Scale Wendell Hostetler 30% Piper Cherokee Glass Fuselage Build.

[dhal22]

Quite the engine mounting set up there……….

 

[TonyHallo]

Quite the engine mounting set up there……….

Took many light cuts!

 

[TonyHallo]

The resin arrived and completed the top section of the cowl, the boot is just about ready for tooling coat. The paint was damaged removing the mold from the plug so a little repair work was necessary on the plug. It's all good now waiting for the PVA to dry. A little cold in the Burgh today.

 

[TonyHallo]

The mold and the lay up is completed. A side by side comparison is shown. The top half that will be hinged, it is 1 layer of 1 1/2 ounce fiberglass along with 3 layers of 5.7 ounce carbon fiber, I want this to retain its's shape. The bottom half and the nose bowl are 1 layer of 1 1/2 ounce cloth, 1 layer of 4 ounce cloth, 1 layer of 5.7 ounce carbon finally topped with 1 layer of 4 ounce cloth. Added flanges to the bottom half and the nose bowl. The top will be hinged with SIG XX hinges. In the photos below the cowl is hot glued together for drilling and lay out.

 

[Snoopy1]

That is a tremendous amount of work for a cowl. It is looking impressive.

 

[TonyHallo]

Slide the cowl onto the current build fuselage to find the center, aligned the prop spinner center . windshield center support and the vertical fin with a laser level, then marked the center of the cowl so that the cut lines can be laid out. Received two pack of Sig XX hinges in the mail, after further review decided to go with Dubro 1/4 scale hinges, they are a little smaller. The cowl is rounded and tapered, finding centers takes a little more time. What did we do before lasers?

 

[dhal22]

Just wow…….

 

[TonyHallo]

While researching the number of screws used in the cowl came across this photo of the bottom half of the cowl. After seeing it I just couldn't leave it alone. Works out well because the current requires the removal of the nose wheel to remove the cowl.

alone.

 

[TonyHallo]

The mold modification worked as planned, a couple coats of wax and will lay up a new part. It's not perfect but will make an acceptable part, the defects in the air dam are below the trim line so all is good.

 

[TonyHallo]

The revised bottom is complete. I'm happy! Next up hinge the top half.