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A question on composits

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topglock(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 4:41 pm Post subject: A question on composits

Fellow Europaphiles,



As some of you know, after seeing a modified Europa cowl at Sun'n'fun, I 

decided to take on the job of redesigning my cowl, to see what I could 

gain.  I've successfully made a mold from my current cowl, and want to 

make a new cowl.  One that I can cut up and modify.  My question is, 

what is the best cloth and resin to use to build the cowl?  Any ideas on 

what is used in the stock Europa cowl and how many layers of cloth are 

used?  I considering having a new exhaust system designed and built to 

save space and weight.  I will probably be moving the coolers to 

accommodate the new exhaust.  I've just got this nagging idea, in my 

head that a well designed cowl will improve cooling, air speed, weight 

and appearance.  Am I wrong?:  



Jeff - Baby Blue - Looking at getting a nose job...

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paul.the.aviator(at)gmail
Guest

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 5:26 pm Post subject: A question on composits

Hi Jeff,



Would you happen to have any photographs of the cowl design that your

trying to build ?



Thanks,  Paul

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topglock(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:40 am Post subject: A question on composits

Paul,



Nothing, yet, but I'm leaning toward something along the lines of the 

Lanceair 235.  There's a cover shot of one in the July '08 Kitplanes. 

The new cowl would, of course, be minus the carb intake underneath. 

This is probably going to be a lengthy project, as I want to fly several 

variations to compare the results.  When it's finished, the design will 

certainly be offered to the list.



Jeff - Baby Blue



Paul McAllister wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 Hi Jeff,

 

 Would you happen to have any photographs of the cowl design that your

 trying to build ?

 

 Thanks,  Paul

 

 

 

 

 

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 Checked by AVG.

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karelvranken(at)hotmail.c
Guest

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:37 pm Post subject: A question on composits

Jeff,

In attachment my concept of cowling and inner radiator duct.

Best regards,

Karel Vranken

---

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paul.the.aviator(at)gmail
Guest

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 2:47 pm Post subject: A question on composits

Hi Karel,



Nice looking modification.  Do you have the radiators directly behind

each other or to you have the rear one dropped down by 40 mm ?



Paul



On Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 4:28 PM, karelvranken <karelvranken(at)hotmail.com> wrote:

[quote] Jeff,

 In attachment my concept of cowling and inner radiator duct.

 Best regards,

 Karel Vranken

 ---

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topglock(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:13 pm Post subject: A question on composits

Karel,



Great stuff!  Thanks...



Jeff - Baby Blue



karelvranken wrote:

[quote] Jeff,

 In attachment my concept of cowling and inner radiator duct.

 Best regards,

 Karel Vranken

 ---

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karelvranken(at)hotmail.c
Guest

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:36 pm Post subject: A question on composits

Paul,

I didn't use the original cubic radiator for the coolant. The surface is 

greater and only 1,5" thick with the same contents. I didn't need to lower 

the oil radiator. Using the Evans coolant I notice normally in cruise 100°C 

for oil and 110°C for coolant. In hot summer like last year in Italy by 41°C 

on the tarmac the temperatures rose with 10°C. Oil is changed every 50 hours 

and I use actually Shell Advance 4. Next I will change to the Aeroshell 

Sport plus. I always use Mogas 98 without alcohol.

Best regards,

Karel Vranken, F-PKRL  912 ULS Airmaster CSU.

---

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fklein(at)orcasonline.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:16 pm Post subject: A question on composits

On Wednesday, Jul 2, 2008, at 17:38 US/Pacific, Rman wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		    I've successfully made a mold from my current cowl, and want to make 

 a new cowl.  One that I can cut up and modify.  My question is, what 

 is the best cloth and resin to use to build the cowl?  Any ideas on 

 what is used in the stock Europa cowl and how many layers of cloth are 

 used?


	


Jeff...great idea...



If memory serves, I seem to recall reading that the stock cowl is made 

of FG and vinyl-ester resin; heat resistance and cure time may be the 

reasons, but by all means get more info from an authoritative source. I 

do know that Alex Bowman used vinyl-ester resin on his custom cowl, but 

I'm not sure of the reasoning behind the decision to use it.



If you do make up a production mold, my local composite guru recommends 

"molding cloth" which is  a fairly heavy tight weave; for my special 

wingroot fairing/fillet molds, I've used four layers of Acft Spruce P/N 

7781-50...it's a bitch to wet out w/ Aeropoxy and I've had to really 

work at getting out the air bubbles, but the surface is pretty smooth 

when cured. Since the mold is long and has no tight radii, I've had to 

add an armature of triangulated tongue depressor sticks to maintain the 

exact desired shape, but hey, with no real experience behind me, I'm 

learning as I go.



 	  Quote: 	
		   I've just got this nagging idea, in my head that a well designed cowl 

 will improve cooling, air speed, weight and appearance.  Am I wrong?:  

 


	


Though I'm not sure it's fair to say that Baby Blue needs a nose job, I 

also seem to recall comments on this forum to the effect that the stock 

XS cowl was designed under some time/deadline pressure and that the 

results were less than optimum. IMHO...and it's just opinion...cooling 

drag may be higher than need be...and the aesthetics of the radiator 

inlet can be much improved. I've always admired the Suncoast/Jab 

cowling on John Lawton's ship with its Mooney/Lancair-style inlets, and 

I like Karel's modifications as well.



Go for it Jeff,



Fred

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