Sika slider question

[cajunwings]

I cut mine 1/8" above the side rails to allow a little space for Sika so canopy bottom edge could be bonded into the assembly. Also have a large triangular fillet on the inside. 1/4" gap is plenty. I would not cut it any higher.

Don Broussard
RV9 Rebuild in Progress
57 Pacer

[AJ85WA]

Hey guys

Im fairly proud of how my sika canopy/windscreen and side skirts came out. Glad I spent the time keeping a log of it all.

Hope this helps, some good info on here doing the rear skirt in fibreglass, I would do it the same if i had to do it again.

https://rv6aj.wordpress.com/category/canopy/

https://rv6aj.wordpress.com/2012/04/...py-sikaflex-1/

[Jwputnam]

EXCELLENT WEBSITE!!!! Thank you so much

[AJ85WA]

Pleasure mate Thanks

[Lars]

AJ, your build log is awesome. Wish I'd documented mine that well.

There was once a nice thread on the forum with pix that are now long gone, including some nice graphics on how to bond the canopy to the side rails while deleting the inner joggled aluminum piece. I followed that advice, then laid up a carbon/glass canopy skirt (the whole thing, sides and back) which I finished off the plane. Then attached to the canopy with Sika and pulled rivets along the sides. 9 years later holding up nicely. The great thing about laying up the aft skirt in glass, carbon or what ever is you can get a perfect fit.

A few of my pix here: https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-dQ6Kn/

Worth noting is that the Sika primer doesn't just improve bond strength for the Sikaflex. It also greatly improves bond strength when using epoxy, such as bonding the fiberglass trim to the windshield over the roll bar. Years ago I created a bunch of test coupons with pieces of acrylic and fiberglass/epoxy. All the glass/epoxy samples bonded to windshield acrylic without primer pulled off easily, despite several types of prep. The samples I laid up using Sika primer were indestructible. Wish I had photos to share but those are sadly long gone also