Author Topic: Cowlings are fun! (Read 10916 times)

john e. holliday · « **Reply #50 on:** February 03, 2011, 11:47:29 AM »

Works of art. More patience than I have.

PerttiMe · « **Reply #51 on:** February 03, 2011, 11:50:40 AM »

... sooo, you need a good exit far back, so that it sucks air through the cowl.
What about any internal baffles that would direct air around the cylinder and onto the header?

Bill Little · « **Reply #52 on:** February 03, 2011, 01:03:42 PM »

Quote from: PerttiMe on February 03, 2011, 11:50:40 AM

... sooo, you need a good exit far back, so that it sucks air through the cowl.
What about any internal baffles that would direct air around the cylinder and onto the header?

So far, just assuring that the air moves directly from "intake" to "exit", with out getting out of the fuselage first, seems to take care of it on a reasonably designed model that is actually designed for a pipe system. A lot of "unnecessary extras" were gone through when it all started, IMHO. But nothing seems to be needed, extra, now. The small lips to add cool air to the actual pipe body, like Ted and Randy P show, seems a nice touch, though. Not sure that it is "necessary". We have as hot of conditions as anywhere else, hotter than most, and the "simple" system has not proven to need to be changed.

Other opinions may vary, and that's fine!

Big Bear

Matt Colan · « **Reply #53 on:** February 04, 2011, 11:12:20 AM »

Hi Larry,

I actually didn't pull out any hair when shaping the cowl, I just kind of went with it. i'm going to be spending the rest of my afternoon on both cowls so I'll hopefully get to take a couple pictures, and post them.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #54 on:** February 04, 2011, 04:12:14 PM »

Ok, I lied. Up until now, I hadn't touched the cowl, but as we looked at it.......and looked at it............................................and looked at it, we decided it just didn't look right, so we chopped off the front end of the cowl, and added about 1/2 inch to the front of it to make it look better. But other than that, the pipe cowl is bolted on, and the engine cowl. Now I just need to add to the pipe cowl for the idea in my head for the "sick" idea to come to fruition, then mount the engine and pipe to make the cutouts for the air/exhaust outlet along with the needle valve and glow plug holes.

Larry Fernandez · « **Reply #55 on:** February 04, 2011, 04:23:47 PM »

Quote from: Matt Colan on February 04, 2011, 04:12:14 PM

Ok, I lied. Up until now, I hadn't touched the cowl, but as we looked at it.......and looked at it............................................and looked at it, we decided it just didn't look right, so we chopped off the front end of the cowl, and added about 1/2 inch to the front of it to make it look better. But other than that, the pipe cowl is bolted on, and the engine cowl. Now I just need to add to the pipe cowl for the idea in my head for the "sick" idea to come to fruition, then mount the engine and pipe to make the cutouts for the air/exhaust outlet along with the needle valve and glow plug holes.

HA !!! This is how it all starts

Before you go any further, post a picture of yourself so we can see how much hair you have before you started carving cowls, then post another when you are finished.

AAAHHHH what a fun hobby !!!!!!!!!!!!

Have fun
Larry, Buttafucco Stunt Team

Bill Little · « **Reply #56 on:** February 04, 2011, 05:28:09 PM »

Quote from: Larry Fernandez on February 04, 2011, 04:23:47 PM

HA !!! This is how it all starts
Before you go any further, post a picture of yourself so we can see how much hair you have before you started carving cowls, then post another when you are finished.

AAAHHHH what a fun hobby !!!!!!!!!!!!

Have fun
Larry, Buttafucco Stunt Team

AMEN

Matt Colan · « **Reply #57 on:** February 04, 2011, 08:25:41 PM »

Quote from: Larry Fernandez on February 04, 2011, 04:23:47 PM

HA !!! This is how it all starts
Before you go any further, post a picture of yourself so we can see how much hair you have before you started carving cowls, then post another when you are finished.

AAAHHHH what a fun hobby !!!!!!!!!!!!

