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Post by coupe1942 on Sept 8, 2013 18:35:49 GMT 1
Well, I am still waiting anxiously for Tuesday to get here and for my Super Cub to arrive. While waiting, I have been reading through tons of the tips and tricks threads here and adding (cutting and pasting) what is important to me personally to my notebook of ideas in my computer. I was reading about a mod to the cowl in which the scoop was removed. Supposedly this helps to prevent the plane from nosing over when landing hard on the grass and possibly catching something to tip over. Since I have two spare cowls already, I decided to use this particular tip and cut away the scoop to the cowl. I still have to beef it up with some fiberglass and mat and perhaps paint. (note, I said perhaps paint). :-) Any rate, it is a spare cowl, so if it works out well in making it, I may ultimately use it on the Cub. If it does not, then I have only lost the experience I spent in making it. I plan on adding many other photos to this flickr link as I progress with mods and such. I really enjoy the gram scale I picked up yesterday, in that it is a very useful tool for checking any weight variances. Makes it really easy to determining the total weight of camera and DIY mounts. Although I'll start actively making some of the mods suggested as the initial 6 in the videos by necubflyer, this one was my first, so it is sort of a milestone for me as I learn more about my Cub and what works and what does not. www.flickr.com/photos/a1930ford/sets/72157635439959912/ |
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Post by renard80 on Sept 8, 2013 23:53:42 GMT 1
FWIW, I have never experienced any need to cut away the scoop on the cowl. In fact, this is the first I have heard of such a mod. If anything, I would think making such a larger hole in the cowl might allow more dirt to get in. Up to you, of course! And fibreglassing the cowl? Be careful, that stuff can be heavy and the aim should always be to keep your SC as light as possible. Too much extra weight up front and you might need to compensate with more at the rear. When you're coming down from way up there, extra weight can make her come down a lot faster! Some people go to extraordinary lengths to beef up their planes. It is not necessarily a good thing if it adds too much weight. |
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Post by coupe1942 on Sept 9, 2013 1:31:51 GMT 1
Like say, this is an extra cowl and was modified primarily from a post that was on the Tips 'n' Tricks section here. The fiberglass mod was discussed there several times, so, although it can indeed add weight, it appears to work pretty well for some. I'll be watching the weight factor on all mods, for sure though. I'm not overly worried about the dust factor on it. Maybe I should be, but like I said, I may add some grille work that was also addressed in the threads in that section, too. Like all mods, it is an experiment that may or may not work, but it was my first mod to the parts for this plane. Time will tell if it works out okay or not. I am actually in no hurry to try to slap it onto the plane and see. It is a backup cowl, so experimenting with putting it directly on the plane itself can actually wait until I have some flight time behind me. Thanks for the input. I am not for sure how to add the link, as my 1st post of this didn't work.
I'll likely only do the inside to also hold down the weight factor for this part. In addition, I'll be using the 1/2 oz fiberglass mat. It will be a trial and error attempt, but is actually a pretty cheap mod to try out. It may also be interesting to see the fiberglass lain in other areas, too on my spare fuselage.
file:///C:/Users/Owner/Videos/Glassing%20Foam%20Parts%20Planes-Step%20by%20Step%20-%20RC%20Groups.htm
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Post by Crazy Horse on Sept 9, 2013 16:39:32 GMT 1
Personally, I always cut the scoop from the cowls. BUT, then I glue a very small piece of thin aluminium metal gauze inside the area. The amount of plastic removed probably weighs more than the gauze and glue. ALWAYS check the C of G after any mod or change. That way, still lots of air flow and no possibility of the scoop digging in and getting dirt in, at least as much as an unprotected and open area such as before. Just use sellotape on the inside, it flexes and weighs very little, always works for me at least and it's cheap and easily replaceable if necessary.  |
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Post by coupe1942 on Sept 9, 2013 19:29:18 GMT 1
I don't recall if the grille info was specifically included in the link I originally read for the mod or in some of the other reading, but that is exactly what is planned on this first test cowl piece. It is more about learning how to make the mod successfully than actually finding out if it is a great thing or not when on the plane. After all, flying is just as much about creating, building and repairing as it is in getting up in the clouds, isn't it? This first mod was just a fun thing to get started on as I await tomorrow's projected delivery of my plane. I spent much of last night in just weighing things on my new gram scale. That included individual parts and anything at all that went with them. I then burned my eyes out in reading more and more from this site and others about this plane and it's unique idiosyncrasies. Having a blast so far, too. Tomorrow can't get here soon enough for me. :-)
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Post by renard80 on Sept 10, 2013 22:33:05 GMT 1
Personally, I always cut the scoop from the cowls. BUT, then I glue a very small piece of thin aluminium metal gauze inside the area. CH - As mentioned earlier, this mod is new to me. (1) Is your sole motive to prevent the scoop digging in during a bad landing - or some other reason? (2) During my bad landings the scoop sometimes picks up a small wodge of earth, especially if the ground is muddy, but usually I can easily remove it. Doesn't your gauze become clogged and more difficult to clean quickly? |
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Post by coupe1942 on Sept 10, 2013 22:56:57 GMT 1
I may be completely wrong, but I believe he is speaking of thin metal grill work and not so much gauze, as in what is typically used for bandages.
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Post by renard80 on Sept 11, 2013 0:05:03 GMT 1
I may be completely wrong, but I believe he is speaking of thin metal grill work and not so much gauze, as in what is typically used for bandages. Yes, that is exactly what I assume. It's the alternative meaning of 'gauze' - a thin metal mesh. The squares are very small, hence my query about how difficult they must be to clean quickly in the field. |
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Post by Crazy Horse on Sept 15, 2013 11:30:31 GMT 1
Hi Chaps,
Yes, CH is speaking of thin metal work!
The thin metal gauze/grill I obtained/made from a cheap "fat spatter preventer", used to place on top of a pan and prevent the fat spitting everywhere. There is enough there for shedloads of cowls. The mesh is just a good size to prevent muck entering and is easy to clean. I believe that I showed the "mod" in a previous post some long way back now. Hope this clarifies matters.
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Post by coupe1942 on Sept 15, 2013 14:41:17 GMT 1
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