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Date:  5-3-2005
Number of Hours:  25.00
Manual Reference:  Sec 9
Brief Description:  Canopy skins

Section 9 Installing the Canopy Date 5/3/05
Fitting the canopy skins is the next step. After strapping a skin I change my process. Here's the method I used to do my canopy skirts. First get all the holes drilled through the canopy and frame. Take the canopy off and stash it out of the way for a while. Drill all of the holes through the bottom of the side skirt to the canopy frame. On the hinge side, I used a few flush rivets to hold the hinge to the frame temporarily. You'll probably need to trim the bottom edge of the side skirt to match the cockpit rails, but try not to give up too much material since it might be needed at the top. I next drilled and clecoed the skirt to the cross piece. I found that the shape of the flange left something to be desired, so I cut off the top couple of inches and will graft on some angle once everything else is done. Once this is clecoed in place, I took about a dozen little spring clamps and clamped the upper skirt to the canopy frame. Don't worry about the area aft of the rear seat. Next, take a pencil and wittle the first half inch or so flat on one side. This flat side will ride on the underside of the canopy frame while the tip marks the inside of the canopy skirt. I wittled the pencil until the first half inch was showing lead on the wittled side. This way the thickness of the pencil doesn't screw up the location of my line. I tried very hard to keep the pencil perpendicular to the skin as I went so that the line would stay where I intended. I only marked to the rear of the back seat bulkhead. I then removed the skirt and made a new line with a sharpie a half inch above this one. This line is the cut line. I cut along this line and then took my time getting it real fair and smooth. This line needs to be nice because the bending tool is going to ride along it. After it was all deburred and polished, I clamped it to a table and used the Avery canopy skin tool to gradually bend the edge. You'll want to practice on some scrap first and be aware that the tool will try to ri
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