Retractable Canopy. Help needed!
 

Hi guys,

I need help with installing a retractable canopy. I have a P51 D 75" Wingspan, which I am totally overhauling. I am going to add all the scale features I can (weight premitting), and top of the list is a scale cockpit and canopy.

Can any of the experts out there point me in the right direction on mechanisms and stuff.

Many thanks in advance.

John

RE: Retractable Canopy. Help needed!
 

John,

if you look in the RCWARBIRDS website I'm sure there is a link in there about a guy who did this on a giant scale P40, he made his so he could open/close in flight. Very nice too.

cheers
Peter

RE: Retractable Canopy. Help needed!
 

yes , he is he guy holding plane up by the tail , go to his website click on P40 an dyou will see a step by step guide

RE: Retractable Canopy. Help needed!
 

Hi,

Thanks for the reply's. I've had a look at the web site, and its given me a few ideas.

john

RE: Retractable Canopy. Help needed!
 

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RE: Retractable Canopy. Help needed!
 

Hi John; I have on several occasions made custom-stroke aircylinders for canopy operation, but seldom knew what mechanism they used for the connection. One of the problems is that the canopy moves up and away from the fuse as it moves back. I'll look in my files and see if I have anything of value on it. It seems like one person did send some info, but that was 8 or 10 years ago!! In the drawing on the site, it is very indistinct, at least on my system, and doesn't seem to be complete. The close-up of the track look a lot like my canopy track. One fellow mentioned a web site for a P-40, but what is the web site??? My track is shown on Jerry Bates plans. Lee Robinson

RE: Retractable Canopy. Help needed!
 

Rob its RCWARBIRD , that is the site we are referring to , there are picture and step by step progression of the p40 with an air support and home made bell crank shown from inside the fuse . Great operation .
As far as the rails I have used "square shaped aluminum then cut a line in a lathe , then just use ball link heads form any RC accessory pack taht will slide in the u cut . It work great and its a lot cheaper then the $30 they want for pre-made rails.

RE: Retractable Canopy. Help needed!
 

Hi LDM; 30 bucks!!! I sell mine for $10. for a pair of 12" pieces! Either I'm being cheated, or they are hosing people! I use a special slitting saw setup thats knocks out one every 17 seconds!! The biggest expense seems to be the exhorbitant costs of K&S 1/8 x 1/4 brass tubing. Also, the the grey Plastruct i-beam 3/16 x 3/8 is a perfect fit in my track. I just finished sending a dozen sets to Mark OMeara, a Scale Masters and Top Gun participant. If you have any specific questions, I'll try to answer them. Sincerely; Lee Robinson [email protected] See track at www.robinairerc.20m.com Click on photos.

RE: Retractable Canopy. Help needed!
 

rOB FOR $10 , i WILL BUY THEM FROM YOU AND YES THEY ARE CHARGING $30, i HAVE TO GET THE WEBSITE SO YOU CAN GO THERE . i DONT HAVE A LATHE BUT THE GUYS AT WORK DID THE CUTTING FOR ME

RE: Retractable Canopy. Help needed!
 

there was a guy on here doing a small TF Corsair who put a sliding canopy on it and he showed step by step in the thread, can't remember who he is but I did download all the piccies.

If you want em give me a hoy and I'll send them along.

cheers
Peter

RE: Retractable Canopy. Help needed!
 

Peter - I would love to see the F4U canopy detail or if you remember the thread? I'll go get them..

thx, Bill

RE: Retractable Canopy. Help needed!
 

It is not a problem if the back of the canopy moves up or in the case of the Corsair moves down. You have to make sure that the push rods do not directly attach to the canopy attachment bracket that fits in the square brass slotted tube. This is done with a push pull system. This is my drawings for a system I am going to install in an 82" Corsair. I have made the canopy sliding on a smaller Corsair and have documented that here, on this next one I will use a system similar to the plungers in the drawing. I have not decided on the material for the plungers, but it will probably be made of plastic tube with brass wire. This system would work on a P-51 also. The canopy brackets are slightly rounded at the slot so that they can move slightly up or down as the back of the canopy follows the rear track.

Dion

RE: Retractable Canopy. Help needed!
 

Hi guys,

Thanks again for great info. If you guys can post any another pictures, it would be really apreciated.

I have some ideas on moving the canopy back, but I'm just stuck on the rail. Dont have many ideas there. Was thinking of getting brass/alu tube from the LHS and cutting a groove down the length of the tube so instead of a the tube looking like a circle in plan it looks like a C. Then just using some nylon brackets to slip into the groove. Is this agood idea? Or should I be looking at something stronger?

John

RE: Retractable Canopy. Help needed!
 

John I don't think you are seeing what I am trying to show you. I am very mechanically inclined and sometimes I don't explain things as well as I should because it seems so obvious to me. Combine the sliding mechanism shown in my first post with the air operated slide shown in my last post. If I get more time I'll try and explain it better. I've flown many flights with the sliding mechanism shown with no failures.

Dion