Strut Penetration In Lower Cowl Extension

[pnh2atl]

I’ve got the templates for the strut penetrations on the lower cowl extension. I’m just not sure where to place them. I’d imagine it’s measured from station C. Anyone have some guidance? Once the boot cowl is finished I’m going to put the fuselage aside and start on the wings. The wing manual that Virgil just finished is great. I’ll wait for the fuselage manual to come out and pick back up with that.

Thanks,

[Bcone1381]

Consider fabricating a big posterboard template for the boot cowl then apply the penetration template to it. If a single layer posterboad makes the template too flimsy it will need a second layer glued together with Spray Adhesive.

[arborite]

I took a little different path. first I fit the lower boot cowl metal from the kit (without any holes). Once that was fit and holes drilled/clecoed, i removed it and replaced with a piece of cardboard clecoed in the same holes to match alignment. Then, i fit the gear legs minus the struts and ran a string connecting the upper and lower strut mounts. poked a hole in the cardboard in roughly the right spot and pulled it tight. by moving the gear through its travel, the string cut the cardboard along a line. i had to put tape on it to make it clean.

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Next I used that line as the center of the strut travel and made circles the diameter of the strut on either end. connecting the circle tangents made a racetrack pattern that defined the cutout.
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I then fit the actual struts to confirm the fit. had to modify a bit but it was pretty close. used tape to redraw the edges that were changed. Next step was to use a scrap piece of aluminum to make a partial panel. clecoed that along the back and reconfirmed fit. it was good but a bit tight. i enlarged in a few areas to get clearance.

IMG_1141.jpg

Once everything looked good, I clecoed the scrap piece to the real piece and traced the holes. the final result is looking very good with a nice consistent gap. didn’t take a pic but it looks good.