jigeye

I have a large plexiglass canopy that has cracked. The crack is approx. 3 inches. Unfortunately, the model is no longer made and there are no replacement parts.
I have stop drilled a hole at the end of the crack, however, where the plexiglass is glued (with canopy glue) to the actual canopy has come loose which aggravated the cracking.
I will re-glue the plexiglass to the actual canopy with canopy glue.
I am looking for ideas on how to either repair cracked plexiglass or methods to prevent it from spreading.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

The stop-drill is your best bet. If you don't mind the way it looks, CA will hold the crack, but make sure it is completely oil-free before gluing

Steve Steinbring

If your not trying to show the cockpit I'd repair the canopy from the inside. Stop drill the crack and reinforce with fiberglass tape then prime and paint the outside.

Lnewqban

Any pictures?

What has created the crack?

jigeye

Now this is an idea. What kind of paint do you use?

jigeye

There was already a crack there that I stop drilled. What happened was the plexiglass came loose from the edge and aggravated the problem.
I'd like to make it "bullet proof". If this means using fiberglass tape from the inside, screws to fasten it to the canopy, and paint it, then that's fine.
Dunno how to do the fiberglass tape or paint it.
Need ideas.

Steve Steinbring

jigeye,

Repairing a canopy on the inside is not all that difficult. First separate the canopy from the cockpit. Sand the inside surface of the plexi to give it a tooth for the adhesive to adhere to. Then tape the canopy back together on the topside so everything is positioned correctly. Next glue the repair area on the inside with epoxy laying fiberglass tape over the repair area allowing adequate overlap on the cracked out area to allow for good reinforcement.

Once the epoxy is cured remove the tape from the topside of the canopy. Lightly sand the plexi, fill the stop drill holes and crack lines making sure the repairs are flush. Prime the canopy and sand with fine grit paper. Making sure any flaws are repaired to your satisfaction before applying the finish coat the color of your choice.

Re-attach the canopy to the cockpit gluing it down with a canopy adhesive or silicone.

Your good to go.

Hope that helps!

jrcaster

What plane is that? you may still be able to find a replacement for it. If not, you can remove it, and tape the crack together on the outside, then tape some plastic across the rear and cast with plaster of paris. Then you can form your own replacement. With that thing cracking, it may have just gotten brittle and get worse. At least now it is not so bad that you can't get a good plug out of it.

opjose

Piece of cake!

Grab some clear plastic from a soda bottle, etc.

Cut it to a regular shape ( think along the lines of a LOW instrument panel edge ) and glue it to the inside of the existing canopy.

Affix the broken section to the plastic.

Lightly sand the broken section to smooth out any imperfections caused by the glue.

Paint the forward edge as if it were an instrument panel, etc...

Apply some trim tape, and it will look like it was made that way.



Or.... as suggested in an RC Magazine....

Shape a block of wood, to the approximate shape of the canopy...

Get a clear plastic bottle and cut a large clear section out...

Using a covering mitt and a heat gun, heat the plastic, and press and smooth it to conform to the shape of the wooden canopy shape.

Keep working it to you obtain the shape you want, cut out any excess, and you have a new suitable canopy.

jigeye

Chip Hyde Vision 3D. Hadn't made them for 2 or 3 years now.

Sharku

hmmm maybe just make a whole new canopy items needed would be some kind a mounding material [silicone, plaster... what else?]
i would just fix the interior so it "just" looks like it was one piece then pour some silicone stuff once set get some of the stuff whatever the canopy is made off and work of it [pour it over] and cut off the excess then you'll have a plane noone ever will have.. unless you give it away

Gizmo-RCU

My Feedback: (27)

Often the kit builder farms out the canopys, etc., you might find the plugs still exist? A few emails might just be the trick.........

Lnewqban

jigeye:

All good ideas.

I would repair the canopy, but trying to keep it transparent, as I like it.

Normally the cracks extend beyond where is visible, that is why the drill solution not always work.

Note that there is a force trying to lift the broken portion up, which will extend the crack if it is not counteracted.
The edge against which the canopy should be glued is too narrow to hold that portion down, once the whole canopy is broken.

I would beef that edge with wood or plexiglass, and re-glue the canopy down to it.
You could also make a mechanical hold down wrapping the damaged area with thin plexi or aluminum, which could be screwed to the fuse.

You could use the clear glue and the the trick described in the link below to hide the crack and the old holes after all is back to the original position.

http://www.rplastics.com/plac.html

http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/Pla...-Acrylic-Sheet

http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/Plexiglass_Glue

http://www.ehow.com/how_4489214_remo...campaign=ysart

Remember that epoxy will cure to a amber color.

Time to add a pilot figure!

Regards!