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TR2/3/3A Trimming the Dog-Leg Capping on a TR3

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JohnnyMead

JohnnyMead

Jedi Trainee
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I remember seeing a discussion of a technique for getting vinyl trim cut to fit the dog-leg pieces of the cockpit capping. Can anyone direct me to that post or otherwise enlighten me about this seemingly super-human task?
Thanks,
John
 
It now occurs to me that I never really finalized this subject on my part. I fretted over this for quite a while and it really wasn't that big of a deal. I followed some of the advise and made up some as I went along. I did use the jig, using one screw to hold it to the board.
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I did soak the leather, if your using vinyl not necessary. I heated with heat gun on low setting. I sprayed the upper 2/3 of the cap and leather with 3M super 77. I kinda stuck it along the top ridge first and then starting at the top I stretched it down along the sides. Make sure that you don't have too much overlap at the top the stuff that I had from Moss didn't give a lot of over lap. A soon as the top was on I sprayed the last bit and stretched and stuck it. There's no way to tell you how you just have to do it. When I got it all on I taped it down and left to dry.
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It was still a bit wet the next morning. Then I trimmed the excess around the cap down to 3/4" or so. I used contact cement to fold under the edges and glue.
 
After it was done I have only a few after thoughts. Ireally love the grain in the leather and that is obviously what the vinyl is trying to accomplish with it's texture. A lot of the grain was lost in stretching. Especially at the sharp part of the leg. Also as far as I can tell there is no way to avoid the wrinkly elephant ankle looking stuff in the sharp bend. It's the nature of skin/leather to do that in a sharp bend. So all in all it came out Ok and it wasn't as difficult as I thought but the quality wasn't what I had hoped for.
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Frank that's a safety that prevents spinning junk or shattered bits from flying around. It is in two pieces and as you lower the bit it collapses. I have to say while a good (OSHA) idea it's a PITA to work with and I'd rather it wasn't there.
 
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