Thought you guys might like to see this. I've found some interest in it in my searches. This is on a FFR, but could probably be done on others.
It's coming along.
I made the initial cut with a very thin cutoff wheel and cut the two corners with a jig saw. Layout for the cuts wasn't too hard. Did as much measuring as I could and stood back and eyeballed it till it looked right.
I'll use prop rods to hold it open. They'll clip onto the sides of the upper 3/4" tubes when the hood is closed.
I used structural epoxy for all bonding.
I haven't settled just yet on the latch. I've got several ideas I'm kicking around.
Open:
I made the hinges from 1/4" aluminum and bolted them through the 3/4" tubes with 3/16" bolts. The other half of the hinge was some airplane parts that I had laying around, but could be made from a couple angle aluminum pieces just as easy. I bonded them to the body with HSRF. Make sure you scuff up things real good with 80 grit before bonding. The hinge bolts are 1/4" bolts.
I wasn't totally comfortable with just bonding these hinges, so I put two 3/16" bolts through the body and will use Rage Gold to blend them into the body on the front side.
I bonded 1/8"x3/4" aluminum angles to the cut areas. Drilled and tapped for 3/16" bolts ground down to a point. This also strengthens this fiberglass piece.
