Doors--Clear View Panels

[Dennis D'Angelo]

Clan:

Many of the Clipped T's have clear panels in the doors. Are you cutting up the original door panels or starting from scratch? Either way, are there any plans on how to accomplish this task or is it a "you're on your own" project?

Anyone running clear panels in the belly to increase visibility during vertical maneuvers? Thanks.

dd

[Acroeric]

Re: Doors--Clear View Panels

I made a set out of original doors and they turned out really nice. I also had a home made set on my 160 HP Clipwing. I think for this one I am building now I will make some out of 3/4 square aluminum and just attach the lexan to it. I like having a window like the pre wars that actually opens far enough for you to hang your arm out. In the summer you could just take the window out.

As for the lexan in the belly- my old one had that and you will never use it. When I was doing vertical maneuvers I had great visibility out the roof, fromnt and sides. I did try to use it but it was very distracting. . . .it does look cool though!

[Doc]

Re: Doors--Clear View Panels

Eric: Call Doc at 830-980-8866 regarding the wingtip bow...I have not heard from the shipper. Thanks. Doc.

[Dennis D'Angelo]

Re: Doors--Clear View Panels

I made a set out of original doors and they turned out really nice. I also had a home made set on my 160 HP Clipwing. I think for this one I am building now I will make some out of 3/4 square aluminum and just attach the lexan to it. I like having a window like the pre wars that actually opens far enough for you to hang your arm out. In the summer you could just take the window out.

As for the lexan in the belly- my old one had that and you will never use it. When I was doing vertical maneuvers I had great visibility out the roof, fromnt and sides. I did try to use it but it was very distracting. . . .it does look cool though!

Eric:

Thanks for the advice. I'll keep the old doors original and fabricate a second set out of the square tubing.

dd

[crispy critter]

Re: Doors--Clear View Panels

Hey Tribe,
While we're on the subject, I have a couple sets of BC12D doors made to fit the wood door frames that bolt to the fuslage(curved top). I have no use for them since Crispy has the metal frames that bolt to the fuslage. They are not perfect but are in pretty good shape and would be perfect for converting to the glass bottoms.

[Acroeric]

Re: Doors--Clear View Panels

Doc- I sent you a PM as well- I dropped it off on Tuesday- they should have called. I will F/U tomorrow AM and get back with you.

Kevin- Those doors are really easy to convert- just remove the inside cover, router out the un-needed material then rivet in the lexan. I made a little cover for the door mechanism and they looked great. I have some photos around here somewhere if anyone is interested.
Eric

[gmackay]

Re: Doors--Clear View Panels

Eric,
I would appreciate seeing those pictures also. If you find them can you post them or email?

[Dennis D'Angelo]

Re: Doors--Clear View Panels

Doc- I sent you a PM as well- I dropped it off on Tuesday- they should have called. I will F/U tomorrow AM and get back with you.

Kevin- Those doors are really easy to convert- just remove the inside cover, router out the un-needed material then rivet in the lexan. I made a little cover for the door mechanism and they looked great. I have some photos around here somewhere if anyone is interested.
Eric

Eric:

Post the pictures. I am sure we'd all like to see this set up and your work. Thanks.

dd

[Acroeric]

Re: Doors--Clear View Panels

Here is a photo- hope I can make them small enough to go through. . . .

OK- I need some help- how do I get a file size of 597 down to the allowed size of 97?

[jgerard]

Re: Doors--Clear View Panels

Eric, just put it in your gallery at what ever size it is normally. Then post a link to your gallery.

Jason
N43643

[Acroeric]

Re: Doors--Clear View Panels

Jason- Can you give me the quick tutorial on use of the gallery- I can not seem to find it-

[jgerard]

Re: Doors--Clear View Panels

http://gallery.taylorcraft.org/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=153

Start here, its fairly self explanatory.

Jason
N43643

[Acroeric]

Re: Doors--Clear View Panels

Jason- thanks for the link- the login threw me for a loop- I was able to upload without ever logging in- Anyway- here is the link to the photo of the door. I also included a few of my all wood clipped wings-

Here is the link- I added an album titled Clipwing Photos

http://gallery.taylorcraft.org/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=3192

[Dennis D'Angelo]

Re: Doors--Clear View Panels

Jason- thanks for the link- the login threw me for a loop- I was able to upload without ever logging in- Anyway- here is the link to the photo of the door. I also included a few of my all wood clipped wings-

Here is the link- I added an album titled Clipwing Photos

http://gallery.taylorcraft.org/main....g2_itemId=3192

Eric:

How much weight did you save with the wood wings? Looks like a lot of work, but well worth it when you are looking to save very last bit of weight.

dd

[Dick Smith]

Re: Doors--Clear View Panels

One thing that revealed itself when I did the "see-through" doors was that it seemed to work best to have the door itself mounted on the fuselage hinges and in the tightly-closed mode when installing the lexan piece. The door frame is somewhat flimsy with the inside panel removed and the new opening cut in the door itself. If you install the lexan or plexiglas while the door frame is laying on the workbench and not "fitted" into position in the door frame, you can wind up with a "set" in the door that doesn't match the position that is required to fit into the door opening. I installed the door with the new cutout in it (minus the lexan) on the fuselage; then pressed the lexan against the door panel, over the cutout...when you do that, you will likely see that there is a degree of "wracking" in the door frame that needs to allowed for when you fasten the lexan in place. Once you fasten the lexan in place on the door, the whole structure becomes much stiffer, and if it doesn't fit the opening reasonably well, the required slamming and twisting and pulling will cause you grief and cracked lexan. Dick