Hobbyking Skipper Cowl (improved)

thingiverse

Update 3: I've tidied up some of the edges with blends, and put chamfers on the exhaust ducts. This is "Cowl17" I've also moved it to here because the previous version wasn't showing up in searches or my design list due to the usual Thingiverse bumbling ineptitude (original version was https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4773625). UPDATE 2: I've added a second version of this cowl which incorporates an additional cooling exhaust at the bottom that also provides a water drain. I think the first design looks cleaner, but if you operate from water this might be a better alternative. I'll add some photos of this design later. UPDATE: I've added a sketch showing extra slicer settings needed to print this cowl. The reason relates to the way I drafted it and my lack of SolidWorks user skills. Fuller explanation in the print settings section. This is my improved version of the cowling for the HK skipper which is redesigned to force cooling air through the core of the motor (where the heat is) rather than flowing uselessly past the outer can (where the heat isn't). It's designed for use with the (cheap) hobbyking 30mm metal spinner instead of that glued-on foam rubbish it's supplied with. Also included is a simple alignment tool to centre the cowl so that there is the intended clearance between the motor can and the cowl baffle. Use this to hold the cowl in place while the glue cures. The print file has a 3mm hole to match the stock motor shaft size, but with my printer I needed to just clean the hole a bit with a 3mm drill to get it to slide on. If your printer is more accurate you may not need to do this. I would recommend epoxy or UHU Por to glue the cowl on because this is a seaplane and cyano glues aren't waterproof (really - they aren't!). I printed it in PETG because it was the only white filament I had at the time. It would almost certainly print better in PLA or PLA+. The cowl has a 1mm wall thickness so it's more than stiff enough and doesn't need the strength of PETG. I haven't flown this yet due to lockdown, but it looks like we'll be allowed out to play again in a few weeks.