo. I am trying to make my aux tank, but having trouble learning to weld sheet. Do okay with thick stock, but the 0.050 is a bit tougher.

Back to it in the AM, so have to get some sleep.

Blessings to all!
Chip

4 September 2009, 11:38 PM	#21 (permalink)
RAF56_Ball Forum Ace Contributor Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Wausau, WI Posts: 742	My apologies to all, I have been up to my eyeballs with work (again apologies for using 4-letter words in a family forum)! Was about to mount my firewall, but the guys here at the hangar all came unglued. “Aluminum?!?” “Are you crazy?” “Glenn, I’m sorry but that is just foolish”. Those were the nice comments. I figure all of the brouhaha might be settled by putting a heat blanket on it. No stainless steel 0.015” or even less than or equal to 0.025” is available in the area, (the thinnest I found was 40 thousandths – about three times the weight, a bit pricey, too) and ACS wants almost twice the cost of the sheet to ship it (oversized-package pricing costs). I know safety is the concern, but the fire ratings are based on being at 17-18,000’ and needing to get down and land in 15 min or less. I doubt I will be over 10,000’ ever, and would need less rating. But I am looking at 2000 degree batting, which with the standard firewall, should be just fine. So, just updated the site. Some of the new pics with my new cell phone (had to replace the old one as it was dying) are a bit yellow/green, and focus is a pipedream. Still, they should satisfy the FSDO when it comes to the inspection. I just mounted my center wing panel after taking off the gear, tail feathers and building wing trusses. Hope to have wings mounted by the end of the Labor Day weekend, with ribs attached. Am doing all this solo, although tomorrow may have help from youngest son. The prop came yesterday. Culver’s makes a beauty, gents. The dark stain is primo. I am trying to make my aux tank, but having trouble learning to weld sheet. Do okay with thick stock, but the 0.050 is a bit tougher. Back to it in the AM, so have to get some sleep. Blessings to all! Chip __________________ Glenn 'Chip' Burt Integrity is doing the right thing, regardless. in Honor of Albert Ball. A valiant pilot, but a man of God first and last.