I am impressed. I guess one more thing I need to try. I made some for my first Model IV with the 8" wheels, but of fiberglass. I always tell folks that I love my wife's job. As a flight attendant she is gone for days at a time and it gives me opportunity to use her kitchen without getting "The Look". I used one of her cooking pot lids as a mold.
Thought this may be a good time to show-off what we have been doing on the S-LSA aircraft for a few years now... Works Great and the Kitfox ALWAYS stays in the correct orientation.
Completed and installed as of today........final steps of fitting, drilling holes (in the right place) prepping, priming and painting accomplished...got the new wheel covers complete and on the plane.
Decided to stay with the insignia white/aerothane to match the fuse & gear. Have to see if I can locate some decals to go in the center now as they do look a little naked.
Now I can take a little comfort in keeping the crap I drag my wheels through out of the outside of the hub at least
The inspiration for this rather lengthy, detailed but small project started with the lenght of the axle sticking out...so the dome is a little higher than the "normal" off the shelf wheel covers.
I have to admit that I used some basic aluminum sheet From "Menard's Aircraft Supply" (builder's and hardware store) ...so nothing special......it's a basic consumer grade of no documented composition but is easily formed into shapes like this...guessing it is similar to basic 1100 grade (fairly ductile & easy to shape) ...I believe it measured 0.017" in thickness. just my first attempt at trying this so I didn't go deluxe on the materials....just what I had in the shop. If I was buying specifically I would have chosen 3003. A person could also play with different thicknesses as the covers hardly weigh anything in the first place.
I figured if it didn't work the first time I could get different grade materials. Applying the spoon starts at the outside of the piece and it is worked towards the center - could easily mess up if starting the spinning at the center by going too deep to start - but there are plenty of resources out there on line about how to approach the task. I did not use lubricant on the hardwood dowel just to keep the mess down..but a person could use some wax or oil. Since this is not a complex shape - not a lot of friction is involved so there isn't all that much heat generated.
I rather enjoy working a lathe to start....kinda fun watching something morph into a shape as a person works with it.
Re: Home made lightweight wheel covers
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