Have fun
Larry, Buttafucco Stunt Team

'Tis it is a fun hobby! And while we were looking for a new block to put on the front, we came across the heaviest piece of balsa I had EVER seen! It was so heavy that if you hit somebody with it, you could hurt them and not do damage to the balsa. Now the extremely sad part is, we didn't have any decent blocks left that you didn't have to piece together to get the thickness we wanted, so, we had to use it but a lot of it is coming off once it gets hollowed out and shaped.

Brett Buck · « **Reply #58 on:** February 04, 2011, 08:48:29 PM »

Quote from: Larry Fernandez on February 03, 2011, 12:18:25 AM

Be honest with us Matt, how much hair did you pull out and how much balsa was scrapped while carving that cowl?
I started out with a full head of hair before I stated to replicate Teds cowls.

That's an outrageous falsehood.

Brett

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #59 on:** February 04, 2011, 09:39:29 PM »

Its part of stunt fokelore - When your downwind the more streamlined the fliers head the less turbulance is transmitted toward the plane, seveal top level stunt fliers strickly adhere to this theory - With multiple Nats winners amongst them there must be something to the theory.

Howard Rush · « **Reply #60 on:** February 04, 2011, 09:51:16 PM »

So which of the following Bucks has carved the most cowls?

Bill Little · « **Reply #61 on:** February 04, 2011, 09:53:51 PM »

Howard, I'll take "Buck #2" for $1000.

And the answer is..................

Bill

Howard Rush · « **Reply #62 on:** February 05, 2011, 12:25:49 AM »

Quote from: Larry Fernandez on February 03, 2011, 12:18:25 AM

I started out with a full head of hair before I stated to replicate Teds cowls.

The issue of hair loss and cowls is a well-known phenomenon. I started to collect before and after pictures of PW's head and photographs of the cowls between (including 4 each per bomber) to prove this, but it was too much work. As for myself, when I carved my first Impact cowl I looked at the block of balsa for awhile, then poured casting epoxy around it and made a mold, from which I made subsequent cowls. They are sub-Fancherian, but my head now has only a small bare spot at the back and a pretty good mane otherwise.

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #63 on:** February 05, 2011, 12:52:05 AM »

Can we see a graph of Hair loss proportional to Complexity of cowlings ?

Dont talk to me about bombers and Cowls 4 times the trouble, ans so small and fiddely !- I just finished my last therapy session. - Someone said " If your good enough all 4 will be interchangeable " I replied
Id be happy if the Engines are interchangeable !

John Lindberg · « **Reply #64 on:** February 05, 2011, 08:41:21 AM »

I knew a fellow that was carving on a large block of balsa and stuck a steak knife in his leg, ouch! Don't know about his hair, however.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #65 on:** February 05, 2011, 09:03:46 AM »

I still have all my hair present and accounted for.

But maybe in 20 or 30 years, I may be saying something different.

Bill Little · « **Reply #66 on:** February 05, 2011, 09:14:14 AM »

Quote from: Matt Colan on February 05, 2011, 09:03:46 AM

I still have all my hair present and accounted for. But maybe in 20 or 30 years, I may be saying something different.

Hi Matt,

The affects are cumulative. Normal hair loss takes on an exponential curve once serious cowl carving is undertaken.

I have a friend who was bald at 18, but he started at 13...............

Big Bear

Larry Fernandez · « **Reply #67 on:** February 05, 2011, 11:56:22 PM »

Quote from: Brett Buck on February 04, 2011, 08:48:29 PM

That's an outrageous falsehood.

Brett

An outrageous falsehood !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

I submit to you, before and after pictures.

Picture one, one virgin block of choice four pound balsa. (notice the full head of hair)

Picture two, one completed Ted Fancher type cowl. (notice the hair which has been all pulled out)

An outrageous falsehood? Ha !!!

Larry, Buttafucco Stunt Team

john e. holliday · « **Reply #68 on:** February 06, 2011, 08:32:23 AM »

Remember guys, baldness tells a lot about ourselves as Matt will learn in time. If you are bald in front, you are a lover. If you are bald in back, you are a thinker. If you are bald all over, you think you are a lover.

