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  #11  
Old 01-17-2011, 05:54 PM
8CW 8CW is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Christer View Post
I do not think they have a web site, at least I do not know of one. Mine is not done yet, so I do not have a photo. Sorry
Do have have contact information for them? Googling Airplane Plastics returns several different companies. Thanks.
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  #12  
Old 01-17-2011, 06:24 PM
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chrispratt chrispratt is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug Lewis View Post
Can you share a link to Airplane Plastics or a link to pictures of their windshield?
Doug:

See attached link for comparison of windshields. The aircraft on the left is my brother's RV-8 with tinted Todds canopy. The tint is more "bronze" in color than the canopy on the right which is Aircraft Plastics 2514.

http://picasaweb.google.com/pratt.ch...O6XzvVkTWQzVQ#

A couple of personal thoughts on the canopies:

1. Todd's is definitely thicker which I believe is an advantage from the standpoint of strength and it gives better insulation and soundproofing though the latter two items are a moot point in RVs.
2. Todd's has a different shape. It appears to me to have a higher peak at the front. Because of this difference in shape you will find that Van's standard skirts have to be modified a bit at the rearmost point in order to fit properly.
3. I think Todd's tint is a bit darker than the 2415.

It's your choice depending on your taste. They are both good canopies. Had Todd's been available when I built my -8 I would have considered using it if for no other reason than the thickness. However I prefer the shape of the Aircraft Plastics canopy.

Chris
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Last edited by chrispratt : 01-18-2011 at 07:04 PM. Reason: corrected 2415 to 2514
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  #13  
Old 01-17-2011, 06:27 PM
RV8R999 RV8R999 is offline
 
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Todd's in not the only way to go for the -8 but it is the way I chose to go. It is a great canopy.

The only down side is the canopy skirts near the last 14" or so of the canopy do not fit very well as the slope of Todd's is somewhat shallower at the rear. You'll have to modify your skirts to fit and look the way you want but honestly you were going to have to do some of this work anyway....

Good Luck!
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  #14  
Old 01-17-2011, 08:23 PM
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Doug Lewis Doug Lewis is offline
 
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Chris, thanks! The difference between the two is noticable. Id never heard of the different windscreen for the front of vans cankopy before and still curious how that looks but plenty of time to do research. Id also be interested in contact info.
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  #15  
Old 01-17-2011, 08:31 PM
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Dave Bernard Dave Bernard is offline
 
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Location: SLC UT
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Default tint + photography?

How do you folks with tinted canopies feel about the photography through such canopies?

I sure would love a nice tinted canopy, but if photography is out of the question, then tint is out of the question.

Thanks!

DB
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  #16  
Old 01-18-2011, 01:18 AM
PCHunt PCHunt is online now
 
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Default A bit OT

Wondering what the reason Todd and others don't make canopies for the -6 and -7 series??

Anybody know the answer?
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  #17  
Old 01-18-2011, 12:36 PM
lucky lucky is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PCHunt View Post
Wondering what the reason Todd and others don't make canopies for the -6 and -7 series??

Anybody know the answer?
Todd doesn't want to mess with the side by side molds.
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  #18  
Old 01-18-2011, 02:44 PM
Bartman Bartman is offline
 
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Location: NW San Antonio Boerne Stage Airfield 5C1
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Default Canopy Choices

Todd is one of the best venders to deal with.
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  #19  
Old 01-19-2011, 08:15 AM
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Dave Cole Dave Cole is offline
 
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Default Why doesn't Todd make -7 and -9 canopies?

My understanding is that the tandem canopies are formed by air pressure that simply streatches the plastic into the desired shaper shape as the "bubble" is filled with air.

On the other hand, side-by-side canopies, with their extra width, cannot be formed by air pressure alone, and need to be formed into a mold.

Todd apparently prefers not to get involved with the molding process.
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  #20  
Old 01-20-2011, 05:46 PM
Berchmans Berchmans is offline
 
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Default Windsheild attachment

Thanks for all the input on canopy's. I think Todds will be best for me with the light tint. Now for a question on windscreens. I have been reading extensively on installation of the canopy and windsheild and have come the conclusion the Sika is the way to go rather than drilling and riveting or bolting. As to the windscreen and fiberglass work has anyone used 100% Sika and left the Fiberglass out? It seems to me that if you are very careful that a fillet can be formed around the windscreen forward edge and there would be no need for the overlay of the fiberglass on the windscreen and forward skin. Has anyone done this?
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