Canopy.
In de early 90’s we made our own canopy. We didn’t like the old fashion KR canopy so we decide to
make our own mould. We thought that the small optical mismatch would disappear after cleaning.
A few years later.
As you can see it fits perfect.
After the tail mod, the canopy doesn’t fit anymore so we decided to order a dragonfly canopy.
Back then we never heard about dragonfly, but nowadays internet is the place to be!
The dragonfly canopy.
We take a good look how Mark langford made his frame for the canopy. Thanks for your info.
The very flexible canopy arrived!! We did need tape to hold the canopy in its shape.
We made 2 canopy rails glued temp on the longerons. Made the shape of the fuselage in the foam. Removed
the thickness of the canopy and put a later of CF on it.
Installed the canopy on the first part of the frame. On the aft side we made a jig to hold the canopy in the
right shape.
Used a complete sheet of foam for the aft side of the frame. Later we cut it in to a smaller one.
Result, shape as the canopy.
We made the flinch 20mm longer because the canopy frame must perfectly closed on the turtle deck.
The front deck.
With the canopy in its right position we designed the shape of the front deck.
Now we had the right shape it is easy to find the shape of the instrument panel. And also the final shape
of the FWD deck.
Made a filler to fill the gap.
One layer with CF cloth over it.
And than… cut the upper part of the instrument panel. (we used this part later)
Shape it in the right model.
Again CF cloth.
Now its time to shape the rails above the longerons.
Almost finished. Need to cut the big after panel.
After the cut we put the final layer of CF cloth over it. Result is one layer cloth horizontal lower side and
top side 2 layers. 2 x 2 layers cloth vertical.
Frame finished.
To open and close the canopy, we want to make something like the picture above.
You need a tube that runs from LH to RH side.
It works.
Now the frame is ready we can glue the canopy……. First we need to spray and final finish the inside.
After fill all the small holes with micro, we used normal filler and a primer.
The white coating is final, the black is a base coat. ( Thanks marcel)
Good view at the small cap for the locking mechanism.
Finishing the glair shield
Now it is ready for gluing the canopy……. After installing the locking mechanism
First rough the canopy with grit 40
We made a jig, so we had a good possibility to put some force on the canopy in the glue proces.
After everything is clean, first put a very thin layer at of clear resin on both sides. Than one layer with flox
and than is the final moment…..
It is on.
Next day we removed the clamps.
This the first view and probaly for a long time the only view thru our canopy.
We had to clean 20 mm because we put one layer on the outside of the glass.
Fairing
Finshed.
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