Quickie Q2 Lite, Construction Manual, Page: 203 / 299

CANOPY ASSEMBLY AND MOUNTING
INTRODUCTION
..... In this chapter, you will install the canopy that you
previously mounted and cut out in Chapter 8. It is important to the
passengers' safety to have a canopy that is strong, rigid, and
securely fastened while in flight. Therefore, do not rush this
section.
FORWARD EDGE LAMINATION
..... Laminate 3 UNI across the front edge of the canopy, with the
orientation across the front of the canopy. This lamination of 3 inch
wide tapes will increase the stiffness and strength of the canopy at
the forward edge.
PROTECTING THE CANOPY PLEXIGLASS
..... The canopy was shipped to you with a protected coating applied
on either side. You should be careful during construction that you do
not remove this coating, exposing the canopy to scratches and
abrasion. Once the aircraft is completely finished and painted, the
coating may be peeled away in strips, exposing the canopy Plexiglas
itself. Whenever, you laminate onto the canopy surface, you will,
however, need to remove the coating where the bond will take place.
Protect the edge of canopy/lamination junction with grey tape. This
will assist in providing a trim mask for knife trimming.
CANOPY FRAME STIFFENERS
..... Three stiffeners will be fabricated. One each will be installed
on each side of the canopy frame longitudinally, and the third will
be installed transversely across the bottom of the aft canopy
bulkhead. At the lower aft left and right points of the canopy frame,
these three stiffeners join together.
..... It is recommended that the core materials for these stiffeners
be 1/4" thick plywood. An alternative is to use 1/4" thick white
foam, but this alternative would require several plywood inserts for
local beefup where bolts are inserted.
..... As installed, each stiffener should be approximately 1.3" wide.
Because the canopy frame sides are curved as they travel forward,
those two stiffeners should be made about 1.8" wide to allow for
fitting. The third stiffener, the one fitted to the aft canopy
bulkhead, can be made 1.3" wide.
..... To construct the stiffeners, cut three pieces of 1/4" plywood
with the following sizes: 1.8" x 30", 1.8" X 30", and 1.3" x 44". Set
them vertically on the jig table and hold them in place with a dab of
5-MIN on either end of each one. Round the top corners of the plywood
so that the glass cloth will flow smoothly around the corners.
Laminate 3 UNI with the orientation running lengthwise along the long
dimension. The excess cloth that overlaps onto the table can be
trimmed later.