Brief Description: Canopy Frame 12 - More Fwd Skin Trimming
A narrow (1/8 inch) by long (12 inches) triangular shape had to be removed from the canopy top skin where it overlapped the forward fuselage top skin so the two skins would butt up to each other properly with the canopy closed. I left the skin mounted and removed enough clecoes to work on one side at a time. Used the tin snips to cut off the most of the overlap. Then the Vixen file went to work. I love that file. Just wear gloves and use a thumb to keep it tracking right as you slowly file a perfectly straight line. Did I say I love that file? Kept laying it back down to check the fit and when I had .035 gap I stopped. Repeated on the other side. Next I have to decide if the frame is suitable for a flush mate up to the canopy deck when closed or if I will leave a slight overlap of the canopy skin over the fuselage side skin, say 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch or so. I originally planned to have a flush fit but it seems that the canopy spread ever so little when I attached the canopy skin and riveted the frame together. Such slight expansions have happened to me in the past as well so I will check it all over and determine if its worth it to me to make the flush fit work or make the slight overlap work. Builder notes from others mention most builders overlap to help keep weather out and to hide any exposed weatherstrip if the side skin did not compress all the way to the fuselage when the canopy was closed and locked. We'll see.
Vixen file finishes the edge perfectly.
We'll start with .035 gap. May need more but right now its perfectly fitted.
Red shows canopy skin overlap. I slid the side skin up in there to see if flush fit might work. Yep.
