Hey folks, I hope you don't mind this question being posed by a scale helicopter pilot, but I am seeking some building tips. Many of our scale helis have removable "doghouses" atop the fuselages. In most cases, these are attached to the fuselage via small screws such as the BVM button head panel screws. However, this solution requires many screws depending on the size of the model. I am trying to come up with another system of locking down the doghouse which utilizes less screws, and possibly some type of rail channel system. I would think that many of your jets have canopy sections which are easily as large as our doghouses, and for the speeds you fly, a tight flush fit is paramount. Any suggestions you have, I would love to hear. Maybe there's an online buildup somewhere showing various procedures? Many thanks!

Greg,

I am not sure if they would work for what you are talking about, but BVM makes a canopy hook, and also some alignment pins that might help. I suspect the hooks would work out for you. It would be nice to see some pictures of what you are trying to do.

Here's a shot of the opening left behind when the doghouse is removed, as viewed from the front, above the windshield:


Here's a shot with the doghouse installed:



You'll notice in the second photo the row of screws along the bottom edge of the doghouse/lid. What I want to do is eliminate as many of those as possible. Even with the screws, the fit and finish isn't as good as i'd like. The real challenge for this is to create a system which not only allows me to slide the doghouse on, but also brings the edges down flush with the rest of the fuselage. Is this making sense, or am I confusing the issue? Do the BVM locator pins provide any holding strength, or are they simply for alignment? One other thing I forgot to mention is that the lid must be completely removable, and the opening cannot be permanently blocked. I need the ability to remove the mechanics when necessary for maintenance, etc. Here's a shot of the fuselage without the mechs installed:

Use the canopy hooks. I will post a picture later, but what you will have to do is glue a lip of ply wood around the bottom of the canopy and around the opening in the body. Basically so you will have a flange on the heli, and on the canopy portion. Install the hooks, I am assuming that you can slide the canopy either forward or backward, and then when you get that fitting you can add one screw to hold it in place, or a canopy latch. You can then putty the flange on the canopy part and make the seam essentially disappear. The locator pins are just for alignment, the hooks actually wil pull it down.