Balsa USA Stingray with DLE-20, RC Plane Build N0 24: Build a Canopy for your RC Plane

Welcome to my build series of the Balsa USA Stingray RC plane kit. The Stingray 120 is a great trainer and sport rc plane with an 83-inch wingspan and powered by a DLE-20 RC gas rc plane engine. I will be using a Futaba transmitter system with Futaba or Hitec servos and receiver. This plane is designed for .80 to .90 2-stroke glow engines, .90 to 1.20 4-stroke glow engines, and 15cc to 30cc gas engines. I will be using basic techniques of building rc plane balsa kits (or at least the techniques I have learned to build rc planes).
All of these videos will be placed on a playlist.
In this video I build a canopy for the plane. I use a Sig bubble canopy and cut to fit, I also build up the lower part of the canopy or cockpit using balsa scrap. I attach the canopy to the plane using rare earth magnets. Later I use Monokote covering material to finish the look of the canopy. I think you could use these general techniques to custom build a canopy for your rc plane.
I have been building, flying, crashing, modifying, and repairing radio control planes (RC Planes) for many years and enjoy sharing what I do with the radio control plane community, so I started RC Plane Tech channel for fun. I am not an expert, there are many different techniques when building radio control planes. A good way to learn about flying and building rc planes is to see what others are doing, that's what I do and that's why I like to share what I do.

[@homienat3374]

Glad ya using monocoat ,i used,easycoat on my last build absolute nightmare ,have no hair left

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Yup, Monokote has always worked for me. I just got some delivered.

[@MrAirhead2010]

James, don't forget that a canopy is only there for a pilot to look out from! Planes with cockpits or canopies look awful without a corresponding pilot in there. Even more so if it's scale but if it's clear, stick a chap or chapess in there! 👨‍✈️

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Haha! Ya I have a couple of pilots that may work. Thanks!

[@MrAirhead2010]

@@JamesRCPlaneTech
Good man! All will be well!

[@Jimmyzb36]

Spray it on the inside. Works great!

[@homienat3374]

Yep its the best way

[@marcobuonavita2757]

Ottimo lavoro e ottimo video con molti particolari in evidenza, complimenti

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks Marco, its getting closer.

[@sandeepakolkar9376]

Canopy is made beautifully

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks!

[@michaelfergusonsr.8574]

Looks great excellent workmanship.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks!

[@alfredvink]

Wow, impressive and adds to the overall look of the plane. 👌👌

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks!

[@IamBlackdragon]

Looks great.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks!

[@MelvinGuentherjr]

Nice job that will be bad ass

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks!

[@helischorsch9786]

Great work👍…would love to see this tinting

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks. Ya, Ill do the tinting soon.

[@stevebarr9604]

Well that's a awesome job on doing that! Really great idea!

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks!

[@larryhayes3040]

Very impressive work.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks!

[@ioannisbatas1614]

Superb !!!

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks!

[@homienat3374]

Nice job mate 🤙🤙

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks!

[@nikosasimakis6676]

i have tried epoxy on magnets and it failed. after i scratched them with sandpapper it was fine. the magnets were same size but very strong.

[@RedwoodRc]

Use Gorilla glue! I never sand magnets. Make sure the wood or foam excepts the magnet. Without too much force. If it falls right in the hole, it is too big.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

They are very strong, almost too strong in some cases. With this canopy I can actually slide it away sideways, instead of pulling straight out, this helps since it's not pulling straight on the magnets. I was considering thick CA, but not sure how that would work. Thanks for the comment and tip.

[@spinynorman887]

Nice. but you did NOT "scratch build" a canopy. You modified an existing mass-produced canopy. Scratchbuilding starts with raw materials (a sheet of clear plastic, a block or sheets of balsa, etc.), and YOU create the canopy from that. What YOU did was closer to kitbashing than scratchbuilding. Saying that you scratch built a canopy from an existing canopy is like saying you built an engine when you actually bought an engine and put an exhaust pipe and chrome valve covers on it.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Ya, guess the term “scratch” was not the best. Thanks