I just put the canopy on the plans side view and mark it with a sharpie and cut it. It usually gets it close enough.

I cut a groove or a ledge all away around the area that the canopy sits. I cut a groove in the nose block so canopy will fit. I usually glue it in place and tape around it and use filler to make the conopy look like it is part of the fuselodge. I also put a narrow strip of silkspan all the way around to help make it a little more secure

James,

Here's a trick, but you have to promise you will keep it in the secret society of canopy cutters.

Cut the canopy so it's in the neighborhood of the right size. May take several fittings to get it close. Then take some sandpaper and cut it to fit the area the canopy fits (several pieces are OK) and use some spray contact cement like 3M-77 glue the sandpaper down with the rough side up. I usually use something like 100 grit stuff. The put the canopy in place and move it back and forth until it fits the curve of the area. Should have some fairly sharp edges. Once it's fitted to the top block, pop the sandpaper off and clean the area (usualy not too hard). Put the canopy on and trace around it. Cut a slot for the canopy to fit in (as Leo said - hey, he does have a good thought every once in awhile -   ) The canopy should slide right into the slot.

And there you are; a fitted canopy.

I use a fingernail scissors I got from my Mom she was a nurse.

I wouldn't worry TOO much about cutting through the blocks when installing the canopy.  Using epoxy in the slot and filling it up with the canopy pretty much takes care of that problem.  Plus we all cover the nose with fiberglass or CF so that keeps things from cracking, at least in my cases.  My 11 year old *regular* PAMPA plane has a bunch of *holes* where I cut through the top block attaching the canopy!     No cracks, etc., yet...........

I rough them out with curved scissors, then I stick Great Planes 220 grit papter on the fuselage and sand the canopy into a perfect contour fit, I don't groove the blocks.