Canopy initial fitting: 4.3 hours

Canopy frame fitting

Repainted some interior parts

Did initial fit of canopy bubble onto fuselage

Traced outline for initial canopy trim

Testing the fit:

Canopy frame bending: 4.5 hours

More frame bending...

Rear bow work:

Adjusting side bows:

Canopy frame work: 2 hours

Based on research started using a canopy frame technique that involves using the roll bar and rear turtle deck profile as a pattern on a piece of mdf.

The canopy frame can then be secured on the workbench and adjusted precisely to match the curves of the roll bar the fuselage - in theory

Traced patterns on mdf. Reorganized work bench.

Started working on front bow of the canopy frame.

Spent some time cleaning duct tape residue off of fuselage and slider rail. I won't use duct tape there again.

Tracing rear deck onto mdf:

Working on front bow:

Canopy frame work: 3 hours

Made a shim to compensate for some twist in the roll bar.

Continued working on canopy frame bending

Researched techniques for getting a good canopy frame fit.

No photos today.

Canopy frame: 3 hours

• Trimmed bottom of frame where rollers attach. This is a temporary measure to determine fit before doing the tip up mod.
• Tried various techniques to bend frame to fit fuselage. Not much progress.

Working on fit:

Canopy slide rail and frame work: 3 hours

• Drilled slider block to canopy frame
• Worked on slider rail positioning on fuselage
• Canopy install research
• Polished part of slider rail
• Riveted slider rail to slider rail spacer
• Started fitting canopy frame. To widen it by 1/8" took a 5" stretch!

Ready to drill slider block to canopy frame:

Block drilled:

Rough position for slider rail:

Starting to work on frame fitting:

Widening frame:

Canopy slide work: 7 hours

• Marked and drilled canopy slide rail and spacer rivet hole
• Adjusted location of screw holes to give more space between fuselage rivets
• Drilled screw holes
• Double countersunk rivet holes
• Trimmed slide rail for Meske tip up / slider mod
• Prepped, primed and painted slide rail spacer satin black
• Edge finished canopy slide rail
• Prepped an interior cover panel for repainting

Working on slide rail:

Canopy rollers and slide rail: 2.5 hours

• Assembled stock canopy rollers for initial slider frame fitting
• Tweaked canopy slide rail spacers to match plans
• Bent canopy slide rail to exact match slide rail spacer - took a long time

Working on canopy slide rail assembly:

Canopy rollers:

Canopy and misc: 1.2 hours

• Cut canopy slide tracks
• Located and drilled pilot holes in tracks
• Deburred firewall top skin rivet holes

Checking slide tracks fit: