Sliding canopy (how do you do it)
 

I'm sure there are 100 ways to make a sliding canopy. Would some of out there share your method please. I'll be building a Zlin 526 sometime this winter.

RE: Sliding canopy (how do you do it)
 

Do a search.. There are at least 5 pages with reference to a sliding canopy. As you mentioned there is more than one method. Any decent, method that keeps the canopy in place is suitable.

RE: Sliding canopy (how do you do it)
 

If you can get your hands on a copy of Model Airplane News's May '05 issue, look at the tech section. It has all you need to know on how-to-do it.

I only know this for sure, because one of the guys in our club has this setup on at least 3 of his planes. I contacted them to get a issue for myself so I can do it on a Chippy. :))

RE: Sliding canopy (how do you do it)
 

Five pages of reference and 500 pages of threads to sort through to find the actual procedure. I wish the search feature was a little bit better. I'll sort through everything to find what I need...

RE: Sliding canopy (how do you do it)
 

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_13...tm.htm#1392938

Google is your friend.

RE: Sliding canopy (how do you do it)
 

That Helps! :D

RE: Sliding canopy (how do you do it)
 

Three more:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_10...m.htm#10091537

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_97...tm.htm#9741672

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_95...tm.htm#9562709

RE: Sliding canopy (how do you do it)
 

I've just done the very thing this week, servo operated, cheap and very reliable. This was on a reworked ESM Spitfire. On the second page shows the whole canopy sliding workings, link here.

Hope this helps, Ian.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_10..._2/key_/tm.htm

http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/...o/DSCF8420.jpg

http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/...o/DSCF8419.jpg

RE: Sliding canopy (how do you do it)
 

Now we're talkin' turkey!!:D

I have or will have a bubble canopy but all of this is easily modified to work that way also. Now if I could just find a photo of the full scale canopy just to have as a reference....... Tons of Zlin pics on the interweb, just not what I'm looking for. I'll just keep looking.

Thanks everybody!!!!

Ken

RE: Sliding canopy (how do you do it)
 

The Zlin '26 range is one of my favourites in classic aerobatics, I'd love to see a build thread on your Zlin Ken??? The full size has three sliding rails, one either side and another up the fin strake. This leads one to think that the canopy is held with a lug at the front bottom corner of the canopy and a third one in the middle of the rear curved section that locates into the fin strake.

Ian.

RE: Sliding canopy (how do you do it)
 

I had the Sig kit years ago and loved the plane. It was a "B" witch to build though. I ordered the short kit from Laser Design Services. It is a Dick Van Morick (spelling) design and looks to be relatively easy to build. 20% scale, so 83 inch wing. After I get my ducks in a row I may just post a few pics of the build. First I have a CAP rebuild and finish up an old Sig Mustang 450 F1 pylon racer.

I assumed one of the tracks was in the fin strake. The other two could be located about anywhere as long as they allowed the canopy to move properly. I think a simple latch can be made to lock it closed.

Thanks Again!!

Ken

RE: Sliding canopy (how do you do it)
 

Ian.

Looks just like what I did on my Top Flite P-40, but I added material around the windscreen to give it some body; cut out the front rectangular section, and inset thick plastic "bullet proof" glass.

Les

RE: Sliding canopy (how do you do it)
 

P40 looks good Les, the canopy certainly makes all the difference. Ref. the stiffening, yup, I still have do do it but it will certainly get some sort of framework.

Heres a short vid of mine working, no servo on it yet, just an arm reaching through the firewall!! Speilberg I aint!!!!! I can't get it to load into the site, but heres a link.

Ian.

http://s1189.photobucket.com/albums/...t=DSCF8465.mp4

RE: Sliding canopy (how do you do it)
 

"P40 looks good Les,"

Thanks. I didn't have enough channels for all the goodies (only 8; needed 9), to I coupled the canopy to the landing gear through a "Go Slo", so the gear would come up quickly, then the canopy slowly slide shut. Very impressive, but before my video capability, so no documentation.

Les

RE: Sliding canopy (how do you do it)
 

From I've been reading it looks like some type of framework will be almost be a necessity for any sliding canopy. The canopy by its self is just not ridged enough and it would look silly without the framework anyway:) I would think it would be easy enough to do with some bondo or maybe even fiberglass??? I'll have to do some dreaming on this part. Any suggestions out there? No use reinventing the wheel!

Ken

RE: Sliding canopy (how do you do it)
 

I took a piece of square/rectangular plastic, I want to say from the K&S rack, but I'm not sure. Made a wooden form the shape of the opening. Heated the plastic in the oven, on a flat "something" (maybe a piece of wood), until it was soft, then shaped it around the wooden form, and let cool. It was close enough to shape properly, and glue in place.

Les

RE: Sliding canopy (how do you do it)
 

Just remembered. Not K&S, Plastistrut.

Les

RE: Sliding canopy (how do you do it)
 

I was planning on doing the complete framework (top and sides) of both the sliding and fixed portions of the canopy. I'm thinking I'll use some kind of mold release on the original canopy and make a frame out of fiberglass and epoxy. I'll remove the frame and clean it up and reinstall it back on the canopy permanently fixed (glued) to it.