RE: new XL HDE owner w/ swashplate question
Lots of guys had the swash come apart in flight. I broke my kit included swash trying to seperate it. I highly suggest you check it with a 7/16" socket under it. Don't push real hard, but check it. Some of the swashes must not have been glued well.
Yes the newest of the Align aluminum swash plates have fixed this problem. The units with Align printed on them, IIRC, have been corrected by rolling the upper half of the swash under the lower half. I ended getting the finally fixed aluminum swash since mine broke in flight. It did not seperate, but rather where a ball link was screwed in it cracked and so I replaced it.
I chose not to cut out the windshield at all, and didn't bother with the flimsy tinted window. Heck the canopy is flimsy enough as it is and so I chose not to weaken it further.