What are the methods, tips for attaching a canopy and achieving a neat, clean finished appearance? I've seen some sloppy epoxy jobs and I know there must be a better way. I'm curious to see pics too.

Aslo, where can someone find dashboard panels?

I use canopy glue
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXCX70&P=ML
wipe off any excess with paper towl and warm water. dries to a clear finish.
Sorry I am at work right now so no pics.

You can use canopy glue which is white but dries clear, servo screws, or I have seen monocote used as well. I've used striping tape but over time fuel makes the adhesive gooey and start to come off.

You have several options for a neat clean canopy attachment. Glue is an option if you don't need to remove the canopy again. Zap makes a nice product specifically for the purpose. Here's a [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCX70&P=ML]LINK[/link] I've used it before and it dries clear. The drawback is that you need to have a good bonding surface for the glue to grab. You can also use small screws to install the canopy. Harden the wood with CA and you should have a pretty solid mount (or add extra blocks behind mounting locations). This will allow you to take the canopy off again should you need to.

canopy glue or black pvc electricians tape 3/8" wide seal the edges afterwards with a small brush and polyurethane.for scale planss the canopy masked off completely except for the bottom 1/4 in or so that is the frame.canopy is just tacked in place then resin and mixture of micro balloons is applied to the fuselage and canopy and smoothed out as much as possible till it cures/hardens the carefully sand the mixture smooth and feathered in to the fuselage and through to the tape line to leave a nice sharp panel line.some arf's are using screw these days.

i use screws,harden the holes with ca.then use ultra coat the same color as the airplane cut slightly less than 1/4 inch wide.when i can use silver color i use air conditioning aluminum tape,that stuff never comes loose.i dont like to use glue on my canopy in case i have to remove it.

here we use a product called zapp-dappa-goo it is very good but don't breathe in the fumes

The canopy glue sold nowadays is almost foolproof. Actually, I use it with no problems, so there is a good argument that it is fool proof.

It won't craze or blur the canopy. It dries transparent. What squeezes out on the outsides is easy to remove with a wet paper towel. EASY and foolproof to remove. What excess is visible inside, vanishes when cured as it's clear.

Dead simple to use.

Makes for the neatest of "neat" installations, as nothing shows anywhere. Can't beat that for neat. Did I mention even an idiot can do it perfectly.

BTW, you can also run a bead of the stuff along seam lines (like where the stab and fuselage meet) to keep exhaust grease from seeping in those cracks. And glue down plastic things like wheelwells.

I use RC560. Take some sand paper and prep the inside of the canopy where the glue will be applied. Do the same with the Monokote on the plane or whatever suface you intend to glue to. It needs that little bit of tooth to really be permenant. You do that and you will be able to pick your plane up by the canopy.

Hello!!!!
In my Uproar the Canopy have a balsa base covered with black vinyl, the Canopy is glued to his base with Canopy glue, the edges are covered with a strip of black vinyl. The pilot (Scrat) is screwed, and all canopy ensemble is glued to the fuselage with CA.

Escipion

Just want to add to the epoxy/microballoons method. If prior to applying the mixture drill a few small holes (1/16") in the exposed canopy. Now, when you apply the mixture some will squeeze through the holds and that canopy will NOT come off. It is in effect pinned down. Works for me!

Phil

Great timing on a topic. I replaced the white plastic piece on the wing of an Easy Star 40 with balsa since the plastic piece was old and breaking off. I would like to monokote the whole balsa piece then glue the canopy on the monokote with...well...canopy glue. Will the canopy glue adhere to monokote? I haven't purchased the canopy glue yet.

Yes.
Rough up the Monocoat where the canopy will go with fine sandpaper, 400 grit wet or dry works well. You are not really trying to get the surface of the monocoat rough but just take the shine off is all you need. (between you and me, I have put canopies on without sanding the monocoat first and have yet to have one come loose)

Hello!!!
a friend of mine use silicone (the one used for the windows) and it works well, in the case of a crash the canopy can be removed easily

escipion