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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: kevin king on December 28, 2022, 03:25:00 AM
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For the life of me i cant figure out how to install the 1/4" scrap balsa with the canopy. Anyone here know how its done? is the 1/4" scrap balsa on the inside of the canopy too? Is the 1/4" scrap balsa installed first ? Any one have better close up photos to help me see how the canopy is attached, and a more detailed description on how its done?
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Discombobulated. Baffled.
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Bewildered. No clue.
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Confused. Puzzled
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Confounded & angry AF
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Your picture in Reply #6 has the canopy in the right position. So here is my method to finish it off. Others will differ.
#1 Mask off the bottom on the outside to where the final finish line will be. I use a thick blue masking tape for this. Once you have the line on the canopy mask the rest of it with something that comes off easily. Blue masking is OK. This will be on the canopy until the final finish is applied .
#2 The side blocks will need to be carved so go ahead and glue them in. They should be flush with the fuselage sides (not the indented part) and in the front to give you a lip after sanding.
#3 Sand the Outside to make it a smooth curve enough to let you put the canopy in place. Mark the edge of the canopy on the fuselage. I use a thin point felt tip pen since it
leaves a mark that resists sanding.
#4 Cut the side blocks back 1/16" for anything above the line. The canopy should now seat all the way around. Now this part is personal preference. I make a military
type canopy so I build a wide lip on the inside. Yours should probably be narrow so carve the inside to where you have a small lip, say 1/16" on the sides.
#5 Now everything above the lines will visible through the canopy and needs to be finished (especially the back). The canopy is the last thing you want to glue on before
filler.
#6 Glue it in with canopy glue and add a light filler all around. Sand it down to the tape but do not sand through the tape. Leave the tape on till the plane is finished, clear
and all.
#7 Post pictures and reap the good comments. You have just completed what will probably be the only see-through canopy at most contests today! LL~
A note for the future. I build a canopy "block" that slips out of the main fuselage so that I can work on it separately.
Ken
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Thank You Ken! Ive got the fitting of the canopy done. Now comes the best part, painting. I'm thinking a white plane with Neon pink and blue. I am curious why most vector 40's use a blacked out canopy though ? And yes i will post pictures when its done. Vector 40 with a Randy Smith reworked OS LA 46. Might have to change the needle valve hole in the fuse because i originally made it for a stock LA 46 and im sure the needle valve location is not the same
Regards,
Kevin.
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I had the privilege of having only a Vector 40 to fly and compete with for a year after a fire that destroyed my "fleet". It was borrowed from a friend. It is an exceptional plane and you are going to like it. The LA 46 is perfect.
Ken
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I think I will like it too, as long as i got all the parts true. Got the dash made up. Something simple. I just adjusted the size and printed off the instruments.
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Wheel pants done too
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Looks Really good. Don't forget that arch of balsa behind the pilot. It will show through the canopy.
Ken
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Looks Really good. Don't forget that arch of balsa behind the pilot. It will show through the canopy.
Ken
Yes i was wondering about that today. The rear part of the canopy should be the same color of the plane, white. The only other thing is the side pieces the canopy attaches too... I plan to leave them black, and the smaller trim piece on the outside edge of the canopy will be the color of the plane.
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I under cut the canopy. Price for a new one: 15 dollars. Price for shipping to Canada: 30.00. Unreal. it
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I under cut the canopy. Price for a new one: 15 dollars. Price for shipping to Canada: 30.00. Unreal. it
For that price I would find a way to make it fit! We have all been there and done that!
Ken
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Thats quite the cockpit detail Ken. Always pushing the boundries is part of the fun.
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Cost of a 2-liter soda bottle to make a new canopy: <$2 (but you have to drink the stuff while you are making it)
The result: priceless....
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😁 Dave, good idea. Making a canopy looks like a good way to go. And then I can share them with anyone that needs one!
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No Top view of the canopy on the plans. 🙄 Its not easy being me.
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If all else fails, go for an open cockpit. D>K
😁 I took the original canopy, set it on the block and traced around it. If that dont work , i will order a new one.
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New canopy on. Thanks to Larry Maltman that helped me. We now have a mold to make many.
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As we’ve come to expect from you, looking good Kevin!
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😁 Thanks Robert. This is supposed to be a practice plane anyway.
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That looks great and what makes this hobby/sport so much fun. Learning to do things. D>K