Finish Kit

Canopy Fairing ( 3 hrs )

Sanded over Aft edge of vinyl tape to reduce epoxy layer.  Difficult to determine if epoxy or vinyl as sanding, but eventually tape begins to shred if too far.   I found difficult to remove, but did result in good edge.  Also sanded Canopy Emergency Jettison Handle at revised weld.  I had a weld shop rotate handle 90 degrees ( will be vertical on panel, clearing a Garmin G5 left of center).   I used extra microballoon/resin mix over weld to gain a smooth blend.

Feathered Fwd edge, and now only 1 layer tape on Aft edge.

Nancy admiring sunset as we're putting Cesna back
in hangar today.

Finish Kit

Canopy Fairing ( 4 hrs )

After celebrating an early Thanksgiving with family -- back to Canopy Fairing sanding.  Applied microballoon & epoxy resin into pinholes and low area using squeegee to spread thin so minimal sanding.  While curing, built two extra Hinge Covers per 38-35 Steps 7- 15.  Added thicker slurry resin & microballoons to fill Hinge Seal voids per 38-36, Steps 1 - 3.  Installed ES00306 Micro Switch for Canopy Unlocked warning per 38-32, Step 1.  Installed Rear Seal along rear edge per Step 1 at Sect 38-33.

Additional Hinge Covers.  See Nov 3 posting
for build process of 1st pair

Finish Kit

Sanding Canopy Fairing  ( 1 hr )

Sanded top coat resin to identify remaining low area ( ie shiny since not sanded).   Including several pin holes.  Another round of filler needed before primer can be applied.

Finish Kit

Canopy Fairing ( 3 hrs )

Completed feathering leading edge, Step 9, Sect 38-31.  Then cleaned w/ alcohol, applied tape leading and trailing edges.  Applied smooth top coat epoxy (no filler), then removed tape prior curing.

Finish Kit

Sanding Canopy Fairing ( 5 hrs )

And more sanding !  Finally able to remove FWD vinyl tape  - and started feathering leading edge of Fairing.  Mixed epoxy and micro-balloons for "touch up" filling a few remaining low spots.   Looking good, but seems time consuming...and more sanding to go.

Forward edge vinyl tape removed.   Feathering leading edge.

added more filler.   

Finish Kit

Canopy Fairing ( 3 hrs )

More sanding !   Difficult to determine if a layer of resin over vinyl tape, or sanding of tape.   But steady progress.  Applied mix of epoxy & micro-balloons to fill low spots and some air bubbles (ref Sect 38-31 Step 6 and Vans video 38-04).   I first applied a fresh layer of masking tape along Fwd and Aft edges,  so I would NOT have another layer of thin epoxy on the tape to sand off -  then removed when epoxy started to cure.

 

filling low areas with epoxy w/ micro-balloons

Finish Kit

Sanding Canopy Fairing ( 4 hrs )

Started rough sanding Canopy Fairing per Sect 38-31, Steps 1-4 (also Van's video 38-04).   Created 6" sanding block in Step 1 with the 4" radius matching template.   Using 40 and 60 grit.   High areas and general shaping went quickly, but takes a lot of sanding to carefully remove excess epoxy over forward tape and along aft tape edge along Canopy.  Difficult to determine if sanding epoxy or black vinyl tape underneath - so frequently inspections are necessary.

Peel ply removed. 

rough sawn from laminated 2x4's

belt sander quickly finishes.  

After initial rough sanding.   Matching template

another hour and slow progress