OK, so you've spent many an hour giving your new 4* etc a nice nose job by carving and sanding a nice round balsa cowl

Example instructions

Now, how do you cover this cowl in Monokote or Ultracote without spoiling all that work?

I covered mine W 4pcs of monocote rite with the fusalage
Itsnot to bad for the first covering job for me. next time I will
make a fiberglass cowl that comes off if it takes all winter.

I read the site your link led the way to........it looks really nice , my only question is does the engine get hot? I can't see any way for the air to escape.

I've not tried it, so I can't comment from experience. I'm just thinking about making something similar if/when I decide on a 4* or Venture 60.

Bear in mind that the cowl slopes inward from the original fusalage so that on a side mounted engine there will be a fair amount of the cylinder still in the airflow. Probably more than with a fully enclosed fiberglass cowl... Also, the muffler is out in the open too...

Personally, I'd glass the outside of the balsa cowl and buy paint that matches your covering of choice. They make matching paint for Monokote and Ultracote.
Dennis-

Although I'm no expert with Monokote, I had no problem covering the balsa cowl on my Venture 60 with one piece of Monokote. Here's a picture...

So, here's the picture I tried to post last time. (I hope I do it right this time!)

Redford, Beautiful job. Any problems with engine overheating?

Nope. Enough of it hangs out the right side that overheating is now problem.

Here's a picture of that side, which is less pretty, but functional.

That was, of course, heating is NO problem, not NOW a problem.

FYI everyone, bigger, better pictures are here

Dave, how did you manage to get around those compound curves with just one piece of monokote?

Thanks, sure looks pretty......I guess I gotta give it a try.

There are actually only three sides to it (since the right side is mostly open). Start with the Monokote on the middle side and pull it around!