Canopy, the big cut, page 3

14 Jun 2005 Canopy, the big cut, page 3

This article is continued from Canopy, Page 2

I read on another builder’s site that you should make the big cut (split the canopy from the windscreen) a bit earlier than Van’s recommends. This turned out to be a good idea.

Van’s recommended a piece of cardboard to help find the right place to cut. This worked well.

Easy to see the right place to cut.

Close up.

I’ve drawn a black line along the cardboard to help find the right place. Van’s said that it is not too criticial that this cut is perfect, but it helps. It turns out that they are wrong. You really should try to make this cut perfect, since it will probably end up being very visible. I also didn’ t need or want to remove any more material. Take your time here!

Here the canopy has dropped down after the last part of the cut was done. I should have clamped it in place. I’m glad there was no damage.

The canopy on the workbench ready to be worked on.

The windscreen after the cut. It turned out pretty nice.

Here you can see the windscreen sits on the forward skin quite nicely. This won’t take much preparation to install at all. I just need to wait until the FWF stuff is done before I rivet on this skin, then I can glue on the windscreen.

Here is where a small bit chipped off the canopy. Not too noticable, but I’ll spend a lot of time dressing this up so that it does not crack.

More on the canopy installation here: Canopy, final trim, Page 4