Hi all,

I'm looking at building a short kit for the first time, and I'm curious how everyone sources parts (canopy, cowl, etc). Specifically, I want to build a Great Planes Super Skybolt. I can find the cowl and wheel pants, but where would I go to have a canopy made? Also, is there a resource for making the cabane wires? I'm curious how others have built biplane short kits.

Thanks!

If you have a set of plans that were designed for a scratch type build, the cabane wire fabrication will be there. For kits, you never know. Some companies provide everything you need in case something breaks in a crash, others not so much. Cowls, canopies, and wheel pants can sometimes be purchased through Fiberglass Masters or one of the other fiberglass parts houses. If you don't see it on the website, you could try calling or emailing them about a canopy. There is also park flyer plastics for canopies. He has tons of them.

When I build from a set of plans, I usually fabricate the cowl from scratch. I can also make a canopy if I need to, although that is a lot of work. The trick to scratch or short kit building is looking for those hard to make parts you don't want to tackle before you fall in love with the plane. And with bipes, they usually have a windshield instead of a canopy. Those can be made from a piece of clear plastic and a pair of scissors.


Carl

For a canopy try ParkFlyerPlastics.com . I've bought a few canopy's from older Sig kits that were long ago discontinued. They have several styles of canopys on their website too. Some specific to particular planes, and some more generic canopies of different sizes. The products I got from this company are really nice. I have no complaints at all. Send them an email if you're interested, and they might be able to help you. It's what they do.

FiberglassSpecialties does have a few canopies listed I've noticed lately as well..(maybe where you sourced your cowl/wheel-pants).

Either one of these companies, or the above that carl listed might have something close that you can retro-fit too. Just a thought there. Good luck with your project.

Thanks for the tips everyone. I have reached out to Park Flyer Plastics.