Pacer Canopy glue warning
 

Whilst tidying out my workshop the other night I placed my CARF Hawk outside along with my other planes, now in the UK it's that time of year that we get DEW early evening and lots of it!

After taking my Hawk back inside I had to dry the plane down not a problem we have all had our planes get wet at one time or another (apart from Arizona :D)

What I did notice is that at the edges of where the canopy is glued to the fibre glass framework (CARF Hawk canopy is fixed on the inside of frame etc) is the Pacer canopy glue had started to go SOFT and WHITE!

Pacer Canopy 560 glue is NOT waterproof!

You can get white woodworking PVA glue that IS waterproof which is basically what Pacer canopy glue is!

I would have thought that this canopy glue would have been waterproof!

I will go round the edge of canopy frame/glass with very small brush and seal with oil based clear laqquer/varnish

Could also be problem if you are flying just after rain or during if you are that way inclined with all the moisture in the air, my canopy was not that long outside but long enough to start softning the glue!

Alan

RE: Pacer Canopy glue warning
 

Did you glue in the canopy glass or did CARF? I have used 560 tons of times and have never had this issue, even in high humidity situations.

RE: Pacer Canopy glue warning
 

Strange that, I have always used it and never had it go white even when left out in the rain. How long had your canopy been glued for?

Jason

RE: Pacer Canopy glue warning
 

What has that got to do with it? CARF do not glue in canopies in the Hawk plus this canopy was supported via magnets for over a week! Not the method of gluing in qestion!

All I am reporting is that the glue is not waterproof certainly not the pot of my pacer! Humidity probably is not quite the same as DEW, my Hawk when I brought this back inside looked like it had been in a rain shower, I have spent time in Singapore that's humidity! also lived in Australia and never observed DEW!

If you glued a piece of canopy to fibre glass let it dry and spray it with water after a bit of soaking the glue will turn white! That is why when white wood PVA glue was brought out onto the market it was never water proof then a while later water proof versions became available so you could use on outside construction

Alan

RE: Pacer Canopy glue warning
 

Jason

Over a year ago! It was just where the glue is visable at the edges between the fibre glass and canopy not saying all the glue went white but certainly the edge did. I have used the Pacer before but never noticed any problems like I said this was just an observation I noticed Sunday night, where the glue had gone white you could start picking the edge with a small blade etc as

I have checked since and the edge has now fully dried again and is back to being hard and translucent.

Also looking on description on bottle I do not believe it states 'water proof'

Alan

RE: Pacer Canopy glue warning
 

Simmer down there Alan, just trying to get some facts and the facts are that you are the ONLY one so far that has had this happen to them. Nothing wrong with 560!!

RE: Pacer Canopy glue warning
 

Slightly off topic, but still Pacer related. I just got some thin CA today from Tower (the pink bottle) and noticed it's color to be similar to apple juice, rather than clear that it has been in the past. Is this abnormal?

RE: Pacer Canopy glue warning
 

I have ALSO used a glue here called Super RC56, and it will do the same thing if your airplane canopy gets wet, as it is NOT advertised as being waterproof. It adheres to canopy material very well though. I just try to keep my models out of the rain. ;)

RE: Pacer Canopy glue warning
 

I've used the RC56 and the Zap 560 in the past, used Windex to clean them many times, never had any issues with the glue releasing after it was cured. i don't think it's the normal for a plane to be left out in the weather so i don't see it really being an issue to most.

RE: Pacer Canopy glue warning
 

I use the non whitening/blooming foam safe thixotropic ca Cured with the matching kicker. Never had a problem, but I have also used the same as you and can't remember the same happening, maybe they have changed the formula?

Rob.

RE: Pacer Canopy glue warning
 

I also had the same problem with the canopy on my Electra. It never came off but, it did turn white around the edges.