Pat, Tim, I gave up screws on the canopy--and possible consequent weakening of the frame. I just lay in a fine thread of silicone caulking all round. Looks nice and I believe it actually improves the strength across that weak area. Not a lot, but a bit. Screws won't do that. Before my Twist #6 bit the dust hard the other day, I had an incident which cracked the back behind the canopy (easy fix with CA and baking soda filets); then one that cracked the ply just behind the forward wing firewall. Easy fixes, both. When I REALLY crashed #6, the canopy shattered... BUT EVERYWHERE THERE WAS SILICONE, THE YELLOW EDGES OF THAT CANOPY HELD TOGETHER.

Silicone is my favorite glue. I think Down told me he doesn't cut into the Twist wing any more. he just uses silicone.

On my Uproar, I had to add 2 plus ounzes of lead to the tail. I did it with silicone only. When my elevator servo failed, while I was coming down inverted to go low, fast, I put her in nose down. Destroyed that plane but good--Super Tigre muffler stack, bye-bye. Yet, that lead weight was still there. I had to cut it off with an exacto knife when I saved things from that bird at the autopsy. Oh, and the Sullivan tail wheel wire, stuck into the elevator with CA and baking soda, ALSO endured that incredible crash.

Thanks to Down, #7 Twist is downstairs, awaiting receiver and bat placement. I got a 6 v. 1450 mAh bat for this one, and I'm gonna mount it under the canopy as far aft as I can with silicone and an epoxied balsa keeper so she won't go forward in a nose-in crash. No foam. Ah, maybe a bit between the bat and the balsa keeper.

I do believe a metal strap which goes from the landing gear screws to the fuse behind the wing bolt would vastly improve those bothersome fuse cracks. But putting it on, bolting it down every session would be bothersome. I think I just won't crash my Twists any more.

Jack