The Type 13 incorporates louvers on each side of the hood.  My initial plan was to build my own die from shaped steel then punch them out myself.  While not technically challenging, getting the right steel, shaping each by hand, and perfecting the stamping process was going to be a very time consuming process.

Incorporating preformed heating vent style metal pieces from our local hardware store was not going to fit what I was looking for so I started searching the internet.  You can purchase pre-built punches, but they were way too expense of my account book.  After much searching, I discovered a set of steel 4″ louver panels that went for less than $20, what a deal!  I ordered them immediately and they arrived shortly thereafter.  They were good quality and just the right size!  So I was most pleased with this affordable and time-saving approach.

Rather than just putting it on top of the skin, I wanted it to be flush, so I cut out a hole matching the trimmed panels and used 0.040 inch aluminum strips across the back to rivet the panels in.  I also used hard rivets that I countersunk so it maintained the appearance of being punched into the skin rather than grafted in.  I will use a little bondo to fill in the gaps since this will all be painted.

The final result turned out wonderfully.  Life is good when things go better than planned. if only the rest of the project would take its cue from these panels, my life would be so much easier!