Hey Boyz!
Just wanted to post some pics of the Phlatcowl design we worked up for the Phlatformer show
This design was an idea we had for another use of the Phlatformer besides the standard uses of canopies, wheel pants
This makes for a lightweight strong structure for the from of your profile foamie aircraft and if taped on will allow you to easily remove to place it on another plane.
One of the cool features is that you can embed your firewall right inside the plastic as it is Phlatformed
I made the mold for this out of 1/4 mdf and it is a direct copy from the nose of the aircraft minus the old motor holes. If I had my MKII up and running (painting it today) I would have cut a new plane with the front section not cut out.
I really believe that this could be a great asset to th RC hobby in general.
Some of the PhlatCowl features include, but are not limited to:
-ability to Phlatform in many colors and styles including clear
-adds strength
-keeps the front of the aircraft completely straight for perfect flight lines
- great addition to any kit, for easy motor mounting/removal
- Many modifications
This was a quick demonstration of the PhlatCowl idea, by taking the front section of the aircraft in sketchup and creating a quick stand up plug for the Phlatformer. There will be better versions in the future that will include the cut files for the plug for many of the newer aircraft designs here on the Phlatforum.

This idea is a creation of Phlatboyz, LLC and is copyrighted 2010 by Mark Carew. Use of this idea or any modification of this idea in any fashion MUST include legible copyright credits and a link to the http://www.Phlatboyz.com website.
Thank you
Have fun
Mark and Trish


Get your own Phlatformer here and make your own PhlatCowls
http://www.phlatboyz.com/Phlatformer-Kit_p_10.html Attached files

 

Yes that when the ideas start flooding in Just wish I could remember them all!!

That's a great idea Tweakie, I do not see why you couldn't do this with some plaster molds. I think you could do them in half's and add a small lip so that they could be connected an glued together. I think it would be super light as well.
Mark

 

It should work that way. One thing is I only had about 10 mins to make this so I did not add the motor more recess to match the notch in the nose of the plane. You could match this and have the motor recessed as well
Mark

 

Long live the unbreakable foamie!! :mrgreen:

 

lol so true Frank

I just found this! its a picture of the motor mount for the 4site micro plane. Now(with the Phlatformer) we can make our own, for any plane we like :mrgreen:
Mark
Attached files

 

Yeah I just saw that the other day too. All I could think was ooh another type of Phlatcowl.

 

:mrgreen: Its all good If it helps people out right
Mark

 

The parts Ok more test on the PhlatCOWL for foamies
I decided we need a way to make parts that are hard enough to take the pressures of Platforming
So I thought I will make a mold of the parts themselves and then cast the from either plaster again, or two part plastic. The results were not that good for releasing the initial models from the plaster.

The following pictures are the results of that experiment, they are not for the squeamish so please look away :mrgreen: Attached files

 

Dennis,
I normally use Pam, but I forgot to spray any of these before covering them and it was thought to get them out.
Mark

 

The PhlatCOWL is moving forward!
After the failed attempt at creating a mold for the PhlatCOWL I decided to make the molds from MDF cut on the big machine and motor mounts cut on the MKII using 1/16th bit through 1/8th lite ply
The last design here is really starting to show promise and I will test it this weekend.
We are getting there
Mark and Trish
BTW The new version of the PhlatCOWL is universal, you cut it to length and width to fit the style aircraft you are using it on. Attached files

 

That turned out great Mark!
Much nicer with the motor mount put on there.

 

Looks really good there Mark !!

 

Thanks boyz Its coming along. As I was working on the foam key way for where the motor sits, it hit me! Why do we need the wood firewall mount in there at all and for that matter why do we need the screws too ? So then I placed the Phlatcowl mold back on the Phlatformer and placed the little aluminum motor mount on top and did a pull. It works!! :mrgreen: This is really nice because it holds the mount in place and you do not need to screw anything. You just poke a hole for the motor and one for the set screw
So now the aluminum motor mount is embedded in the plastic and if you ever need to change out the motor you just loosen the set screw and place a now motor in. If you want to take the whole mount off you just un-tape it and move it to the next foamie! This is really cool and I can't wait to get one in the air today.
I have to make one more PhlatCOWL mold so that it fits these little motor mounts and I would like to raise it up a little as well.
Here are a few pics to wet the appetite
Thanks again guys
Mark and Trish Attached files

 

A few more pics Im HAPPY :mrgreen:

Attached files

 

Thanks Dennis, now to test fly it and perfect the mold
Mark and Trish

 

Good idea!
Is it in there good enough so the mount cant spin? I'm thing the plastic might have made dimples where the holes in the mount are but I can't see it from the pics.