how to make your own canopies

[Spey_Phantom]

a while ago, i saw a small modeling documentry on TV, and there was one modeler converting a F-104G kit into a TF-104G  B)

all nice and well, but the trick he used to scratchbuild canopies is amazingly clever.

1. take a straight piece of clear plastic (like the ones they use on boxing on toy cars)

2. hold it ever a hot toaster  

3. after a minute (or 2) pull it away and puch it over a wooden (or metal) block shaped like the canopy.

4. ad it to your model.

its quite easy, i might just try that  B)  

[nev]

I believe that technique is known as the smash-u-form

[wolfik]

the plastic from the PU (Polyurethan) bottles works better
and is to glue with the CA glue
Peter

[lancer]

Ok, got a question about this. Would it be possible to use the canopy as the master for forming?? If so, I've got a badly fogged ME262 canopy that will act as a fine Master...

[NARSES2]

Possibly Lance, depend's on temperatures but you could always fill the canopy with plaster of Paris or something similar.

In the "old days" we used to make a male and female mould from balsa and simply plunge mould - same princpal, but I think a tad more accurate - strange I used to do this a lot as a kid, wouldn't "dare" now  :dum:  

[Nigel Bunker]

In the "old days" we used to make a male and female mould from balsa and simply plunge mould - same princpal, but I think a tad more accurate - strange I used to do this a lot as a kid, wouldn't "dare" now

Like myself, you obviously had your training from Airfix Magazine. Now where's my clear dope and talcum powder?

[NARSES2]

In the "old days" we used to make a male and female mould from balsa and simply plunge mould - same princpal, but I think a tad more accurate - strange I used to do this a lot as a kid, wouldn't "dare" now

Like myself, you obviously had your training from Airfix Magazine. Now where's my clear dope and talcum powder?

Airfix Mag and a certain Alan Hall for aircraft and Chris Ellis for armour ?  

[Martin H]

ah yes, the uncle alan school of modeling. I used one of his early (mid 1960's) articles to do a 72nd scale rotabuggy once.

yep i know i wasnt even born then, my dad used to collect the airfix mag, we still have most of em in the loft.

[NARSES2]

Thanks for making me feel even older Martin    

[lancer]

Thanks for making me feel even older Martin  

Does it help to know that you've been put on the English Heritige register of ancient notables??      

[RotorheadTX]

Ok, got a question about this. Would it be possible to use the canopy as the master for forming?? If so, I've got a badly fogged ME262 canopy that will act as a fine Master...

Yes, you can, provided it's reinforced from the inside to prevent breakage.

Here's an example of how I made replacement canopies for Italeri's MiG 'Ferret':

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/forum//index...wtopic=5595&hl=