The top cowl is made from thin aluminium from a drink can. Lighter than the wood version, doesn't cost anything after I had the pleasure of emptying the (beer) can. As you said it's attached by 4 small screws and goes back past the fuel tank. I did the same thing on my 22" span Phantom. Here's the Phantom Mite with the cowling removed showing the semi circular fuel tank and the DC Merlin...........John