I took a HUGE gamble and lucked out. I kept thinking about those corners sticking up and out from the fuselage while the center section was perfect. With the plexiglass floxed and fiberglassed to the canopy top skin, there was no way I could generate enough pressure from come-along straps alone to crack the canopy or fiberglass, let alone bend the center portion of the welded canopy frame. The first and only things that could yeild would be the corners. I slept on this thought for several nights and spent a couple of hours just staring at the makeup of the frame.If I could bend those corners down and in about a 1/4", this would improve the fit of the canopy significantly as well as reduce the amount of fiberglass that would be needed.After thinking this over and over I finally decided to give it a try. I took two 1" wide come-along straps and wrapped them all the way around the front edge of the canopy. Then I alternated between the two ratcheting devices to gradually increase the tension on the straps. There was no creaking or cracking or popping of the canopy or frame, just me grunting under the strain of tightening those straps as tight as I could possible get them. I think if I gave either device one more click I would have broken the ratcheting mechanisms. I did this while the canopy was installed on the fuselage in its tipped up position. The only evidence that the straps might have been working was with the side skins since they had curled in and under somewhat with the force of the straps.The moment of truth was after I released the straps and closed the canopy. IT WORKED!!!! The corners no longer stick out beyond the sides of the fuselage, which was my main concern. The rounded portion of the corners still stick up above the front deck but only by an 1/8" now. This can be easily fixed by building up the front deck with fiberglass to meet the canopy once the top skin is riveted on after all of the wiring is done.Woohoo!!
