Hydroplane cowling

[podagee]

Has anyone made there own cowling for there hydro. I was wondering cause it just looks top heavy and I think a low intake would look good to.

[JimClark]

Made several of them. What kind of hydro

[Jesse J]

Me too, I take a profile I like and then cut mIne out of construction foam then glass and epoxy. Done lots! See my avatar- that one is foam and glass.

[podagee]

Where did you get the construction foam. And the heat from the epoxy it don't melt the foam

[podagee]

Oh I'm making a 74" 1992 budweiser T4

[jcald2000]

Epoxy won't melt foam as long as you mix it properly, follow the mixing instructions exactly.
Polyester resin WILL melt foam!!

[Jesse J]

I got my construction foam or insulation board at the local lumber yard. Granted that was in Montana, doubt they sell it in Houston.
I went to the yard and asked the guys if there were any damaged sheets and ended up walking out with a 3x4' chunk under my arm for free!

[JimClark]

Home Depot should have the foam depends on what epoxy you use if it works or not it has to be the slow curing type.

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[podagee]

I went to home depot and the foam they have is the one for your garage door, it comes in 4 x 8' sheets. But the foam is the white one, the one that has all the small foam balls heated together. I'm using the west system slow cure epoxy.

[JimClark]

What you want is either the pink or blue foam

[podagee]

I'll try and see if I can get some tomorrow

[Fluid]

You want Styrofoam, a trademarked name product. When I lived in Alaska I could get the 2" thick Styrofoam at any building store, but in more temperate climates it is not available. All I can find locally is 1/2" thick 4'x8' sheets. I have glued these thin sheets together with epoxy to form thicker sheets. Keep the glue away from any edges you want to sand, it will make a scalloped surface.

http://univfoam.com/styrofoam-vs-polystyrene

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[JimClark]

I got a piece in the plumbing it ts used to put under the waterheater. I have also made one out of balsa. How big of hydro?

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[podagee]

Well I don't think they have it here in las Vegas. I tryed looking every where. I tryed the floral foam it works fine it's the green one.

[detox]

Custom car shops use 2 part expanding foam to make custom moldings and flares. After foam expands and cures it is sanded and shaped by hand to make the plug for mould. I seen this on Speed channel.