tail wheel mount and cowl mount

Hey you guys whats the best way to mount a tail wheel on a built up fuse?And also how about the best way to mount your cowl do I need to use 4-40 and blind nuts are do I need to use woodscrews.

The common method for a tailwheel is to glue/wire it to a former and mount the former inside the fuselage. It holds up pretty well because it distributes the load over a larger area.

As for mounting cowls, I wouldn't recommend wood screws even if they are going into hardwood. Much better to use a small bolt and a blind nut. You can get 2-56 blind nuts if you don't want to use 4-40.

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"Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change."

This last plane, I used a sort of hook and slot scheme for the cowl. Worked pretty well and only one 2/56 screw and blind nut to hold the thing on. I'll try posting a pic when I get a chance.

For tailwheels, I use a hardwood block with a slot and a brass insert with screw. makes the tailwheel removable and gives good support. Again, a picture is needed.

I would definitely make the tail wheel removeable. You may at some time decide you want a longer or shorter tail wheel. But a more convincing argument is what happened to Matt a year ago. Last flight of the year, he came in for a landing, and the tail wheel strut snapped off. Matt has gone to putting a weight box in the tail in case it is needed, and mounts the tail wheel inside the hatch for this. With a removeable tail wheel, all he needed to do was make a new strut and he was back in business.

This is also a good argument for not attaching your stooge to the tail wheel wire. The tail wheel can get a lot of banging around as it is (Matt flies off of grass) and if this strut gets weakened and you use it for your stooge, watch out!

But for the cowl, also, use blind nuts and screws. There are any number of ways of attaching the cowl to the plane. In fact, maybe this would be a good place to post pictures of your version of how you mount your cowl. Did you ever notice most construction articles don't tell you how the author did his?

Len,

I partiuclarly agree with the note on not using your tailwheel as the stooge release. Yes, there's a story and no, I won't tell it.

This last plane I used a sort of hook that attached to the same plate the tailwheel attaches to for the stood. Worked well and didn't get the pounding the tailwheel does.

When I get home, I'll post a picture of my last cowl mount. I was pretty proud of this. It's the first time ever, for me, that a cowl remained tight after the first 50 or so flights. It's held up wonderfully well. Wish I could say the same for wing hold down system. A real horror story, that.

You guys are right there isn't a lot of talk are pictures on cowls.I have been building for a while but I always like to look for new ideas some work and some don't this is why I like to fly control line so many friendly people who love to help you.