From: Edselby@aol.com
Message-ID: <d488291.36e194f8@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 6 Mar 1999 15:50:00 EST
To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
Subject: 320/360 cowling
Mime-Version: 1.0

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I can't help but respond to someone who is having "fun" with fitting the
cowling.  I understand that they have changed to something better (?) since I
got my kit some time ago - I choose not to remember how long - but the crappy
glass with the heavy coat of gelcoat to hide its obvious poor quality was a
real challenge.

I bot the fast-build kit at a time when the engine mount was short and the
cowling was long.  The cowling is the only part of the whole thing that I
really feel is not worthy of the Lancair/Neico organization, and I have told
them that.

I found that I literally rebuilt the cowling, using the furnished pieces as my
molds.  The original pieces are partially in there somewhere, but I am quite
sure that the result is much heavier than it should have been.  It just seemed
to be a tedious and time-consuming process - and when it is done it is just
"okay".  Hang in there.

True story about the short engine mount.  I am swinging an IO360, rebuilt by
Don George in Orlando, with a constant-speed prop.  Totally oblivious to the
obvious, when I tried to mate it to the mount for the first time, I discovered
that the prop governor didn't clear the firewall.  When I called Lancair in
confusion the response I got was something to the effect of "put your dish
there to make room for it".  Again, in innocence I asked, "what dish?"
Answer: "your stainless steel dish".  Again, "was I supposed to get one with
the kit?"  Answer, "no, you buy it."  Again, "is it in the Spruce catalog?"
Answer, "no, you buy it locally".  Again, "where would I look for an aircraft
quality part like that?"  Answer, "Petsmart".

And you wonder why I feel like my project is a real "dog".

Ed Selby (Soon to be N611S)