Eco-8

Canopy Construction 101
I thought this was one of the hardest tasks, as there are no real instructions. You will have to find the lines on your canopy halfs to show you where to cut. Some are easily seen while others are not. You will need to do the same with the windshield. These are very hard to see. So, here is Canopy Construction 101 (From Bones).

1) Don't use CA glue.
2) Depending on where you are in the world. There is a glue specifically made to glue canopy together. The glue used to be called RC 56. I think you can still get it under that name from Pacer Technologies. The glue looks like Elmer's wood glue and dries clear. It can also be cleaned with water but it takes a while to cure.




3) Never rush when you assemble the canopy.

First get some 1/8" masking tape. There are two sides of the canopy. One side has a normal edge and the other side has an edge that has a step on it. Lay down the masking tape on the edge. On the normal edge it is a judgement call. On the step down edge you want to have 1/8" of the step down to slide under the normal edge.

The 1/8" masking tape helps in your cutting so you have a nice straight edge.

After you get both sides cut out put the two sides together. Use small pieces of tape to hold the canopy together for now. Once you are satisfied with how the canopy fits put a piece of 3/4" wide masking tape on the seam. Make sure the tape is down good because you don't want the glue to leak.

Now use a syringe and suck up some canopy glue. Put the canopy upside down and insert some glue in the seam from the inside of the canopy. You can only do part of the seam at a time.

Leave the glue to dry over night. It normally takes me two to three nights to assemble the canopy because I have to let the glue dry.

Once the canopy is together you can cut out where the wind shield goes.

The wind shield should have a line moulded in. Some times it may be hard to see and you have to look under good lighting. Once you find the line, make it visible with an indelible ink pen.

Now lay down the 1/8" masking tape on the edge. Lay down one more to make the edge 1/4". Now cut the wind shield out using the masking tape as a guide.

Fit the wind shield in the canopy and put small pieces of tape to hold it in place.

Once satisfied use a few long pieces of tape to seal the seam.

Insert canopy glue on the inside again with the syringe.

Once the glue dry after a couple of sessions you should have a nice looking canopy ready for final finish.