cowls

[Bootlegger]

Guy's when you are fitting your cowl what procedure do you use to get the openings for needle, glow plug and tubing exits in the correct places without gapping holes?
   Thanks a lot,

[john e. holliday]

Straight pins and eyeball.  If I mess up really bad, I do like in woodworking.  Take a peice of wood and put the appropiate size hole in it.  Cut it down to a small square block.  Line it up over the opening that was off center or too large.  Trace around the new block on to the cowl.  Then cut to fit and glue the new block in.  I can show you faster than I can type it.  Have fun,  DOC Holliday

[James C. Johnson]

Prayer !!! What else. 

I start small... it's easier to take wood off than to put it back on..

Jim

[John Jordan]

       take a piece of paper the heigth or width of your fuselage and long enough to reach from behind the cowl to the spinner one for the top and one for both sides.  Remove cowl and install engine tape on paper behind colw area. Use tape as hinge fold paper over engine and mark paper for needle valve muffler glow plug and any other holes you may need. Fold paper back do not remove paper.Remove engine and replace cowl. Fold paper back over cowl and mark cowl  where you marked the paper. You now have a good idea where your cut outs will be. Work slowly and check often This is what works for me . Time to let others chime in on their methods. Hope this helps.                           Thanks John Jordan

[Bob Reeves]

For the needle I install the engine, with the needle removed I stick a short piece of small music wire in the spraybar where the needle goes. Install the cowl and with a pair of needle nose through the intake cutout I use the music wire to mark the inside of the cowl. If the engine has muffler lugs I do the same to mark the cowl where the bolts are. This gives me the center and outside of the muffler opening. The rest is measuring and hoping.

[don Burke]

Use strips of masking tape.  With the cowl off, stick the tape to the fuselage, then lay the tape taut to the glow plug or NV location.  Punch a hole in the tape with the tip of the plug or with the needle out, use a pin into the spraybar.  Fold the tape back still attached to the fuselage, put the cowl back on then lay the tape onto the surface of the cowl.  Location for the hole should be close enough.  

[Howard Rush]

These are great ideas. 

[Allan Perret]

I use the same method as John Jordan.  Works good.
Manilla folder stock makes a good template, but it you have some of that SeeTemp material its even better because its transparent which makes it easier to get a mark for all the holes and cut outs.  Any kind of clear plastic would work..

[Bootlegger]

  I sure do thank you fellow's, these are some real good ideas..  Again thanks

[don Burke]

"Use strips of masking tape.  With the cowl off, stick the tape to the fuselage, then lay the tape taut to the glow plug or NV location.  Punch a hole in the tape with the tip of the plug or with the needle out, use a pin into the spraybar.  Fold the tape back still attached to the fuselage, put the cowl back on then lay the tape onto the surface of the cowl.  Location for the hole should be close enough."

I have to add an addendum.  Be sure to first draw a reference line on the tape so it can be kept straight.  The tape being flexible is prone to not going back in the same place, the line helps.  I use a fine tip marking pen.  Also very important to keep the tape attached to the fuselage.

[Randy Powell]

Yea, making a small hole in the approximate correct location then enlarging it to the right size and spot is easiest.