Cool O/B Cowling project

[Mike Luszcz]

Well, I got tired of searching for a Johnson/ Evinrude cowling, and the AMPS cowlings are just to expensive to purchase and pull a mold from, so I just decided to spend 30 minutes or so to give making one a try, and I think it will work. I spoke to Mike Mcknight last night, and he mentioned he has Evinrude and Johnson decals, so maybe he will have what I need and we can size it to fit. This one is ment for my 30-33.5" tunnels and if this works out, and I can make a nice looking cowl, I will end up making one for my 35-40" tunnels and probably one for the gas tunnel. I suspect the FE guys would be all this appeals to as cowlings on nitro would be a pain. It will be fiberglass. I plan on an FE gas size tunnel build for myself soon, so I will want one for that! I know its not perfect to scale, but it will work. I just got in my first ever gallon of Duratec surfacing primer, and cannot wait to use some it on this!!! Who knows, maybe a fiberglass PX/NX300 is next.....

 

[Mike Luszcz]

Your lucky...there are plenty of Merc's out there to get ahold of. The Evinrude/ Johnson guys are left out in the cold! haha

 

[anthony_marquart]

you should have let me model that for you..

 

[Mike Luszcz]

Don't worry, it may come to that! HAHAHA, especially the larger sizes...you want to give it a try?

 

[Mike Luszcz]

My buddy in Cali has a 3D printer and already said if you modeled something, he can print it in ABS any thickness. He can do 6"x6"x6"

 

[anthony_marquart]

oh gosh,.. now we are really talking.. he can print your plug,.. after I model it.. or the prototype for fit check and stuff.. Ill model it.. is there any way to get accurate dims on the original,. .so I can scale it down and be accurate?

 

[Mike Luszcz]

Well, I may have one better than that. He has a 3d scanner as well, and I just picked up an Alterscale Johnson cowling this morning, it was a leftover from the manufacturer. I can actually get that scanned, and printed directly..and their stuff is perfect. It can also be scaled up or down correctly. Found out his printer is 8"x8"x 8". So, hang tight...don't worry, there will be other things to design! Its only a matter of time!

 

[Tim leyde]

Looks great Mike! The Duratec is nice to work with. A fiberglass hull would be cool for some and a great option. I prefer wood, but I know most don't have the time to build.

 

[Mike Luszcz]

We will see. I have so freakin much to do, so many design requests as it is. I love my day job, but man, I wish I had those 40 hours to do more designing and layup work! Mike

 

[Mike Luszcz]

Lots of progress over the weekend. Got the plug done, molds made, and working on the first couple of decal sets I want available with the cowling now. I still have some other things to draw for the decals, but what I have finished drawing from scratch so far is looking good! Mike

 

[James E Beasley]

Neat Mike, My dad was and I am an Johnson man!! Got a 200 V-6 on my bass boat! Beasley

 

[anthony_marquart]

Tell me about it Mike,.. I could design this stuff all day.. sad thing is that I would probably run out of stuff to design in a month or so.. then what would I do..

 

[Mike Luszcz]

Thats cool James, I love the older Johnson and Evinrudes as well, especially the GT engines!

Here are the decals applied. I still have to make the decal for the upper cowling handle and vent towards the rear top of the cowling, but the rest is looking good. I need to change some colors on the front decal as well, but its close! I am waxing the molds now, I may lay up the first part tonight if I have time. Oh, the decals you see here are not how I am going to sell these cowlings, I am going to have Mike Mcknight do up the decals on nice vinyl that will be thinner and quality! Mike

 

[racejunkie538]

Looks realy great Mike, well done. Like the decals aswell. Rgrds Marc

 

[Mike Luszcz]

Thanks Mark, its a work in progress. Been thinking all day about how I will mount it to the lower! Mike

 

[MarkGugliuzza]

Would you be able to mount the bottom cowl plate between the lower unit and the electric motor adapter plate. Or between the adapter and the motor. Then a couple screws the hold the top of the cowl on.

 

[Mike Luszcz]

Possibly, not sure if it will be to high up tho. I should know more very soon! Mike

 

[Mike Luszcz]

Got the first part pulled early last night, and had it out of the mold a couple hours later! I ended up just bonding the lower half to the upper, and slipping it over the Neu 1521. I am gonna probably put a small metal plate coming off the lower unit with some velcro on top that will velcro over to the lower pan at the back side of the lower unit where you will not even see it! In the pictures it is just free floating! Time to finish up the graphics and get Mike Mcknight to do them up on some quality vinyl, and get this joker painted!

 

[David Moyle]

Looks great Mike!

 

[BradSpencer]

Looks way faster than the Merc ones