One of our beloved sports casters told this at the USAC spint races many years ago at the old Lakeside Speedway of Kansas City, KANSAS.

Bill Little · « **Reply #69 on:** February 06, 2011, 08:29:33 PM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on February 06, 2011, 08:32:23 AM

Remember guys, baldness tells a lot about ourselves as Matt will learn in time. If you are bald in front, you are a lover. If you are bald in back, you are a thinker. If you are bald all over, you think you are a lover. One of our beloved sports casters told this at the USAC spint races many years ago at the old Lakeside Speedway of Kansas City, KANSAS.

HI Doc,

Good one.

I heard it years ago, along with the explanation for each "type" of baldness! LOL!

Big Bear

Randy Powell · « **Reply #70 on:** February 06, 2011, 08:52:46 PM »

Gee, I still have mine and I've carved a lot of cowls. But then, it is a bit fine.

Larry Wong · « **Reply #71 on:** February 06, 2011, 09:01:36 PM »

There's that blond flyer again! I think he's smelling to much paint......

Bill Little · « **Reply #72 on:** February 06, 2011, 11:24:34 PM »

Quote from: Randy Powell on February 06, 2011, 08:52:46 PM

Gee, I still have mine and I've carved a lot of cowls. But then, it is a bit fine.

Hi Randy,

Now I am sure...... it WAS you on the "Hair Clinic" commercials during that late night TV watching while building........

Plus, I never did get a Rogaine prescription.........

Big bear

John Lindberg · « **Reply #73 on:** February 08, 2011, 08:21:19 AM »

Any new pics, (of the cowling!)? Very interesting.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #74 on:** February 08, 2011, 03:02:52 PM »

Quote from: John Lindberg on February 08, 2011, 08:21:19 AM

Any new pics, (of the cowling!)? Very intresting.

Sorry John,

No new pics of the cowling, I won't be able to get back to it until this weekend because of school.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #75 on:** February 12, 2011, 05:23:29 PM »

Here are 3 pics of the updated cowling with the new front end, and we also fixed those outlets and turned them into inlets. I'm definitely a lot happier with the way it is now than before. We were starting to shape the belly for the pipe and the air outlets, but ran out of time and I had to come home. While I'm here for the night, grandpa is going to fiddle around with the outlets, and tomorrow, I'll shape the "sick" air inlet

based on what I have in my mind, hopefully it'll look like what it looks like in my mind

Randy Powell · « **Reply #76 on:** February 12, 2011, 09:43:49 PM »

Very smooth, man. Looks pretty good.

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #77 on:** February 12, 2011, 11:40:04 PM »

Smoooth indeed,

Matt Colan · « **Reply #78 on:** February 13, 2011, 08:02:55 AM »

Thanks guys, hopefully today, I'll get the belly done and be able to post pics of how that looks.

John Lindberg · « **Reply #79 on:** February 13, 2011, 08:46:58 AM »

Nice, Matt, how did you do the intake flares? I have a kit (RSM) of the SE, the belly pan on the plans looks challenging, to say the least.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #80 on:** February 13, 2011, 11:15:30 AM »

Quote from: John Lindberg on February 13, 2011, 08:46:58 AM

Nice, Matt, how did you do the intake flares? I have a kit (RSM) of the SE, the belly pan on the plans looks challenging, to say the least.

Hi John,

On the cowling, we plugged up the air outlet, then shaped 2 inlets, and glued them on, then just hollowed them out, and sanded them to make them look nice. And I'll let you know how I did the belly pan, which will hopefully be completed today.

Ted Fancher · « **Reply #81 on:** February 13, 2011, 04:12:27 PM »

Good job, Matt. Exactly what you needed.

Here's a little aesthetic advice. Go back earlier in the thread and check out the scoop in my cowling. You'll notice that the "raised" lip (the "outie"/the part you added) appears to look like a continuation of the arc of the leading edge of the scoop (the part that is carved "into" the cowling or the "innie" [like belly buttons!]). That makes the whole thing look more like a part of the cowl rather than an add on and still gets the job done as far as being an air "intake".

