I'm in the process of kitbashing a cmp p40e and would like to equip it with an opening canopy, since I have never done this before on any of my airplanes I need some advice.
I'll like to slave it either to the flap or retract servo so that the canopy will open when that channel is activated. Can anyone give me any Ideas on how to make the tracks?.

Check out Building an Airworld FW 190 and look at the last post.Also there is a video on RCU video of the canopy functioning.You can get the rails from Dynamic Balsa.

For the tracks I used windshield wiper replacement blade parts. Works like a charm and only cost me a few bucks. I think i even have some left over tracks in the shop. I'll see if i can find you some pics of the tracks on my H9 Corsair.


Grinder.

My son's H9 Corsair with open canopy.

replacement windshield wiper on the right. Just trim to size and insert into fuselage.

Grinder.

I can't help with the rails, but I'm building a Corsair and will have the canopy open when throttle is 25% or less AND the flaps are down. This is accomplished without requiring a channel just for the canopy. How can that be done you ask? Check out what Buz offers at Oregon Scale Aviation [link=http://oregonscaleaviation.com]Oregon Scale Aviation[/link]. The "Channel-3" product takes the input from up to 2 channels and activates a servo depending on the settings you program.

You can program it to open the canopy when throttle is less than 50% AND the flaps are 75% down or more, or when the gear are down and the flaps are 80% down, etc...

I have bought several of his products and highly recommend him.

I made a sliding canopy for my Platt Zero. I made the rails using plastic H and brass square pieces. I made a slot in the brass with my dremel and cleaned it up with a small file. I have seen air cylinders used to open and close on a P-40.

On my Jug I put the canopy on the flaps with a 3-position switch.
Flaps:
0= flaps up, normal flying
1= flaps 20 degree, take off
2= flaps 40 degree, landing

I have my sliding canopy on a retract servo. This makes it possible to adjust the flaps where I want. The retract servo reacts on the lowest and highest settings, that means if I flip the switch from 0 to 2 the canopy opens and I can set the flaps for takeoff.
I can taxi the plane with a open canopy. On the runway in position I flip the flaps to 0 and the canopy closes. Ready for takeoff with a closed canopy.
You can takeoff with a open canopy, no problem whatsoever. It just looks cool when you taxi out and close the canopy before takeoff.

Happy landings
G-Pete

BTW: this setup is without any additional gadgets, just a Y-harness ...

Happy landings
G-Pete

If I understand correctly, you are using a retract servo connected to your canopy that is "Y" connected to your flap channel? That sounds interesting. Can you share more information on the setup?

what do you like to know?

I'll PM you so as not to hijack this thread.

There are several build threads for this plane, you just have to do a query and look through them.

See the following thread, starting at post 115:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_43..._p%2D40/tm.htm

Tim

There may be other threads that have some info in them somewhere for a specific plane, but, a thread dedicated to sliding canopies is very useful for those wanting to see how its done and get tips. Keep up the discussion. What may be relavent to a P-40, or whatever plane, could give someone an idea on how to outfit their own plane even if its something entirely different. I would have loved to do a sliding canopy on my VQ P-40, but not gonna find info on a VQ in a CMP thread if you get my meaning.
Consolidating info in one thread is good for anyone interested in learning new tricks Hell, Id like to figure out how to do functional canopies in a lot of planes so I can put the charge jacks and what-not in the cockpit area so as to keep the exterior of the plane nice and clean without the usual switches and stuff poking out.

I have seen many set ups , planing on one for my FW190 and CMP P40 .
My Fw190 will be connected to my retracts and operated by air .
some of the ideas I have seen were bell cranks turned sideway , attached to the inside of the fuse , then the top of the bellcrank is attached to a rod that pushes the canopy on its rails from the inside .Then when the servo is moved the bottom rod pulls the bellcrank and the canopy closes

Anyone do a functional canopy on Ziroli Zero?

My P-51-D with sliding canopy,stays put in flight too, which is a bonus!

Matt - looks great! What scale?