Brief Description: Cut/Fit the Engine Cowling (cont.)
So…the first order of business is to make PVC spacers to mount the propeller backplate with some bolts from my local LOWES. Next, I made a 3/16 plywood spacer for the propeller place and bolted it to the plate (1st pic below). The next order of business was to find the center of the cowlings and match up the center of propeller plate and the center of the upper fuselage skin (2nd pic below). Then I cut and opening in the lower cowling for the nose gear (3rd pic). I guessed at the dimensions and used 28 inches from the back of the cowling to the front of the nose gear. It’s good for now but will have to be adjusted when I do the final lower cowling fitting. I hoisted the lower cowling under the engine and secured with a strap, then placed the upper cowling on top. It took a little effort to get the two halves of the cowlings to fit inside each other behind propeller backplate and spacers, but with a little help I got them together.
