38-33 -> 35: Canopy Seals (canopy hinge clips)

Rear Seal

To add the canopy aft seal, it was slipped under the seal retainer, then each of the screws in Zone 3 was very gingerly tightened. I found it easiest to use a long extension on the ratchet to reach in around the flanges of the aft canopy frame. 

Forward Seals

To fit the forward seals, i gently flipped the canopy upside down on the bench, and secured it with towels. The various seals were measured and cut as per the plans. I found the plans a bit confusing here on exactly what they were trying to get me to do, but eventually worked it out. I will step through the process below for anyone following after. All areas where the seals will be adhered, were thoroughly scuffed with scotchbrite, then cleaned with iso until the rag was clean. I made sure not to touch these areas with my bare skin until the seals were stuck on. 

A bit hard to see in the photo, but the paint was thoroughly scuffed and cleaned.

Firstly the fat square seal (C-01448A) was adhered to the front face of the canopy frame rib (not adhered to the canopy skin - it needs to compress from forward to aft).  

Then 2 thicknesses of the thin flat seal (C-01448B) were added to the bottom of the canopy rail, so they align with the corner of the fat foam seal. These get trimmed along the canopy skin edge. 

Then the longer pieces of the thin seal (C-01448C) are added on top of the thin pieces, and aligned at the back. It is then pulled around the front of the seal stack, and adhered to the side of the thick foam seal. A 3/16" deep slit is cut into the thick square foam seal, along the top edge of this flat seal. this slit is to allow this part of the seal to compress independently of the thick square foam seal. 

Once this was done, the 'D Seal' (C-01447) was trimmed of it's flat flange, and adhered along the underside of the canopy skin. It needs to have a minimum setback from the skin edge of 1/16", meaning in the centre where the skin is cut back a little, it needs to move firther aft. At the ends where the fat square foam seal is located, the D seal needed to be pushed hard up against the fat foam seal to achieve this 1/16" setaback.

The D Seal needs to be pushed back into the thick foam seal to get the 1/16" setback.

Next up was the side seals, these are reletively straight forward. Make sure not to cover the holes where the canopy side pins need to be riveted on. 

A note on the Canopy Hinge Clips

Avid followers will not i have not mentioned the canopy hinge cover clips at all - these have not been touched as yet, as the front skins have not been riveted on. I will wait to work on and fit these clips, until the canopy skin is sealed and riveted on (likely once all the wiring and avionics are complete).