Category: Canopy (Page 11 of 20)

Before marking the canopy latch hook bolt positions, I made sure to align the side weldments, so that the skin will line up with the fuselage upper skin. At the bottom…

…and the top.

I also made sure that canopy glas recess lined up perfectly.

Then I adjusted the pilot hole positions, so the latch will be centered in the latch hole.

Next was the side weldment forward ends.

I marked and drilled the holes in the attach brackets. Note that one hole is left undrilled on both. There will be skin rivet that would be too close, if I drilled those after plans.

I then matchdrilled the brackets to the sides..

..then fitted them back in place.

Before match drilling them to the forward weldment, I reinstalled the canopy skin to make sure everything was still lining up.

After checking, I drilled the sides to the forward weldment.

Now I could remove the canopy frame as one assy.

Tapered shims is required between the brackets and the forward weldment.

I used a piece of alu angle, to fabricate the shims.

Took a while to file down, but I got there eventually.

Cut them to length and width…

Fits nicely!

The side weldments needs to be shaped in the forward ends, to match the canopy shape. I still haven’t unpacked the canopy, so I’m guessing the shape for now, and will be fine tuning it later.

There was a bunch of countersinking to be done on various parts.

Also decided to put 2 rivets in the side weldment aft angles.

Fast forward 4 hours, everything is deburred and ready for primer.

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