Canopy Installation, Part 5

After the foam had dried the shaping process began in earnest.  I found the handheld sureform planer worked fairly well, followed by some 150 grit sand paper.

I opted to not only put a top triangular fillet of resin and flox along the foam, but I mixed up another batch with less flox and used it as a top coat to the entire exposed surface of the foam.  Once cured, I roughed it up a bit to promote adhesion to the fiberglass fairing.

 Of note in the picture above and now below is the black, trim along the base of the forward bow of the canopy.  As I plan on bonding the fairing onto the canopy, I do not want to see the random pattern of the silicone product through my canopy.  As mentioned in the previous installment, I applied several coats of Rustoleum's Painter's Touch 2X paint + primer rattle can to the outside of the base of the canopy.  It turned out perfect, although I don't know how well it will wear over time.

Next shots are of the Viking Shield temporarily installed on the canopy and frame.  I spent several long sessions with a heat gun trying to get the shape of the fairing to lay "tight" against the frame and fuselage skin.  I am not completely satisfied and have begun purchasing supplies to do the manual Van's approach.  Worst case, I will have an extra fairing...best case: I will learn more about working with fiberglass.  Stay tuned for that result.