ORIGINAL: 8178

To prepare the canopy for installation I’ve been sanding it so that it fits the shape of the fuselage top. First I rough cut the canopy to fit and then used the sandpaper. I did this by wrapping sandpaper around the fuselage top with the grit facing up and moving the canopy back and forth to sand the bottom of the canopy. I decided to leave the sharp drop off curve on the back tip of the canopy because cutting it off would have lowered the canopy too far. I sanded the canopy until I had a good fit around the complete bottom of the canopy edge and the fuselage top.

Next I put a piece of back trim MonoKote with backing on the top of the fuse and pressed the canopy down on it and lightly cut the edge protruding from under the canopy. I then removed it and cut it out. I made sure that the all of the orange MonoKote that would be under the canopy was ironed down tightly on the fuselage. Next, I carefully marked out the center of the fuselage and marked it on the front and back area of the canopy space. I found the center of the black trim piece and marked it with a small piece of masking tape on the front and back. I sprayed Windex on the top of the fuselage and using the tape marks placed the black piece in place and worked it out smooth. I let it dry while I washed the canopy inside and out with dish soap and warm water and then dried it with a soft towel.

Next, I drilled a small vent hole in the top of the fuselage near the back of the canopy space. The canopy must have an air vent or it will not stay attached to the fuselage. I then positioned the canopy over the black trim MonoKote and taped the canopy down tightly. A small bead of Pacer Formula 560 canopy glue was run around the canopy and fuselage joint. The 560 is white but when it sets up it is clear.