RE: Phoenix Extra 330S 60-90 Size
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS"><font color="#000080">I am sure the black paint that Phoenix uses is fuel proof. But it sure did not appear to be sealing up the firewall and muffler area wood. I coated the area with 30 minute epoxy using one of those throw away “acid brushes”.</font></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS"></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS"><font color="#000080">Using my dremel tool with and a cutoff wheel, I cut about ¼” off the machine screws that hold on the canopy. They are now just under 1/2” long (not counting the bolt head). Just for grins, and because my scales were right there, I weighed the screws and washers before cutting and they were 12 grams (a little more than 3/8 of an ounce). After cutting and adding fuel tubing they were 10 grams. </font></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS"></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS"><font color="#000080">Speaking of the fuel tubing (used as a lock washer of sorts). The way these screws go into the fuse and hold the canopy, it is necessary to have large diameter fuel tubing that will bind on the inside of the hole the screws go into or use a long enough piece of smaller diameter tubing to come in contact with the t-nut when everything is tightened. In my case i used small diameter tubing and cut it about 5/16” long.</font></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS"></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS"><font color="#000080">Another deal I am doing with the canopy is to seal/insulate the seams with black silicon sealer. The purpose of this is twofold. Each is as important to me as the other. Vibration and sound deadening is one. With this seal there will be a lot less noise. The other reason - is to keep air from moving in and out of this area. I am not too worried about fuel and oil residue making it in the fuse but I do not wish to have the fuselage exposed to varying air pressure on the inside because of this. I’ll be sealing the mating surface of the wings in the same manner.</font></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS"></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS"><font color="#000080">In the pictures you can see that I have used (saran wrap) to cover the fuse area where the canopy comes in contact. I have put a thin bead of silicon all the way around the canopy including the cross beams because they have mating cross beams on the fuse (sound deadening). Last picture is with the canopy pressed down hard enough and long enough to get a good seal and then the screws are put in. It will set for at least 24 hours before I take it apart. Then I will let it set probably another 24 hours before I trim off the excess. </font></span></div>