Gents,
A couple of months ago I have asked for advice on the above subject. Most of the builders suggested cutting the body and attaching a pice of aluminium by riveting it to the body. Well after a chat with a friend of mine and another guy who repairs boats for a living, they suggested that there is no need to drill the body through. They use 'hot glue gun' which stcks to fibre very quickly and with a little side force could be 'snapped' off and the rest 'peeled' away. They suggested that a 'U' shaped wood formers are used so that the middle section would not sag and then insert the aluminium strip in between and again glued. I am attaching the photo of my nosecone prepared for the fiber layers from beneath. Hope it will be of some help

Regards


Rescued attachment P1.JPG

That’s roughly how I did mine but I used Aluminium strips with holes drilled in them stuck in place on the underside with fibreglass paste. When I had finished the topside I layered up the underside with glass mat.

The only thing I would say extra is to chamfer and feather the edges of the cut section well back by at least ½ an inch with a grinder to avoid cracks appearing later in the top surface where it joints meets the bit you have just put in.

I cut my nose and scuttle over three years ago and no crack yet but my mate who did not bother is now sporting parallel cracks running up his nose cone and scuttle

Yes, I forgot to mention the chamfer on the edges and they also advised to cover the aluminium strip with packing tape (the brown one) ensuring that the fiber does not stick to the plate.

grp doesnt stick to ally

Phil,

Again, same method, except materials wise, I used three of pieces of wood - one at rear and two at the front - just to keep the two halves apart.

For the "mould" I used 1/32" or 1/64" (can't remember which I'm afraid) ply taped in place with brown tape.

Covered the visible ply (from the inside) with tape and laid up.

ATB

Simon

There is an easier way to make it wider but if you cut it first you are stuck with bodging it back together..........but it's a secret

Out of sheer cussidness I'm going to jump in with a suggestion. Sorry to Mark if I'm right!

Why not make a mould of the top and front of the existing nose cone first. Then cut the thing in half,lay up a new piece from the mould and join it between the two halves.

Ian

almost but not quite

whats the secret then mark ?

Lay up a mould taking in all of one side and go 2" past the centre line,do the same on the other side. Join the 2 halves together and lay up a +4" nosecone.

Alternatively,and far easier, buy a wider nosecone from Mark.

Ian

Pornselling cornish bloke,
You were closer with first idea....this is the craponit factor puzzle.