Well the cowl and scoop is really a tedious build. I agree with Mike that it is what gives a contender the character. A razor plane is the tool for shaping the cowl and scoop. I've got a Wil-Kro razor plane. It works better then others. I brought mine off a well known internet auction site, there is almost always one there.

I just finished covering and it is the most difficult cover I've done. Followed the covering suggestion in the instructions. I did get the wrinkles out. I now consider myself an expert cover man. I burned my fingers more than once and utilized the iron, trim iron and heat gun.

I did pick up some things I'll pass along.

With all those covering tools going I was constantly melting something, scrap covering, the electric cord or my fingers. To help with this I mounted a plug strip above my bench where I could just reach to insert a plug. This went a long way to keep all those cords neat. I'm going to do this permanent. I'm going to add some type of hanger to hold the hot irons, dremel tool, etc. Hanging them just about keeps the cord completely off the bench when the tool is not in use, but it is still readily available.

Top Flite glove with the rubber spots over it should work well. I had a pair of work gloves that are similar. They get you a good grip and keep the heat from your fingers when using the heat gun to pull and stretch the film around those curves in the cowl/scoop.

Top Flite trim iron worked well but it busted. A rather thin piece of wood supports the metal rod near the handle. It cracked as I was trying to push it into the cracks and seams on the cowl. The item was fixed with a worm gear clamp.

I publish some pics when I finish. The radio and hinging look straightforward so I do not anticipate issues there. Hope to fly before Christmas but this month is busy for us all and weather is certainly not favorable.

Jim,
Too cold to work in shop? Get the Kerosene heater, my friend, you won't regret it.