Jabiru J450 Constructors Manual
Pre-Paint>Fuselage>Firewall forward>Fit firewall
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
45 of 343
Measure from the centre of the lower bend back to the centre of the upper bend on the
fuselage and transfer that measurement to the firewall plate – note that the measurement may
be slightly different from side to side so measure each side independently. Recheck your
measurements and then remove the plate, transfer the lower bend marks to the back of the
plate and take the plate to the bender.
It is particularly important that the bends are made in the correct direction: the lower bend
should take the plate towards the rear of the aircraft while the upper bend should take the plate
upwards, parallel to the lower part of the plate. Take care to make the bends in the correct
sense – the plate
cannot
be reversed if the bends are made backwards.
These photos show the upper bend being made and the plate sitting in place. In our factory the
bending process takes a skilled person about 15 minutes – it is not a complicated task so long
as you take care to measure accurately and bend carefully and in the correct sense.
Fill the lower plywood firewall
Due to the moulding process there may be a slight depression in the
lower centre of the plywood firewall where the nose gear will be
mounted. Mix 80 grams of flock and apply to the area, then use the
side of a mixing stick to level the area as shown at right.