Composite-ARF Extra 300L
(2.12m/84”)
edges of the plate if necessary for a good fit in the
fusleage.
Mill and file the slot on the fuselage centerline, behind
the canopy frame, for the handle of hatch catch. The
slot should be 2.5mm wide x 15mm long, and the front
of the slot about 20 - 22mm behind the front edge of
the fuselage moulding. Sand inside the fuselage in the
area where the catch will be glued later.
Without removing the canopy frame from the fuselage,
drill a Ø 3mm hole through the centre of the back of
the canopy frame and the fuselage for the hatch catch.
The centre of the hole should be 8 - 9mm down from
the top/outside surface of the fuselage.
Glue the hatch catch in position with 30 min. epoxy
and microballoons, with the 3mm pin projecting right
thru’ both holes into the canopy frame. Tape into posi-
tion until fully cured (with the fuselage upside down).
Add a short length of the fibreglass tape (supplied)
over the ply plate afterwards, using slow epoxy to fix it
to the fuselage. Fine adjustment of the align-
ment in the canopy frame can be achieved by
drilling a 3mm hole thru’ a small scrap of the
phenolic plate, and gluing it over the pin where it
projects inside the canopy frame afterwards.
(see photo above.)
Remove the frame, check the fit, and reinforce
all the joints properly with some 30 minute epoxy
and micro-balloon mixture.
To make sure that the sides of the canopy match
perfectly with the fuselage shape we recom-
mend that add 2 (or 4 if you fitted the hatch-catch) small phenolic tongues, as shown, and file
matching slots in the fuselage lip. We have included a some strips of phenolic plate (15mm x
50mm) for this purpose. With the canopy frame fixed in place with the hook and catch, and taped
in position at the sides, use a very small cutting wheel in a Dremel tool (or similar) to start to cut
the slots thru’ the canopy frame and fuselage together, which sets the alignment perfectly. Then
remove the frame and finish the slots with a small fine flat file. Glue the tabs into the fuselage,
not
into the canopy frame, using 30 min. epoxy and microballoons. They should only project out
of the fuselage about 3 - 4mm, and the corners should be rounded to make it easy to fit and
remove the canopy frame.
Now glue in the clear canopy. Sand the inside edges of the canopy frame carefully with 80 - 120
grit sandpaper, especially the fibreglass joining tapes, to ensure a perfect fit of the canopy. Fit
the canopy frame on the fuselage and secure it. Lay the canopy on top of the frame, view from
the front to check that it is centred and symettrically positioned, and then mark the approx. shape
with a felt pen or wax crayon. Trim the canopy approximately to size so that it is about 6 mm big-
ger than the edges of the frame. When the canopy fits inside the frame, tape it into position tem-
porarily, check that it is aligned properly, and accurately mark the edge of the frame on the
canopy with a wax crayon. Remove the canopy and trim exactly to shape, leaving about 6mm
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