Updated-Sliding Canopy- Here's "How To"
01-19-2003, 06:51 AM
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Updated-Sliding Canopy- Here's "How To"
Here’s a relatively simple “How To”…Most of the photos are self-explanatory. I’ll make a comment here and there to expand on them if necessary.
The installation is for a Ziroli Corsair.
The Corsair canopy track, aft of the cockpit, slopes downward slightly.
This made this installation a bit harder than my P40 installation in that for the Corsair, the sliding shuttle and brass track are positioned such that they allow the change of direction aft of the cockpit without resistance.
The track is positioned with the slot upwards verses sideways which is the preferred way.
Anyway, for those of you that have never worked with ABS “PLASTRUCT” components, in order to get a good bond prepare the parts by brushing ACETONE on them prior to using Medium CA to join the parts together.
You can find ABS “PLASTRUCT” parts in the Hobby shop near the Model Train section…..
Here’s a short list of what you’ll need. Quantities will depend on the installation you’re doing.
Plastruct-
“I” Beam….1/8 inch size, and ˝” size ABS
“L” bracket, 3/8 “ ABS
Brass-
“L”, Ľ inch…
“rectangle”, 3/16 inch by 3/32 inch (I think, don’t quote me…)
Canopy Rails…….
The rectangular brass stock I originally bought from DYNAMIC BALSA.
http://www.dbalsa.com/
They had machined a slot into the brass and marketed it as a “Sliding Canopy Rail”. They’re a bit pricey from DYNAMIC so I bought up a bunch of rectangular pieces and had a friend machine a groove in them…..If you don’t have a “friend”, then you can purchase them from DYNAMIC BALSA….
Air Cylinder-
3, 3.5, 4 inch, etc………I bought mine from ULTRA PRECISION
http://www.up-1.com/
in Canada…..I used a 3 ˝ inch for the Corsair.
I haven’t attached my canopy yet but I’ll add photos later to depict the actual attachment. The photos that follow show the basic installation of the mechanics involved.
To finish up the job you’ll need to build a Canopy Frame; devise a method to attach to the sliding shuttle hard points.
Good luck……
I posted many pictures to this thread, most of which show up in the thumbnail correctly but when expanded by clicking on the tumbnail show the wrong photo......If anyone can tell me what the problem is I sure would appreciate it as I tried for hours to fix this problem with no sucess...
The installation is for a Ziroli Corsair.
The Corsair canopy track, aft of the cockpit, slopes downward slightly.
This made this installation a bit harder than my P40 installation in that for the Corsair, the sliding shuttle and brass track are positioned such that they allow the change of direction aft of the cockpit without resistance.
The track is positioned with the slot upwards verses sideways which is the preferred way.
Anyway, for those of you that have never worked with ABS “PLASTRUCT” components, in order to get a good bond prepare the parts by brushing ACETONE on them prior to using Medium CA to join the parts together.
You can find ABS “PLASTRUCT” parts in the Hobby shop near the Model Train section…..
Here’s a short list of what you’ll need. Quantities will depend on the installation you’re doing.
Plastruct-
“I” Beam….1/8 inch size, and ˝” size ABS
“L” bracket, 3/8 “ ABS
Brass-
“L”, Ľ inch…
“rectangle”, 3/16 inch by 3/32 inch (I think, don’t quote me…)
Canopy Rails…….
The rectangular brass stock I originally bought from DYNAMIC BALSA.
http://www.dbalsa.com/
They had machined a slot into the brass and marketed it as a “Sliding Canopy Rail”. They’re a bit pricey from DYNAMIC so I bought up a bunch of rectangular pieces and had a friend machine a groove in them…..If you don’t have a “friend”, then you can purchase them from DYNAMIC BALSA….
Air Cylinder-
3, 3.5, 4 inch, etc………I bought mine from ULTRA PRECISION
http://www.up-1.com/
in Canada…..I used a 3 ˝ inch for the Corsair.
