Looking for a cowl part on a BC12-D

[Anymouse]

The part I'm looking for isn't listed in the parts manual that I have, so I don't know what to call it. Basically, it's one of two pieces that hold the top cowl on. It covers the slip seam for top hinge.

Anyway, mine has finally broken. Any idea where I can order one??


On a somewhat related note, is there anyone that rebuilds cowls for a reasonable price? That something I might consider in a few years.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Looking for a cowl part on a BC12-D

If you are talking about the little metal end pieces that fair in the hinge I just made mine. I hammered the dome part from aluminum and welded the flat part to it where the fastener holes are. They are two pieces each with the fairing and a retainer piece under it that clamps the hinge itself in place (center screw passing through both clip pieces and the hinge center). After making mine I found a car place that sells one that looks just like the originals but is just the rear one and fits, but isn't perfect. The front one is kind of bullet shaped and fairs the front end passing slightly over the parting line onto the nose bowl.


Hank

[Anymouse]

Re: Looking for a cowl part on a BC12-D

I was just about to post a picture of my remaining part, but yours shows exactly what I need. Got any for sale??? I'll buy a set if you do. My metal working skills are pretty much nil. If it was wood or composite, I might be able to make a go of it.

BTW... I didn't have the faired piece up front. Other than aesthetics, not sure how much difference it would make.

[lfries]

Re: Looking for a cowl part on a BC12-D

I'm going to the airport in the morning. I'm not sure if I have one or two. WIll post when I get home

[Anymouse]

Re: Looking for a cowl part on a BC12-D

I'm going to the airport in the morning. I'm not sure if I have one or two. WIll post when I get home

Awesome!!

[lfries]

Re: Looking for a cowl part on a BC12-D

I have one that I believe is new.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Looking for a cowl part on a BC12-D

I was just about to post a picture of my remaining part, but yours shows exactly what I need. Got any for sale??? I'll buy a set if you do. My metal working skills are pretty much nil. If it was wood or composite, I might be able to make a go of it.

BTW... I didn't have the faired piece up front. Other than aesthetics, not sure how much difference it would make.

All of my metal working experience came from getting a piece of metal and banging on it. It does NOT take ANY special skill or talent. It does take a LOT of patience! When I hammered my instrument panel from a flat piece of aluminum I ruined a LOT of aluminum! Everything on a Taylorcraft can be made in an average equipped home garage with some patience. Making the hinge fittings would be a lot easier with some good wood working experience. Having a HARD wood die to hammer the fitting in to or over would be much easier than the way I did it free hand. Just try getting a wood form and tapping some soft aluminum over it. With some practice you will be amazed at how much you can make.

Hank

[Anymouse]

Re: Looking for a cowl part on a BC12-D

I have one that I believe is new.

I'll take it. PM me with details. I'll get back to you with an address.

[Anymouse]

Re: Looking for a cowl part on a BC12-D

All of my metal working experience came from getting a piece of metal and banging on it. It does NOT take ANY special skill or talent. It does take a LOT of patience! When I hammered my instrument panel from a flat piece of aluminum I ruined a LOT of aluminum! Everything on a Taylorcraft can be made in an average equipped home garage with some patience. Making the hinge fittings would be a lot easier with some good wood working experience. Having a HARD wood die to hammer the fitting in to or over would be much easier than the way I did it free hand. Just try getting a wood form and tapping some soft aluminum over it. With some practice you will be amazed at how much you can make.

Hank

Might have to try that (working with metal). Been thinking of making a metal plane after my current project (wood). Right now I have virtually no metal tools though. Been wanting to get a new lower cowl made. The current one is looking a bit rough (cracks and what not). I might look to see if I can do that on my own. Looks fairly easy. Just take off all the stuff that's attached to it, Lay it out flat, and trace the pattern, holes included, onto a new sheet. There's a neighbor that can probably help me out with that kind of stuff. He's an IA too, so that will help.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Looking for a cowl part on a BC12-D

If your lower cowl is one of the later ones that is made from a flat sheet it is pretty easy and would be a great project to get you into metal working. Some of the early lower cowls WERE NOT made from a flat sheet and have a pretty good "bowl" shape in them (you can see the lower curve in a straight on side view). Those require an English Wheel that is well beyond a beginners ability and you can get hurt really bad by one if you don't know what you are doing.

The only potentially hard part of making a lower cowl is forming the lip at the rear of the cowl on the bottom and the louvers. Those are things you CAN do with a little practice. Just get some pieces of scrap and make a form to make the louvers and lip. You can make them from almost any wood (if you are just doing a few, like one cowl). Your wood working skills will come in really handy. For a louver you just drill two holes and the end of the louver, cut a slot, and either press a male and female form on both sides of the metal or do it the hard way (like I did the first time) and GENTLY hammer the metal into a female form. Next time I will use a two piece form. Got to keep learning new methods. ;-) I have been told that you can put plastic wrap on a good cowl and make a form from Bondo for the louvers and lip, but haven't tried that yet. I imagine you would bust a few forms making the louvers.

Hank

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Looking for a cowl part on a BC12-D

It's a shame we didn't know each other a few years ago. My parents used to live near Heaber Springs AK! They are retired here in SE Virginia now with my wife and I.

Hank

[Anymouse]

Re: Looking for a cowl part on a BC12-D

If your lower cowl is one of the later ones that is made from a flat sheet it is pretty easy and would be a great project to get you into metal working. Some of the early lower cowls WERE NOT made from a flat sheet and have a pretty good "bowl" shape in them (you can see the lower curve in a straight on side view). Those require an English Wheel that is well beyond a beginners ability and you can get hurt really bad by one if you don't know what you are doing.

The only potentially hard part of making a lower cowl is forming the lip at the rear of the cowl on the bottom and the louvers. Those are things you CAN do with a little practice. Just get some pieces of scrap and make a form to make the louvers and lip. You can make them from almost any wood (if you are just doing a few, like one cowl). Your wood working skills will come in really handy. For a louver you just drill two holes and the end of the louver, cut a slot, and either press a male and female form on both sides of the metal or do it the hard way (like I did the first time) and GENTLY hammer the metal into a female form. Next time I will use a two piece form. Got to keep learning new methods. ;-) I have been told that you can put plastic wrap on a good cowl and make a form from Bondo for the louvers and lip, but haven't tried that yet. I imagine you would bust a few forms making the louvers.

Hank

It'll be a while before I get around to doing the cowl. It's definitely a flat sheet of aluminum with other things attached to it. And the lip of course. For sure, I'll be planning on the two piece form!

It's a shame we didn't know each other a few years ago. My parents used to live near Heaber Springs AK! They are retired here in SE Virginia now with my wife and I.

Hank

Just got here about 2 1/2 years ago myself.

[lfries]

Re: Looking for a cowl part on a BC12-D

pm sent

[Anymouse]

Re: Looking for a cowl part on a BC12-D

pm sent

...and responded...

Thanks!!