Plastic canopy aggravation

This should be a pretty basic thing but it continues to be a source of frustration to me. What are you guys using to attach plastic canopies to a doped model??
I've used RC-56 myself, but after four flights on my new chipmunk I noticed a loose spot on the canopy. A gentle tug and the canopy came clean off-the glue adhered fine to the plastic but came right off the doped wood.
The canopy is fine but right now I'm carving a balsa block so I can ambroid the the balsa canopy on and be done with it.

Steve

I use Canopy glue like you but then I put a very small fillet around the canopy with Aeropoxy or Epoxolite depending on what mood I am in. Never had one come off or otherwise give me any problems.

Find some 1/8" masking tape (or you can cut what you need with a razor blade CA'd to a scrape piece of 1/8" balsa. Lay them both flat on the table and rotate the roll of tape into the blade.) You only need a couple of feet depending on how big the canopy is. Use the 1/8" tape as a guide to mask off the canopy 1/8" above the fuselage. Lay the 1/8" tape on the canopy with one edge touching the fuselage then use 1/4" tape to mask off the canopy. Do the same thing on the fuselage and you will end up with a 1/8" area for the fillet. Use something like a popsicle stick with sandpaper to rough up the area at the bottom of the canopy where the fillet is going. You can also use the rounded end of the popsicle stick to dress the fillet. Leave the canopy masked off till you are completely through with filling and painting the fuselage.

There are probably other ways to do this but this works for me and it isn't difficult...

I have used just good old Ambroid. When gluing down to wood, put pin pricks all along where the canopy goes down and then let the Ambroid eat into it a bit and it will wick right into the wood. Then do as Bob suggests, but I have gone up a little bit higher with the masking tape to simulate a canopy frame, and put epoxolite all around. That seemed to work. Haven't done any of these lately, but I have a couple of Chipmunks that are about 20 years old and the Canopys are still on. One even has a few "scratches" on the top (more like a big flat spot) where I had a flame out at the wrong place and elected to land inverted rather than try to bring it around. Still, the canopy stayed on.

Leonard Neumann

Steve,
Long time no see (Brodak's last year). I recently finished a Super Chip and used the RC-560 canopy glue on it over Brodak clear and have had no problems to date. I did make sure that the area to be glued was clean. The aiplane has 10 flights with one inverted landing and all still looks well. I have heard of some guys using odorless CA with some success, but this has been mainly in the sport RC arena where looks may not be as improtant. Good luck with the repair.

John Paris

I use JB kwik. It sticks like sh** to a blanket. I like it as when mixed it is thick and doesn't run. Both glueing surfaces are roughed up a little. I use Aeropoxy lite for fillets around the canopy. Never had one come loose.

John,

Great to hear from you-sorry I had to miss Brodak's this year. Our new family member decided he wanted to be born in June, so things have been busy(!) Is the Stilletto still flying?

Thanks all who wrote on this- I think I see where my mistake is on the original attachment of the canopy. I may save the original canopy since finding original sig CL-3 canopies can be difficult-and go with the balsa block for right now. I'll try these techniques for the fillet,etc on the Gieske nobler I am presently building. At some point here I will build another chipmunk and use the canopy on that one-as soon as I manage to clean off the RC-56 which is dutifully still clinging to the plastic. It had honestly not occured to me to use epoxolite,etc to fillet in the canopy-I'm sure that would increase the mechanical strength of the canopy/fuse joint many times. I'll remember that and do better next time....

Steve

Since the CL3 Chip canopies are hard to come by, you might consider sending yours to Dave Midgely. He works in thermoforming plastics and can make a mold from your original, and produce an endless supply of copies for you and the rest of the stunt world. His work is excellent - he supplies all the canopies for the Brodak kits. If you're interested, I'll put you in touch with him.

Steve,

Just finished putting the canopy on my latest creation. Here is a picture which explains things much better. Sorry about the focus.. Camera won't focus that close