I have tried several ways to glue on a canopy but they all look UGLY. (okay really ugly) The last time I used silicone for automotive glass. Can any one help with what I should use? (and maybe how to remove the ugly silicone on my canopy & plane.)

Thanks

canopy glue RC560 from Zap is rather good for gluing canopies.
silicon removal is usually the scrape and pick method. Some solvents will often work but they may take your paint as well.
Mike

If you must glue it then RC-56 glue is the best. I prefer to use servo mounting screws to attatch canopies, just add some hardwood blocks inside the fuselage wherever the screws are located and you will have a very securely attached canopy.
Can't help with the silicone removal though...

MSelby is dead-on...I have been using the same bottle of (then called) RC 56 for 12 years...I still have a half-bottle full. It has superior adhesion to plastic and buterate as well as paint. It is slightly flexible when dry and can be removed with water when wet. Just takes a little bit, too...don't over glue it.

I used to use a lot of R/C 56, but then they changed for formula or something - pretty thin nowadays...whatdo ya think?

Jerry

I noticed that it is thinner now too, thats part of the reason that I prefer to use screws now. Which brand do you use? I use Pacer, maybe its just their formula that has changed.

I have noticed a fair amount of variance between bottles of 560. I am not sure if it is a shelf storage issue or production variance. I use it with a syringe for scale rivets on some models and it works well, however I sometimes run into a bottle that is way to thin for this type of application.
Mike

I hope it has not changed that much - mine is slightly thinner than the consistency of Elmer's white glue. If it were much thinner, it seems that it wouldn't stay on very well. My bottle says it is Wilhold R/C 56 by Dap, inc. And now that I'm inspecting my glue , I only have a 1/4 bottle left, not the 1/2 I thought I had

Before gluiing the canopy on, make sure you paint the inside of the canopy along the edges to match the fuselage. Then once you glue the canopy on this paint covers your glue joint. You can also use trim tape on the outside of canopy, but I like paint, its more permanent. Lightly sand the inside of canopy to be painted. Dazzler

What is your opinion about using Pacer RC560 right over Ultracote or Monocote without cutting a small strip away for adhesion to the the wood underneath? A local hobby shop says nothing will stick to films reliably, but I've heard some flyers swear this stuff sticks great with film. I'm right at that stage on a SIG 4 Star 60 and I need to make up my mind.
Jack

What I do is take a pin and push little holes in the fuse through the monokote,where the canopy will be glued on. Tip of the exacto works nice too. Be sure to ***** a few holes. Daz...

jelaird, I glued my Easysport canopy right to black monocoat with the Pacer 560 5 years ago. The plane is gone but by golly the canopy is still attached to the monocoat and it is still attached to the wood beneath it. Sniffle, sniffle, that's all that's left. I think my thumb was trying to find Middle-Earth.

Jazzy

I have a Tiger II with '56 holding the canopy onto ultracote and its in its 2nd season. No hint of it coming off, but yes the glue is thineer than it should be. You have to be careful to avoid runs!

I rough up the inside edge with some sandpaper. paint the outside edge to match covering (ultra paint for ultra cote) Then i glue it on with RC 56. I usually go to a sign shop that specializes in vinyl lettering and get some scrap the same color. I cut it 3/8"wide and seal the outside of the canopy to the fuse. I also take a pin, heat it up and poke a hole at the back of the canopy on the edge somewhere. this releaves any heat build up and stops the canopy from fogging up.
Works great and i have never had one blow off or crack from vibration.