You can easily get there from where you are now by taking, say, a one inch dowl wrapped with sandpaper and carefully sand vertically (up and down reference to the length of the fuselage) on the front of your added "lip". Do this until you've sanded the leading edge of the lip down to "fair" into the front (innie) part of the scoop. Lay a little putty around the "outie" part and sand it nice and clean. The result will be, IMHO, more attractive than the blunter look of the existing lip.

You're a fine craftsman, Matt. Good work.

Ted

Matt Colan · « **Reply #82 on:** February 13, 2011, 04:35:00 PM »

Quote from: Ted Fancher on February 13, 2011, 04:12:27 PM

Good job, Matt. Exactly what you needed.

Here's a little aesthetic advice. Go back earlier in the thread and check out the scoop in my cowling. You'll notice that the "raised" lip (the "outie"/the part you added) appears to look like a continuation of the arc of the leading edge of the scoop (the part that is carved "into" the cowling or the "innie" [like belly buttons!]). That makes the whole thing look more like a part of the cowl rather than an add on and still gets the job done as far as being an air "intake".

You can easily get there from where you are now by taking, say, a one inch dowl wrapped with sandpaper and carefully sand vertically (up and down reference to the length of the fuselage) on the front of your added "lip". Do this until you've sanded the leading edge of the lip down to "fair" into the front (innie) part of the scoop. Lay a little putty around the "outie" part and sand it nice and clean. The result will be, IMHO, more attractive than the blunter look of the existing lip.

You're a fine craftsman, Matt. Good work.

Ted

Thanks Ted!

Here are a couple pics of the belly with the air exits yet to be glued on.

The material in the glow plug hole is pipe material, and we're going to glue it in to the hole to keep the glow starter from chipping away the wood over time.

I also weighed all the individual components and added it all together, and the weight is 43 ounces right now. I crunched some numbers in my head, and determined I am well within reach of my goal of a finished weight of 62 ounces!

Matt Colan · « **Reply #83 on:** February 13, 2011, 04:35:29 PM »

And here's one more.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #84 on:** February 13, 2011, 04:36:11 PM »

and one more. This one is my air scoop that I'll be tweaking a little bit more.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #85 on:** February 13, 2011, 04:36:36 PM »

Last one.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #86 on:** February 14, 2011, 08:53:07 AM »

Way too much work. Heres mine. By the way I really like yours. I'l send my plane to you next time.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #87 on:** February 14, 2011, 10:46:14 AM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on February 14, 2011, 08:53:07 AM

Way too much work. Heres mine. By the way I really like yours. I'l send my plane to you next time.

Hi DOC,

We're also now thinking of adding some louvers to the bottom of the belly pan to get some more air out of the plane

Randy Powell · « **Reply #88 on:** February 14, 2011, 10:57:45 AM »

Matt,

Just keep the 2 to 1 rule in mind. Twice the exit as entrance. One suggestion; some of the stuff you are trying works easier if you make balsa tubes to insert and sand. It's just easier keeping them square and the same from side to side. Reduces the work level. Make them by wetting and wrapping balsa around dowels.

Just a thought.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #89 on:** February 14, 2011, 11:17:45 AM »

Quote from: Randy Powell on February 14, 2011, 10:57:45 AM

Matt,

Just keep the 2 to 1 rule in mind. Twice the exit as entrance. One suggestion; some of the stuff you are trying works easier if you make balsa tubes to insert and sand. It's just easier keeping them square and the same from side to side. Reduces the work level. Make them by wetting and wrapping balsa around dowels.

Just a thought.

Randy, we use dowels and wrap sandpaper around them. We have about 5 with different size diameters and grits that help get us where we're going. Still have some tinkering left to do with all the cooling and the air exits.

Bill Little · « **Reply #90 on:** February 14, 2011, 09:42:10 PM »

Looking real good, Matt. Keep it up!

