Brief Description: Forming the Front of the Cowling
Checked the reference material on the Rotec engine for the recommended clearance for the center opening of the cowling. Measured the radius on the engine to the indicated location and came up with 12 to 14 inches. Marked the cutout at about 12.5 inches using a centering dowel, string and marker. Used a jig saw to cut the starting hole in the center of the cowling. Used a power shear to cut from the center out to the reference line and then around the circumference on the reference line. Image one shows the resulting cowling front, Built a forming dowel from a segment of 1/2 inch steal pipe curved to match the inside curve of the cowling. Placed the forming dowel on the edge in about a 1/4 inch. Used a leather hammer to slowly bend the inside edge around the forming dowel. Continued this until a half circle of material was rolled around the forming dowel. This completed the inside edge of the cowling.
Added the top sheet to the cowling edge by indenting a 1/16 depression along the attaching edge 1.25 inches from the edge. Drilled and cleoed two lines of rivets half way around the cowling edge.
