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  #11  
Old 07-14-2014, 05:37 AM
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Gagarin737 Gagarin737 is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 663
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If I could do it over I would remove the struts before making the skirt.
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  #12  
Old 07-14-2014, 08:50 AM
Gerald Clabots Gerald Clabots is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Green Bay WI
Posts: 89
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Try using your air compressor. Adjust regulated air as high as it will go then direct air stream under fiberglass to try and loosen it. Worked on my 7 and 12.
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  #13  
Old 07-14-2014, 04:49 PM
dinowal dinowal is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: TWIN WATERS, Queensland, AUSTRALIA
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Hi Ben, I finished the canopy fibreglassing & removed the canopy last week. I left the struts in place. When it comes to removing the completed canopy, it is only the small part of the fibreglass skirt FORWARD of the pivot bolt which may foul the aluminium. I loosened the pivot bolts a couple of threads so the canopy arms could move sideways a little if needed & with a helper raised the canopy slowly, keeping an eye on those forward pieces. There was a little scuffing of the 2 layers of tape, but no damage to the underlying aluminium. With the canopy raised fully, (and thus the struts extended fully), remove the aft strut bolts, then the pivot bolts & lift the canopy off. I had carefully applied boot/saddle wax to the plastic tape before applying fibreglass & found little problem getting the canopy to 'unstick'. A popsickle stick sanded to a flat point helped. Cheers, DEAN.
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  #14  
Old 07-14-2014, 05:52 PM
DHeal DHeal is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Windsor, California
Posts: 924
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Before you apply the pre-resinated (new word?) fiberglass cloth and resin, try to imagine where that free-flowing resin will want to go and harden. It may end up flowing into nooks and crannies that will eventually impede your ability to easily remove the canopy after the resin has cured. Use masking tape and/or plastic tape to seal off any potential nooks and crannies. And go easy on the resin. Follow Van's directions, use Van's pre-resinated cloth and minimal resin to get a thin yet strong canopy skirt that requires minimal finish sanding. Enjoy!
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