Make The Cowl - Top Flite Contender User Manual

Make the cowl

1. Screw the engine to the engine mount before
you perform the next few steps.
2. Cut the 1-1/4" x 3-1/4" x 4-1/2" [32 x 83 x
114.7mm] balsa cowl bottom to the shape shown
on the plan. Test fit it to the firewall at the location
shown on the plan. When you are satisfied with the
fit, tack glue the block onto the firewall. You will
remove this block later.
3. Place the 1/8" [3.2mm] ply die-cut spinner ring
over the engine. Mount the spinner (not included with
the kit) onto the prop shaft.
4. Use leftover 3/32" [2.4mm] balsa to make
spacers. Tack glue the spacers on the back of the
spinner and the front of the spinner ring. This will
assure proper placement of the spinner when the
cowl assembly is finished.
5. From the 1/2" x 3" x 15" [12.7 x 76 x 381mm]
balsa block cut two balsa cowl sides. Fit them
between the firewall and the spinner ring. The cowl
sides should make contact with the inside of the
spinner ring. Note: Depending on the engine you
chose for the model, you may find that you are going
to have to remove some balsa from the inside of the
cowl sides. When we installed the .46 engine the
cowl sides required no removal of balsa. With the .61
FX we found we removed a substantial amount of
balsa from the inside of the cowl sides. Remove
balsa from the inside of the cowl sides as needed for
your engine. When you are satisfied with the fit, glue
the cowl sides to the firewall and the spinner ring. Do
not glue the sides to the cowl bottom.
6. After you have glued the cowl sides in position,
remove the cowl bottom that was tack glued in
position in step 2. Glue a filler block made from
leftover 1/2" [12.7mm] balsa on the bottom of the
cowl sides as shown on the plan.
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7. Glue a filler block made from leftover 1/2"
[12.7mm] balsa between the top of the cowl sides as
shown on the plan.
8. Use a razor plane to shape the cowl. Sand the
cowl to achieve the final shape.
9. Shape the balsa cowl bottom as shown in the
photograph. The cross-section of former F-1 also
shows the shape of the front of the cowl bottom.