Raptor, Page 2

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This is the clip I made to mount the fiberglass canopy at the bottom.  The post is an old ball stud from an old heli.  It is mounted to the gear strut by drilling two holes in the strut and securing the clip with nuts 'n bolts. I made a hole in the bottom of the canopy that the post fits thru, then slide the piece of fuel tubing on to keep the canopy from vibrating on the post.  Originally, I used a grommet like the ones on the side of the canopy (stock ones), but the post cut thru the soft material after about 5 or 6 flights.  I was going thru grommets quickly!  The fuel tubing is a little tougher, and lasts quite a while before the glass cuts thru the tubing.  You'll know when it happens, because the noise it makes is unnerving--a hollow vibrating sound that seems to be amplified in the canopy.!  Overall, the system works well. I change canopies frequently, so I must remove this clip before installing the stock canopy, but it takes less than a minute to remove and install.

I drilled the top mounting holes as per the instructions, but regretted it because the canopy had a significant nose-up lean as the bottom of the canopy hit the landing gear strut.  I ended up shaving about 1/2" off the bottom of the canopy in an effort to lower the nose and have the top of the canopy level with the swashplate. Looking back, I should have dry fitted the canopy before drilling the upper holes, and try to get the canopy level, then drill the holes where necessary to get the right look. The stock canopy clip for the bottom would not work because the lower part of the canopy needs to be lined up with the top surface of the landing gear strut.  As you can see, mine lines up with the bottom surface of the strut.

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Feb 21, 2001 A few people have been asking about the "carb hole" mod, so I took a pic of mine for all to see.  The hole is .055" diameter.  Above the hole you can see where I filled in my first attempt at the mod.  The position of the hole was taken off someone's website with instructions on how to do the mod.  After I got done drilling it, the subject came up on the Raptor list, and I learned the high hole is not a good location!  Figures!  It is too high to be effective, and after a few test flights I decided to fill it in and re-drill it lower.  I filled it with JB Weld.  The new hole is much more effective at eliminating the wah-wah's and preventing the mid-stick lean condition.