I mentioned removable canopies briefly.

I wanted to be able to service the canopy on the Gee Bee R-3 which I designed and am scratch building.   

Well, that's true. 

The build? See it in living color at CFC Graphics vendor's corner.

Anyway, I gave it mild thought and came up with this...

Could work for just about any model with a canopy and look neat.

Finish with any color vinyl you select to match your model.

Step 1. Paper template. Takes a bit of time but it has to be on the money or close.

Step 2. Scan into CAD program and do a trace or a draw. Well, lucky me, I have a program. 
           
           But there's plenty of guys that have programs and may do this for you.

Step 3. Onto the cutter. Not rocket science there, but again, you need a cutter.

           But there's plenty of guys that have cutters and may do this for you.

Step 4. Remove canopy "gasket" and simply apply half of the thickness on the canopy and half the             
           thickness on the model. Gotta mark the center at both ends.

           Piece of cake!

I used yellow mask material because it's temporary AND not as sticky. It's not as plyable either.

Canopy "gaskets" should be identical for all same type models.

I expect to make one for my ARF Nobler, and it should work on all ARF Noblers.

Now I have to decide if I want to attach my Gee Bee R-3 canopy with a vinyl gasket?

Charles



 

Not a bad idea, however, I would be surprised if it held up to more than a couple dozen flights, let alone the thousands most stunt ships are subjected to

 Not a problem if you don't fly them though. 

  A roll of good quality pin stripping tape would do the same job. As you say, "Guys have been doing this for years!"  There are better ways to do it (if you REALLY think you need to do it) but I would go into it here.
  Type at you later,
  Dan McEntee

I think the tape might have difficulty with the tight radius. I also think doing it this way is pointless.

I'll glue it, mask to protect the canopy and then clear the canopy along with the model.

I'm really exited about this model.

Thanks for the replies.

Charles

Well, yes.  Removable canopies are possible.  They can even be made to slide.  (This one is made to slide back before it can be taken from the tracks.)

Keith

Keith,

I know that model. Your MB-5. Nats winner but I don't remember the year. Sorry.

42" in span and 5 lines if I remember that correctly.

I have a file with all photos of that model.

I never told you this but your MB-5 was the inspiration for the scheme on my Mig-3.

Ya gotta love those Warbirds.

Thanks for the reply.

Charles

There have been times when I wished for a removable canopy.  If the cockpit isn't totally sealed inside, balsa dust seems to get into the canopy long after the model is finished!

Once, a spider got inside my Hurricane model, and it (he/she) built a large web inside the canopy.  After looking at this for a long time, I drilled a 1/4" hole in the canopy and used a cotton swab on the end of a coat-hangar wire to reach in and clean it off.

On a glo model, with exhaust goo coming out on the top, any small fissure in the canopy will attract oil!

It is common practice now to make the canopy out of a balsa block!

Floyd