Canopy

Hours 18

Total Hours 701

I didnt have much time on my two weeks off this month but I wanted to get some canopy work done. I marked off the canopy and taped the lines where my Sikaflex primer will go. I also sanded the glue path with 150 grit to rough it up. Then I applied the cleaner/activator. Then I waited an hr and painted the primer on.

I taped off the glue lines on the canopy frame and roughed it up good. Then I cleaned and primed it also. 

Then I placed all the 1/8" spacers on the frame and put straps on the canopy to pull it in to about 1/2" farther than my measurements on the fuse skin. I clamped the canopy in place and spot glued it all around the spacers. I waited two days and removed the clamps and pulled the spacers out. I then put the best looking fillet of sikaflex I could on all the gaps. The next day I put it on the plane and the width was only 1/16 narrow. I spread the canopy a few times by hand and put it on and it seems to fit perfect. 

 

I put on the windscreen and it looks good, but I have more trimming to do on the windscreen and it will not be installed until my forward skin has been riveted on and it cant be riveted on until  I'm sure all the wiring to the engine is right.

I drilled the holes for the canopy bracket and mounted it. 

The nuts and washers are notorious  for being very hard to install under the lip of the cabin opening but I built a tool welding a cheap 9mm socket on a piece of metal. Works like a charm.