I haven’t attached my canopy yet but I’ll add photos later to depict the actual attachment. The photos that follow show the basic installation of the mechanics involved.
To finish up the job you’ll need to build a Canopy Frame; devise a method to attach to the sliding shuttle hard points.
Good luck……
I posted many pictures to this thread, most of which show up in the thumbnail correctly but when expanded by clicking on the tumbnail show the wrong photo......If anyone can tell me what the problem is I sure would appreciate it as I tried for hours to fix this problem with no sucess...
01-19-2003, 06:55 AM
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Updated-Sliding Canopy- Here's "How To"
Shown is my P40. The installation is much easier if the rail can be oriented outward, and there is a straight line (no bends) in the retraction of the cockpit.
01-19-2003, 07:06 AM
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Updated-Sliding Canopy- Here's "How To"
The "I Beam" or shuttle as I call it, is trimmed to allow two attachment points for the canopy.
Some of the I beam is trimmed away to allow ease of movement in the Rail, particularly where the rail is tilted downward aft of the cockpit.....
Some of the I beam is trimmed away to allow ease of movement in the Rail, particularly where the rail is tilted downward aft of the cockpit.....
01-19-2003, 07:11 AM
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Updated-Sliding Canopy- Here's "How To"
A brass "L" bracket is soldered to the rail to make it easier to position and glue it into the fuselage......
01-19-2003, 08:16 AM
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Updated-Sliding Canopy- Here's "How To"
Just a comment about the degree of difficulty involved in actually getting all these photos loaded to this thread......Two hours to finally complete.....
AND>>>>>I just noticed that some photos show the correct Thumbnail image but show a different photo when "clicked" on,,,,I give up......
They (RCADMIN) has a thirty second wait between posting. I had posted some photos that never showed on the board....
Jeesh...This should be a lot easier, QUE?
AND>>>>>I just noticed that some photos show the correct Thumbnail image but show a different photo when "clicked" on,,,,I give up......
They (RCADMIN) has a thirty second wait between posting. I had posted some photos that never showed on the board....
Jeesh...This should be a lot easier, QUE?
01-19-2003, 09:12 AM
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Updated-Sliding Canopy- Here's "How To"
OK, here's one of the photos that are depicted correctly in the Thumbnail but is wrong when you click on the thumbnail....
I hope it works here!!!!
I hope it works here!!!!
01-19-2003, 03:05 PM
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Updated-Sliding Canopy- Here's "How To"
Thanks Branded for takeing the time to share your talent with us it is apprecated very much. I am in the process of making a sliding canope on a 79 in Zero.
01-28-2003, 09:49 PM
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Updated-Sliding Canopy- Here's "How To"
Thank you, for the details and pictures for the sliding canopy,
This will be a big help.
R. Kranz, [email protected]
This will be a big help.
R. Kranz, [email protected]
02-18-2003, 07:53 PM
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Updated-Sliding Canopy- Here's "How To"
Here's some more detail photos...
The center of the canopy frame will be cut out after all else is done, painting, etc.
The frame is made of two 1/4 plywood sandwiched together, the top of the frame fitted to the canopy top by using PVA mold release, and then filling the gap with an epoxy mix of balloons and glass fibers.
You can see the attach points to the frame, as well as the aft Canopy. These points will not be visible once the Canopy is painted....
The plastic canopy should be reinforced at the aft attachment, where the screw will pass through, with fiberglass or equivalent.
The center of the canopy frame will be cut out after all else is done, painting, etc.
The frame is made of two 1/4 plywood sandwiched together, the top of the frame fitted to the canopy top by using PVA mold release, and then filling the gap with an epoxy mix of balloons and glass fibers.
You can see the attach points to the frame, as well as the aft Canopy. These points will not be visible once the Canopy is painted....
The plastic canopy should be reinforced at the aft attachment, where the screw will pass through, with fiberglass or equivalent.