How to make cowlings

[Don Boose]

Discussion thread for How to make cowlings. If you would like to add a comment, click the Post Reply button.

[Yu Gyokubun]

In my case I first roll paper in the direction shown in the attached drawing. By shaping paper in this way we can make 3D curveture even though that curveture remains slightly after finishing the cowling build...

[Don Boose]

Beautiful work, Yu-sama!

Don

[Golden Bear]

Aha! I looked in to see if you had spotted my tutorial article on this topic and you have! Thank you, Don.

I also do the curving that Yu shows so nicely in that wonderful drawing! I didn't put it into the original article since I was aiming at a sort of basic description.

What do people think about my preference NOT to use joining strips while building cowlings? There are places where I will use them - like fuselages, if they are designed well (Halinski, GPM, etc.) but generally do not like flaps or strips.


Carl

[Don Boose]

I think your cowling turns out smoother without the joining strips. If I work very slowly and carefully, I can do the same (although the result is not as smooth as yours or Yu's), but at my novice stage, there are still times when the join strips help to keep things aligned.

Don

[B-Manic]

I find the joining strips make construction more difficult and in some cases can lead to difficulty fitting the cowl over the engine. In larger scales, where you can see inside the cowling, visible joining strips detract from the overall appearance.

[birder]

Am in complete agreement, the goal to reduce the appearance of the actual joint as Yu does is the challenge. I have found that edge glueing and forming when the glue is not yet fully dry is the best for me, after shaping the part completely prior to using glue. I use small guides to assist the cowling alingment of the edges. But not a glue strip parallel to the joint, this makes it harder to hide the seam.(clear as mud..) :D

[Wilfried]

Hello to you and moin, moin!

I've had no pilsener till now but I see twice the same thread ... can anyone explain?

Little confused ... with lovely greetings
the Wilfried

[Don Boose]

I am the guilty party, Wilfried, although I do not know how I did it!

A few days ago, I browsed through the Articles here in the Forum, including this one. I did not post any comment, just clicked on the article in which Carl showed how to make cowlings. For some reason, the posting appeared under my picture with words I did not write.

Then Yu and Carl commented and I compounded my error by adding a posting (intentionally this time). I'm glad if this has caused people to take a look at Carl's excellent tutorial, but sorry about the duplicate posting and confusion.

Perhaps Jason or Rick can straighten this out.

Don

[Golden Bear]

...or just leave it! This site lives on chaos anyway.