Canopy flashing

[petermick]

Hi All,

This issue has always been a pain in the butt for me.  What is the best/simplest way to remove the excess material from a molded store bought plastic canopy?  I can never get a straight cut using a sissors.

Thanks

Peter Mick
AMA 9581

[Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach]

You and me both!  I have tried knives, scissors, hot knife, nothing seems to work for me.  I have just started trimming it large, then trimming slowly with a new #11 blade.  That's the only way I seem to get it close.

[Randy Powell]

I use a template and mark the canopy. then cut it with scissors. I have some curved ones like Ty notes, but I got them for a sewing store.

[Mark Scarborough]

I have two small curved blade scissors just for that purpose. I think I got them from the local hobby shop, they may have been a Top Flight product long with their panel lines kit.. They are about 5 inches long and work perfect for canopies. 

there is a set of scissors, they are made for cutting Lexan RC car bodies. Tower has them as do most hobbie shops that deal with RC car stuff.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEVT3&P=7

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEVT2&P=7

[RandySmith]

They sale  canopy scissors, first mark the canopy for the cut you want  and then  trim it with canopy scissors

Randy

[Mike Haverly]

Just call me crude but I use my belt sander and get pretty darn close and finish with a Dremel 1/2" drum sander.  It's pretty fast too!  I'm not very good with scissors no matter how small. 

[David Hoover]

Using a belt sander on a canopy, Mike?  Red Green would love it!  I'll have to try that.

[Steve Helmick]

Mike uses a lot of duct tape, too!  Steve

[Mike Haverly]

Not duct tape, blue masking tape.  I cover the canopy with tape, mark the rough dimensions with a Sharpie and start whackin' away.  Obviously some discretion is needed.  I can have one trimmed in about five minutes.

[Trostle]

Get a rough fit of the canopy to the fuselage mate using whatever combination of tools it takes - sissors, knives, or whatedver.  Then take a sheet of 220 sandpaper draped over the top of the fuselage and start the final fit of the canopy by pressing/sanding the edges of the canopy down over the sandpaper.  Takes a while and might wear out a sheet or two of 220 paper but it works.

Keith

[wwwarbird]

 Just cut it close to where you want it and then work it down further with a sanding block and or sandpaper. Be patient, it can take a while, and be careful not to slip and accidentally nick it somewhere with the sandpaper where you don't want to. From there, fit it to the fuse like Keith describes above.