Big Bear

John Lindberg · « **Reply #91 on:** February 18, 2011, 02:21:43 PM »

Any progress being made, Matt?

Matt Colan · « **Reply #92 on:** February 18, 2011, 07:01:05 PM »

Quote from: John Lindberg on February 18, 2011, 02:21:43 PM

Any progress being made, Matt?

I've been having an EXTREMELY busy week. I was sick on Monday so I stayed home from school, Tuesday I went to the statehouse for "Nick's Day" (which is a separate topic for later discussion), then I had to go to a basketball game and didn't get home until 11:00. Wednesday was a somewhat normal day, but didn't get home until 5:30 and had to catch up on missing work. Thursday I had another basketball game and didn't get home until 11:30. Today was a regular day, but now I'm on February vacation, and starting tomorrow, I'm starting to really get to work on this plane. I'm hoping by the end to have it all in one piece!!!

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #93 on:** February 18, 2011, 08:10:41 PM »

Excuses, excuses.....

Will basketball win you a walker cup ?

Will school win you a walker cup?

My favorite expression : It wont build itself !

I'd delay getting married if it was a nice day for Stunt!.

Matt Colan · « **Reply #94 on:** February 18, 2011, 09:01:42 PM »

Quote from: PJ Rowland on February 18, 2011, 08:10:41 PM

Excuses, excuses.....

Will basketball win you a walker cup ?

Will school win you a walker cup?

My favorite expression : It wont build itself !

I'd delay getting married if it was a nice day for Stunt!.

Too bad school is required in order to live!

But I have 12 days off and I intend to take full advantage of it!!

Now once baseball starts, it may put a dinger on my practice time, but it ends, usually around Memorial day weekend. I will be flying when I get time, no worries!

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #95 on:** February 18, 2011, 09:04:25 PM »

We need more updates

Larry Fernandez · « **Reply #96 on:** February 18, 2011, 11:20:51 PM »

Quote from: Matt Colan on February 18, 2011, 09:01:42 PM

Too bad school is required in order to live! But I have 12 days off and I intend to take full advantage of it!!

Now once baseball starts, it may put a dinger on my practice time, but it ends, usually around Memorial day weekend. I will be flying when I get time, no worries!

Truth be told, I think the only thing more fun than building and flying toy airplanes is playing baseball.
(well not quite the only thing)

My tried and true piece of advice on hitting,"Swing hard in case you hit it!
Too bad you dont live close by, I'd throw bp all day.

Larry, Buttafucco Stunt Team

Matt Colan · « **Reply #97 on:** February 19, 2011, 08:14:25 AM »

Quote from: Larry Fernandez on February 18, 2011, 11:20:51 PM

Quote from: Matt Colan on February 18, 2011, 09:01:42 PM
Too bad school is required in order to live! But I have 12 days off and I intend to take full advantage of it!!

Now once baseball starts, it may put a dinger on my practice time, but it ends, usually around Memorial day weekend. I will be flying when I get time, no worries!

Truth be told, I think the only thing more fun than building and flying toy airplanes is playing baseball.
(well not quite the only thing)

My tried and true piece of advice on hitting,"Swing hard in case you hit it!
Too bad you dont live close by, I'd throw bp all day.

Larry, Buttafucco Stunt Team

Hi Larry,

I intend to make Varsity for baseball this year!!!

Larry Cunningham · « **Reply #98 on:** February 19, 2011, 12:57:06 PM »

Oh, yeah, I just LOVE working on cowls!

"but then again, I like.. pinkeye!" -Chuck Barris, from The Gong Show

L.

PS - Hey, youse guys! Barring problems, I'm finally coming home from hospital
next Thursday, February 24!

(I've been here in Advanced Care Hospital of
Southern New Mexico in Las Cruces since November 28..)

"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong."
-H. L. Mencken

Matt Colan · « **Reply #99 on:** February 19, 2011, 04:13:25 PM »

Today I made the rudder, and started to get the tailwheel made up, and no cowling work, but tomorrow and Monday, we'll be adding to it, and working on the rudder, getting it shaped and such.