Functional canopy system (cont)

pic 1:
The blue tubing is a very tight fit over the red tubing so I jammed a screw driver inside the short 'holding' pieces to stretch them.

pic 2:
Both sides are now installed.

pic 3:
I used a hand pump to test the system.
Closed.

pic 4:
Open.

pic 5/6:
To get the canopy to fully close, I had to move the bases that hold the air cylinders.
Initially, I had both air cylinders an equal distance back but, as you can see in the picture, they had to be at different positions (probably due to one red tubing being a little longer since they have to cross each other in the back (probably a few other variables are also involved).
I used a plastic wire tie to hold the two red tubes together where they cross each other.
I'm going to cut some more short blue tubing, slice it long wise and put it on the other side of the small square holding blocks to insure the red tubing does not move.
I'll use some scotch tape to hold all the blue tubing in place versus some CA as that will allow for any future maintenance.
Since the ball sockets on the canopy can only be put on at the far end of the guides, I have to un-screw the air cylinder bases so I can get those inner brass guides all the way back, put the canopy ball sockets in and then move the canopy forward and re-screw the air cylinder base back to the bottom of the cockpit floor (which I did with #2 wood screws).
Next, I'll get her mounted in the plane, pump up the air tanks and get a video of the whole operation.
Almost forgot: the air cylinders needed nipples: part number is 1/8X10-32strmalecon (control number 0400044).
They were $1.77 each and connect like those used on jets where the air line is pushed into a hole and metal prongs along the inside grab the air line and to release the air line, you push on a rim that is around the air line.