captain stowed

Hi all, I'm building an ARF Edge 540, but am having some trouble with the built up canopy / access hatch structure that's bent from the box. I know this is not the forum for ARFs but I thought the kit bashers would have a better idea of how to fix it.

The canopy / hatch structure is your basic turtedeck buildup. A flat bottom piece that has formers and curved sheet for the top. The upper surface has been trimmed with heat shrink material. It seems to me that this trim material has caused the structure to bow upwards, causing the flat bottom surface to be an uneven fit with the fuselage. My question is, how do I straighten this out? Should I trim the bottom side as well? or maybe some tissue / dope?


help!

Michael.

whatwind

My Feedback: (1)

Place it on a flat surface and see if you can push it flat. If it dosen't take to much effort and its a part that glues on you can pull it in place and glue it.If its a hatch that comes on and off you can place a shim in the middle and clamp or weight the ends down so you reverse the warp and use a heat gun on low to re strech the flim. Don't use the heat gun on the canopy.

captain stowed

Yeah, it's a removable hatch. There is a tab on the front that goes in to a slot in the firewall, and a screw from either side at the rear secures it. Like this, it can be pushed flat and stretched into position, but the vertical piece which is the former for the rear of the canopy still sits proud of the rear turtledeck. See pic. It seems like the covering is tightening the angle between the canopy former and the cockpit base.

Michael[img][/img]

whatwind

My Feedback: (1)

another way is if you have the room is make a square of 1/8 balsa that will act as a sub frame underneath to hold straght.