Rob,

If memory serves me correctly (my build log and pictures weren’t much help), I went with option 1, but ground out most of the carbon where the phenolic blocks were to be located so they mainly attached to the canopy frame.  Keep in mind that these phenolic blocks get reinforced by the foam canopy rails, so filling any gaps between the two is kind of important.  Once you get the blocks and the foam installed, you’ll definitely want to mock up everything on the fuselage to make sure the gas struts clear the foam canopy rails before you cover the foam with BID.

Gary Fitzgerald

LNC2 ~70%

St. Charles, MO

Looking for a good deal on

a rebuildable or used (I)O-360

Another question for those who have built the forward hinged canopy.

In the instruction sheets which accompanied the forward hinge kit, it specifies that a phenolic pad 1-1/8 inches square should be bonded to each side of the canopy frame, 12-5/16 in  rearward of the gas strut forward aluminium supports. However prior to doing this, the instructions require 8 layers of carbon uni cloth be bonded to the inside of the frame, commencing just to the rear of the mounting positions of these phenolic pads. In fact, from what I can make of the drawings, the edge of this carbon layup passes neatly through the middle of the phenolic pad mounting position.

The logical options seem to be….

1.       Enlarge the carbon layup area so that the entire phenolic pad is over the carbon layup. The instructions indicate that the phenolic pads, which are bonded into place with structural adhesive should have bevelled edges “so the attaching lay-ups can smoothly cover them” (CH 17 Sup-17). There is no further mention of the attaching layups. Did any of you folks apply the phenolic over the carbon and then apply 2 or 3 bid of glass, or maybe imbed the phenolic between the first 4 layers of carbon and the last 4 layers? Or maybe put it under all 8 layers? I am concerned that by bonding it over 8 layers of carbon, then adding ¼ in of phenolic then applying a couple of layers of glass, the whole mounting will be too thick.

2.       Reduce the area of the carbon so the phenolic pad mounting is clear of the carbon altogether and therefore is bonded directly to the inside of the canopy frame skin.

3.       The 8 layers of carbon are not meant to be applied all the way to the edge of the canopy. The diagram however seems not to support this idea.

Sorry this question is so tedious to describe, but I would like to have a clear picture in my head before I start mixing any resin!

Once again, I do appreciate the help I always get when I put a query on the list.

Regards,

Rob Stevens

Perth,

Western Australia.