1940, 1941 and 1945 Cowls, grills, blisters, and trim

[Hank Jarrett]

There is a discussion started on FB about cowls and grills. Thought we should get one going here too. Maybe we can bring some of the folks who went to FB to come back into the Tribe!

Hank

[Jim Herpst]

Re: 1940, 1941 and 1945 Cowls, grills, blisters, and trim

There is a discussion started on FB about cowls and grills. Thought we should get one going here too. Maybe we can bring some of the folks who went to FB to come back into the Tribe!

Hank

Ug Facebook. I get tired of Facebook. Like the feel here . what was it you wanted to mention/discuss Hank?

[Ragwing nut]

Re: 1940, 1941 and 1945 Cowls, grills, blisters, and trim

Oh I got a grill I doubt no one has seen. I have never seen another set and I believe they are an aftermarket accessory. They are spot welded which makes them very unlikely they are homemade. They was on my de Luxe which had not flown since '54.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: 1940, 1941 and 1945 Cowls, grills, blisters, and trim

Here are a few photos from my restoration. As you can see the cast grills can be polished up really nice but it is a LOT of work and has to be kept up. The middle photo isn't actually my plasne but does show the cast grills without the side SS trim. Many people have cut the "wings" off to use them without the side trim, which I see as a real shame. Those grills are REALLY hard to find! If anyone is thinking of cutting theirs let me know and I will trade a cut one for one that is unmolested. The third photo shows the lower grill. These are also really hard to find and often have broken lugs. In the first photo you can see what the side trim looks like. I have lots of photos of the individual pieces and have a set for my plane but also have made a few replica sets that I was not really happy with. I hope to do more composite molding when I do my next set of knobs and may try making composite side trim at the same time. The mounting method for the side trim is NOT very good and consists of a bent wire loop and 180 pin that snaps into the trim and a hole in the cowl. Anyone who wants to improve on it I used a brass slider in the trim with a machine screw through it and a self locking nut. Mine have never gotten loose. They CAN be a #@)(%&$# to get off if the screw breaks free from the slider and the screw spins when you try to loosen the nut. The trim won't fall off, but you have to cut the screw or grind the nut off.

Hank

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: 1940, 1941 and 1945 Cowls, grills, blisters, and trim

This is what the wire retainers looked like. Notice the top right one had failed, but luckily did not release from the cowl. Next photo is of the cowl trim pieces. There is also an additional one that goes back to the door handle.

Hank

[Ragwing nut]

Re: 1940, 1941 and 1945 Cowls, grills, blisters, and trim

This is what the wire retainers looked like. Notice the top right one had failed, but luckily did not release from the cowl. Next photo is of the cowl trim pieces. There is also an additional one that goes back to the door handle.

Hank

They are an automotive trim clip. Not sure what car, as I had enough to do mine. They also made the long cowl trim 2 ways. With and without taylorcraft embossed in them.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: 1940, 1941 and 1945 Cowls, grills, blisters, and trim

I had a long one with no stamped "TAYLORCRAFT" on it but didn't know where it came from. I thought maybe it was one that just hadn't been stamped yet at the factory. Was going to use it for the mold master for a composite one that could be cut to length.

Thanks!

HAnk

[3Dreaming]

Re: 1940, 1941 and 1945 Cowls, grills, blisters, and trim

Dad's is a very early Deluxe, January 41, and it had hand made trim pieces with soldered ends. It didn't have "Taylorcraft " stamped in them either.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: 1940, 1941 and 1945 Cowls, grills, blisters, and trim

The ones I have look like they were "manufactured" and it looks like welded ends. Were his Stainless?

Some more photos of the ones I have.

Hank

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: 1940, 1941 and 1945 Cowls, grills, blisters, and trim

Not sure where these photos came from but they show the dimension differences for the cooling holes for the stamped grills. This is NOT the same as the dimensions for the cast grills! It is not much difference, but the grills DO NOT interchange.

Hank

[Peterroy]

Re: 1940, 1941 and 1945 Cowls, grills, blisters, and trim

I have all the trim mentioned above, including the side trim with TAYLORCRAFT stamped on it. Unfortunately, the lower grill on mine is missing one of it's vertical bars. It's my understanding this can't be repaired. Is that true?

Peter

[Ragwing nut]

Re: 1940, 1941 and 1945 Cowls, grills, blisters, and trim

I have all the trim mentioned above, including the side trim with TAYLORCRAFT stamped on it. Unfortunately, the lower grill on mine is missing one of it's vertical bars. It's my understanding this can't be repaired. Is that true?

Peter

Its cast aluminum. It can be if you can find someone knows how to repair cast aluminum

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: 1940, 1941 and 1945 Cowls, grills, blisters, and trim

I have a real master welder here who does all of my welding (I am a real hack with a torch, couldn't start a BBQ grill with one). Post some photos of the damage and I will show them to him and get his opinion. Do you have the broken out piece?

Hank

I saw him weld two soda cans together once. REALLY good hands!

[Peterroy]

Re: 1940, 1941 and 1945 Cowls, grills, blisters, and trim

Mike, thanks for the quick response.

Hank, I don't have the missing piece. I'll take a picture tomorrow and post it. My neighbor (a retired steel worker who worked on the Golden Gate Bridge and other notable structures) told me about a guy he worked with who could cut a soda can in half and TIG the pieces back together . Impressive stuff indeed.

[Peterroy]

Re: 1940, 1941 and 1945 Cowls, grills, blisters, and trim

Her are a few pictures of the "missing tooth" on my lower cowl grill. Can this be repaired?