I just look at everybody's planes - new, old, scratch, ARF/RTFs. Some have creative bits and pieces.

The SSE canopy / cockpit hatch is made with a former up front, a former at the front of the cockpit (dashboard) and a headrest. Between the front former and the dashboard they use several 1/8" stringers with the front and rear formers cut to accept them. I just did the same using a lite ply base, lite ply formers shaped to match the HB "shape", cut some stringer slots, added stringers and then sheeted with 1/16" balsa. Also reinforce the sides of the fuse. Add a couple of cleats to the bottom that position the hatch bottom between the reinforced sides. I used 1/16" dowel to pin the front of the hatch into to back of the firewall area. A couple of magnets at the back and it's all good.

And, no, you can't have mine!

pic 1 - tank hatch on an SSE
pic 2/3 - top and bottom of cockpit hatch of an SSE