Dr. Zooch Vanguard Eagle Build Part 29 Engine Bells

It was raining too much today to do any painting, so I jumped ahead to the engine bells.

TIP: Make your shrouds with the printing on the inside. Sometimes the printed words "Shroud Adapter" or cut the lines can show through the finished paint.

This is still the best method I've found for forming shrouds and engine bells.

Using a clean sharpened dowel, press the shroud into the soft heel of your hand.

TIP: Press the dowel over the entire width of the shroud giving a little more attention to the sides. Give the sides a little more curl and the glue tab will lay down easier.

After gluing the tab, the engine bell is being held shut with long, smooth jawed tweezers.

TIP: It takes very little glue to make a shroud stay together. I usually lay a bead down then remove the bulk of it leaving a very thin coat on the tab.

After the bell dries, it'll probably be a little "out-of-round".

TIP: Before you think about coating (strengthening) the shroud with CYA:

Reform it to a better circle by rolling the shroud in the heel of your hand with the sharpened dowel.

I blackened the inside of the engine bells with a Sharpie permanent pen before using the CYA.

If I were to use the CYA before coloring the bells, the black Sharpie ink wouldn't have permeated the paper shroud as well. So - blacken, then use CYA to stiffen the bell.

If you were to glue coat the shroud before reshaping it, it'll be to stiff and dried hard in a distorted shape.