Canopy help!
#1
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Canopy help!
I need some advice on my canopy. I need to make some kind of rigid frame for it. I am currently trying to make a brass piece with ball links but not sure what's a good method of attatching it to the canopy. In pic #1the rails are in their proper place. Pic #2 the canopy.
Any and all suggestions are appreciated.
Any and all suggestions are appreciated.
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RE: Canopy help!
Apply mould release to the canopy then several layers of 3/4 oz fiberglass cloth over top. Pop out the canopy then cut out the openings in the fiberglass. Sand the out side of the newly formed part and apply to the canopy with foam safe CA (foam safe CA won't haze the clear plastic).Peter
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RE: Canopy help!
Thank's Peter. That is kinda what I was thinking and needed confirmation on. I'll have to do it from the inside, for fit, as the built in frame is quite offset. I have a few ideas on the sliding rail part but seeing as you have done it before, and quite well, how do you recommend doing it?
#5
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RE: Canopy help!
Plus one for Peters idea. It would be good if you could get a second canopy in case somehow during the moulding process you damaged the first one. I've heard of people just using a second identical canopy to go over the first but cut out as a frame but not done it myself.
I have found some composite square stock that slides inside the rails, filling up the entire rails and sliding very smoothly with no lubrication. Then you can use small screws through the two layers of canopy, perhaps slightly countersunk, into the square stock. Slides great and the stock can be pushed and pulled with a servo or air cylinder for operation. I got the stock at my LHS, It was either for building foamies or railroading, not sure but was perfect fit inside Zirolis rail set.
Whit
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RE: Canopy help!
Whit, that would work great but my rail is 1/8 x 1/4, the canopy sits very close to the fuse. I'm currently trying to work out two different sliding mechanism's, one with ball links and one with control horns cut to fit in the rail. The control horns slide extremely well but haven't figure out just yet how to incorporate them into the canopy side. If I knew foam safe CA would hold, I could cut a piece of hard wood to fit the canopy and glue the horn into a slot in the hardwood. And I have a feeling I will be buying a few more cowls before it is over.
#7
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RE: Canopy help!
Robert,
That equates to roughly 3x6 mm, they have various sizes that would fit one of those dimensions, could glue together a set of 3x3 or use a 6 x 2 depending on which way your rails are oriented?
http://www.rcfoam.com/index.php?cPath=122&osCsid=bbb2ddbd14b1c28e0037b02 02e463394
Sorry my editor is not making the link "live" correctly for some reason.
Whit
#8
RE: Canopy help!
ORIGINAL: acerc
I need some advice on my canopy. I need to make some kind of rigid frame for it. I am currently trying to make a brass piece with ball links but not sure what's a good method of attatching it to the canopy. In pic #1 the rails are in their proper place. Pic #2 the canopy.
Any and all suggestions are appreciated.
I need some advice on my canopy. I need to make some kind of rigid frame for it. I am currently trying to make a brass piece with ball links but not sure what's a good method of attatching it to the canopy. In pic #1 the rails are in their proper place. Pic #2 the canopy.
Any and all suggestions are appreciated.
I had similar problem when I remade my ESM La-7 into La-5FN.
I decided for a fibreglass frame. The origin canopy from ESM I used as a model for the fibreglass form. After them I made a fibreglass frame. The origin (plastic) canopy a I cut. This parts I used as filling of the fibreglass frame.
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RE: Canopy help!
Peter that is sorta what I came up with. Then I came across this http://www.rockler.com/tech/1653_001.pdf from here http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=2325 I have ordered a couple of sets to see how they are. Well see.
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RE: Canopy help!
I thought that as well but just want to see. Mine are made and work real smoothly. The fuse rail is 1/8 x 1/4, I bought a piece of rectangle that fit inside it, I took the smaller size and cut a groove in it, then placed a piece of that plastic I-beam inside and CA'd. The plastic I-beam will glue to the canopy real well. Originally I had a small screw holding the rail to the fuse but it interfered so now I am going to solder a blind nut to the back side and attatch it from the inside, Here's a look at the rail setup.