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Date:  6-3-2014
Number of Hours:  8.00
Manual Reference:  
Brief Description:  Canopy frame - 01

One entry covering the last few days. This canopy frame has been the most frustrating portion of the kit so far. The frame that you get is not even close to the correct shape. I have gone through a lengthy process of installing it, determining where it was binding or not fitting properly, removing it....repeat. I have inserted and removed clecos until my hands ache. At the end of the day, the plans want a thin gap between the forward skin (silver in the pictures) and the canopy frame skin (blue.) Somewhere between .020 and .032 for the length of the skin. The difficulty comes from the fact you can not see what is binding, everything is under the skins. So it is a slow process of elimination.

Is it the hinge goose necks rubbing against a spacer? (common on several websites I visited, but not on mine)
Is it the small angle alum. that is installed for weather stripping? (again common and was also keeping the center of mine from aligning) Used a file to slowly remove material, put frame back on aircraft, mark out of tolerance gap, remove frame, slowly remove material.........

Another is the shape of the frame itself. You end up man handling the frame to get it to the proper shape. Ultimately when you are happy with the end product you rivet the center splice to the frame (image three.) I am not sure if happy is the correct term, I believe I am at a point where it can not get any better. The last hour of work was chasing 1/64" at the top center of the frame. I have read on several websites that once you start installing the canopy everything tends to move anyway.
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Left side - look close and you see my blue 0.032 spacers

Left side - look close and you see my blue 0.032 spacers

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Right side

Right side

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Center section drilled

Center section drilled

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