Did I get a bad canopy?

[jpharrell]

Help! I recently started work on the tip-up canopy on my 7A. Last night I trimmed the excess flange and mold clamping areas off of the edges of the canopy and placed it on the fuselage for the initial fitting. I was not totally happy with what I saw. Along the left side of the plexiglass canopy fits really well. The first photo shows the left side.



The left edge runs generally flush to the skin and side rail with a gap of about 1/2 inch. It takes very little force to press the canopy up against the side rail. You can see the gap in the photo from below looking up.



However the right side is a different story. If you look at the shadow of the edge in the photo below you can see that the edge flairs or bows out near the black tape.



The photo from below shows it even better. The gap is 1 inch to 1.5 inch along the right side. My biggest concern is it takes quite a bit of force (~ 5 lbs) to press the canopy edge down flush to the side rail on this side. I don't like putting that kind of stress on the canopy.



Did I get a bad canopy? It clearly is warped on the right side but is this common? I did a couple of searches on the forums and could not find other reports of something like this. I'm not sure I will be able to make this fit well with the skin with this kind of distortion. There is still a fair amount of trimming before the big cut. Will the canopy somehow fit better in this area as the trimming progresses?

I noticed some distortion on that side when I first unpacked the canopy but I didn't know enough to question it further. Should I build-on or should I be talking to Vans now about the problem?

[RV7Ron]

First...you need to tuck the canopy (plexi) under the sheet metal "ears" (where you have the black tape). Try that and see if it fits better. Mine fit really well, I would expect yours should to.

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

It also fits and sits better as you cut away the front portion.

One suggestion for later on that many canopy experts have given me. Don't drill the most forward hole on the side of the canopy on each side.

[jpharrell]

Ron,

For this initial fitting the plans say to tape the ears down to avoid scratching the canopy. That said, I can tell that the left side should go easily under the ear, but I'm afraid the right side will be tough because I have to push the plexi in hard in that area to get it down flush to the skin. It is quite stiff in that area. Perhaps when I trim the rest of the front duck bill off it will bend easier, I don't know. But compared to the left side it is night and day different.

[Mel]

Once you trim off some of the front, it will get much more flexible.

[RV7Ron]

Originally Posted by jpharrell

Ron,

For this initial fitting the plans say to tape the ears down to avoid scratching the canopy. That said, I can tell that the left side should go easily under the ear, but I'm afraid the right side will be tough because I have to push the plexi in hard in that area to get it down flush to the skin. It is quite stiff in that area. Perhaps when I trim the rest of the front duck bill off it will bend easier, I don't know. But compared to the left side it is night and day different.

you're right...good point...like the other posts suggested, trim it a little and then tuck it in when you get it closer. It should slowly work its way into shape. Good luck...I am in the middle of this right now, a little ahead of you...its a pain at times.

[loopfuzz]

Ya, agreed. Once you start cutting it it will be more flexible and fit better.

[bruceh]

Also helps to keep the front cuts symmetrical. I found that I got the canopy sitting pretty well, but one side was a slightly different profile (viewed looking straight down on the canopy frame skin). After getting both sides symmetrical it fits perfectly. Mine still bows out a bit on each side, but the force required is minimal to make it sit flush on the sides.

[jpharrell]

I am in the middle of this right now, a little ahead of you

Ron,

Have you seen similar distortion with your canopy?

John

[hydroguy2]

keep nibbling. small bites to adjust the fit. Mine fit terrible, but in the end all was well. I bet I trimmed the forward edge 6 times until it fit like it thought it should. I think this is where I learned patience.