I NEED A BETTER CANOPY HOLD-DOWN METHOD

[G-man]

Help me Rhonda! I cannot get the two-wire canopy hold-down design to work satisfactorily.

Flying my beloved RISER-100 wing on TOPMODEL PRELUDE fuselage, I have lost the canopy in flight and
had to order the replacement(s) from Topmodel in the Czech Republic. (Good service, long delivery time)

Yesterday, flying in what I call San Diego weather (coffee cup there says "74 degrees and sunny.")
my plane felt like the battery pack was low and thus time to set up for a glider landing.
Flying companions queried "Dave, is that your plane making that noise?
Yeah, it was my plane. Sounded like an ESC gone out of spec, a chuddering noise.

Examination upon landing showed that a folding prop blade caught itself under the canopy edge.
I generally launch the plane with two rubber bands holding the canopy in place, because
I have found the wire hold-down method to be insufficient for the purpose intended.

I'm thinking I'll have to go to my old standby, threaded fasteners, to secure the canopy and
avoid "prop blade catch." The nylon bolt hatch hold down on my RISER-78 has not failed me.

This solution adds inconvenience in the field and spoils the sleek look which we seek.

Can anyone suggest an improved method?

 

[jure]

Help me Rhonda! I cannot get the two-wire canopy hold-down design to work satisfactorily.
Can anyone suggest an improved method?

scotch tape works for this ,
it does not solve the root cause, but is a good workaround

 

[Wayne]

Yeah, was going to suggest a bit of tape. I usually fold a little flap over in the rear for easy removal. I typically just peel the tape off and stick it off to the side, and reuse that tape many many times.

A better fix is stronger "pins" than what Top Model supplies. Some bending and gluing and you can have a better setup that slides on and off.

Or another option is a tight pin in the front and a magnet in the back, but I have lost a few hatches with magnets so I do this less these days.

I'm not a huge fan on needing a tool to unplug the battery. I like to be able to get in there fast should things start smoking.

p.s. Top Model makes a carbon canopy cover for the Prelude, got some on the way.

p.p.s. AH-100 will be changing to the Prelude REF fuselage as it has a larger rudder.

 

[G-man]

Thank you for your quick replies, guys.
I think tape, applied with the little flap for easy removal, will be my solution.
Interestingly, I was already using Scotch Super-Hold Tape to hold split wings together at the center.
It's good stuff. It comes in two widths, 3/4 inch and 1.5 inch.

Scotch Super-Hold Tape Transparent Finish, 3/4 x 300 Inches

Amazon.com

Scotch Super-Hold Tape

Scotch Super-Hold Tape

Read reviews and buy Scotch Super-Hold Tape at Target. Choose from contactless Same Day Delivery, Drive Up and more.

www.target.com

 

[G-man]

p.s. Top Model makes a carbon canopy cover for the Prelude, got some on the way.


That sounds pretty cool.

p.p.s. AH-100 will be changing to the Prelude REF fuselage as it has a larger rudder.

Tastes Great. Can't wait.

Alas and Alack, I lost my Prelude REF fuselage to a flyaway in the Canadian wildfire smoke and haze last year.
Soon it will be time for me to get another. Yay-o-yay.

 

[Wayne]

Dave,

One of our local customers saw this thread and he suggests the following:

• Don't use a "Z" style spinner, they setup the blade to grab canopies.
• Heat the canopy lightly with a heat gun and deform the canopy to have tighter fitting sides.
• And last fit the canopy so that it is not riding on the inner radius of the canopy recess.

He also mentions improving the hold down wire...

 

[G-man]

All good info. Please thank the contributor.

 

[gnichola]

Mine fits pretty snug, and I use a small piece of carbon. I slide the front on first and then the back, the little "lift" piece makes getting it set easy. Oh, and yes, that is some serious quality on that glue job!