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Sealing the Tip-up Canopy The benefits of the tip-up canopy are many. I won't get into the pros and cons here; that dead horse has been beaten plenty elsewhere. Suffice to say, that of all the things I would (will!) do differently if (when!) I build again, I would choose the tip-up again. That said, the biggest problem with the tip-up, IMHO, is sealing the forward portion against water. I have tried several different ways, and this is the one which works. First thing to do is take the black weather-strip from the finish kit and throw it away. Go to your friendly local ACE Hardware (Aircraft Components and Equipment) and buy yourself a roll of STC'd, TSO'd and PMA'd foam weather-strip. I tried several kinds, the stuff I like is a closed cell foam, about 3/8 inch wide, and looks like a letter "P" when viewed from the side. I put a row of it on the weather-strip flange on the forward canopy bulkhead, and another row on the bulkhead itself. Then put a double row on the inside of the leading edge of the canopy itself, so that it contacts the stuff you put on the bulkhead (in other words, about 1/8 inch back from the canopy leading edge.) You will have to trim it a bit, especially along the sides. When you install and close the canopy for the first time, it will be apparent where the trimming needs to be done.
If it is done right, a very small, uniform bead of the stuff will ooze out from the front of the canopy when it is closed. I don't find this aesthetically offensive; if you do you're on your own. It may take some trial and error to get the fit right, but the stuff is cheap. Additionally, I've only had it on for one season, and although it works well, it does not appear to be the most durable solution. I can see having to replace it every year or two, but it only takes about an hour (including finding a couple helping hands to get the canopy on/ off) and is a small price to pay, IMHO. Also, the small gaps between the flanges of the forward bulkhead were sealed with Shoe Goo.
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