Canopy Fit

Discussion for builders, pilots, owners, and those interested in building or owning a second generation Sonex or Waiex.

Canopy Fit

Postby pfhoeycfi » Tue Jan 28, 2020 8:15 am

I have gaps between the canopy and the prefab bows in several areas. I'm wondering what's is best to use between the bows and canopy...rubber strip? Grommets? Also the canopy bows have a very shiny finish, curious as to how others have painted or treated these. I'll have a 1/8" gap between the canopy and the turtledeck at the top, say 4 inches left and right of center. Any thoughts on how to seal that? The canopy was a nightmare...not sure if I'm satisfied or maybe start over.
Peter
Peter
Peter Hoey
SEL Pvt, Comm Glider, CFIG, Pawnee & L19 Towpilot
Philadelphia Glider Council
Sonex B SNB0021, N561PH, Taildragger, Aerovee Turbo, MGL MX1, First flight Dec 18, 2022
Also built Sonerai IIL N86PH
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Re: Canopy Fit

Postby onex28 » Tue Jan 28, 2020 9:01 am

Peter, my next canopy will be better than the first. What I did was to cut a rubber fuel line into various sizes to put Between the canopy and bow at each screw/bolt location. I have one at every screw On the canopy and windscreen bow. Can’t help you with the turtle deck issue Now but on your next canopy make the top center holes fore and aft the first you drill and anchor then work your way down to the hinge etc. I don’t think there are many canopies that don’t have spacers of some kind.

David W
N951X
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Re: Canopy Fit

Postby Rynoth » Tue Jan 28, 2020 9:10 am

I used nylon washers from Home Depot. I applied self-etching primer and black paint to the bows.

Image
Last edited by Rynoth on Tue Jan 28, 2020 10:54 am, edited 2 times in total.
Ryan Roth
N197RR - Waiex #197 (Turbo Aerovee Taildragger)
Knoxville, TN (Hangar at KRKW)
My project blog: http://www.rynoth.com/wordpress/waiex/
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Re: Canopy Fit

Postby Spaceman » Tue Jan 28, 2020 9:26 am

I used some rubber washers from Home Depot. I think if I remember right I had the most gap at the top/center and less at the sides. I used 0, 1, or 2 washers as required to make everything line up nice.

Pictures here:
http://paegelow.blogspot.com/2019/03/ca ... 5.html?m=1
Chris Paegelow
N21YX / Waiex-B #21 / Roseville, CA
http://paegelow.blogspot.com/
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Re: Canopy Fit

Postby Corby202 » Tue Jan 28, 2020 8:40 pm

I used black heat shrink tubing available from electrical wholesalers. Nylon washers where required and black sikaflex to hide the gap. The canopy and windscreen I painted on the inside before fitting with Sikaflex primer around the area of the bows.
Phil Bird
Sonex 759 JAB 2.2 Tailwheel
Mittagong NSW Australia
http://www.mykitlog.com/corby202/
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Canopy Fit

Postby n307tw » Sat Apr 25, 2020 8:58 pm

Same question but for the windshield? Did the rubber grommet trick work for the windscreen as well? I have small gaps there. As far as finish, I took Jeff Shultz’s advice and had everything powder coated glossy black. I’m still fighting to get the darn windshield in place (especially around the firewall). The bugger is tough!!


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Tim Wrede
Long Island, NY
Sonex-B #18, Nosedragger
Aeromomentum AM15, Garmin G3X
My Build Site
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Re: Canopy Fit

Postby pfhoeycfi » Sun Nov 28, 2021 11:04 am

Are there any B model builders willing to post a pic or two of their finished canopy. I'm mostly interested in how the forward end of the canopy meets the windscreen skirt when in the closed position. I'm at a point where I need to say good enough and was hoping to see a pic that I could compare to.

Peter
Peter Hoey
SEL Pvt, Comm Glider, CFIG, Pawnee & L19 Towpilot
Philadelphia Glider Council
Sonex B SNB0021, N561PH, Taildragger, Aerovee Turbo, MGL MX1, First flight Dec 18, 2022
Also built Sonerai IIL N86PH
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