Dean Pollock

Hi Piers, I have found that the bottles most suitable are like this one that had an alcohol based fluid in it. I would think that maybe an oil container, gasoline container, some adhesive containers, would be suitable as well. I think that these would have a heavier plastic than a soda bottle. Sometimes u just get lucky, and find one that is a pretty good candidate. I'm at present fabricating the inner support structure using lite maple stringers for the length and have to cut out the firewall mounting plate, as well as the front opening. I'll post a few pics when i get it finished- Dean

I started this winters project with a framed up Great Planes Aeromaster kit that I picked up at a swap meet a couple years ago, and decided I would make it a sister ship to the Red one I already had in the hangar. I decided it would be all white with the exact WW1 decals. I cut out a windshield template an got a new windshield made, and got an instrument panel installed. I didn't get a cowl with it, and couldn't find a suitable one in size or shape. I was in my garage, and spied an empty windshield washer bottle in the trash, and it looked like it could be a candidate for a cowl. The bottom of the bottle had a recess in the center, so I thought I would cut it apart, and see what it would look like. I measured the distance I needed from the firewall to the front of the motor, marked the bottle, and cut it out with my Exacto knife. Then i cut out the center recess at the bottom, and it looked like a proper radial cowl candidate. I since did find an original cowl, and put it on the plane, but will finish this one up after I make up the firewall mount, and internal support structure. I just wanted to pass along an idea that worked for me, and seeing that there are so many different bottles available, a supply of radial cowls can be readily available. Here are a couple pics-- Dean     Edited By Dean Pollock on 26/01/2019 23:49:15 Edited By Dean Pollock on 26/01/2019 23:51:46