functioning cockpit canopies for the Buck Rogers Thunder Fighter

Anyone consider the really long thin hollow coffee stirrers (they are usually red at 7/11 stores)? If you split on longitudinally, the other would fit inside it, providing a channel for mounting on the cockpit, and mounting the uncut tube on the fuselage. The cockpit mounts could be rather short, and easily manipulated as to facilitate movement and mounting. Just an idea.

[Rhaven Blaack]

Here is the QUAD canopy. In this segment, I made a different hinge system for the hatches. Instead of using a pin for the hinge, I used scotch (clear) tape and sticky labels (as you will see in the photos).
I got the idea from Silveroxide, when he was talking about out to glue clear plastic on to paper to stick together with out clouding the plastic.

This type of hinge can also be used for the two seat canopy as well.

Part sheet (You will want at least three copies for laminating all of the parts)
SP_A0382.jpg

I took Scotch (clear) tape folded it onto itself. Next to it is a sticky label.
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I cut the tape into a strip (40mm X 6mm) and the sticky labels into strips (40mm X 2mm).
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I applied the sticky label strips to the tape (on both sides) to make a double hinge.
SP_A0385.jpg

I cut out and assembled all of the canopy parts (keeping the hatches separate).
SP_A0386.jpg

I attached the hinge to the underside of the center rail,
SP_A0387.jpg

[Rhaven Blaack]

Here I have attached the hatches to the hinges.
SP_A0388.jpg

I double laminated the whole canopy for added strength and rigidity.
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I attached the canopy to the plane, with hatches open.
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ENJOY!!!

[silveroxide]

I assume that the canopy would be something like a gull wing effect folding up. That center channel for the attachements must be a B****, (Rhymes with witch) as thin as it is, it probably would be hard to control warpage. Did you place a strenghtning strip on it? It looks great, thinking and building out of the box.

[Rhaven Blaack]

Originally Posted by silveroxide

I assume that the canopy would be something like a gull wing effect folding up. That center channel for the attachements must be a B****, (Rhymes with witch) as thin as it is, it probably would be hard to control warpage. Did you place a strenghtning strip on it? It looks great, thinking and building out of the box.

Thank you for the compliment.
Too right you are, it was B**** to work with. It does not help matters when I have HUGE hands like bear claws.
The tape that I used to make the hinges as well as laminating the whole canopy twice added to the strength of the center channel, so no warping.
If you wanted to, you could run a 2mm wide strip of thin plastic down the entire center of the canopy to help strengthen it.