Canopy forming.

[Librarian]

Can anyone point me in the direction of an idiot's guide to forming canopies. I tried using milliput to create a mold but it damaged the plastic. What am I doing wrong?

[deathjester]

Quick trick I heard is to use the curved bit at the bottom of a coke bottle.  Also, If you have a master, you can heat up some clear plastic, and pull it quickly down over your master copy.

[PR19_Kit]

In the past I've used the old balsa, dope and talcum powder technique for the master.

I've cut a hole in a thickish sheet of balsa a bit larger than the master and pinned a suitably large sheet of clear plastic across the hole, then heated the whole shabang till I just saw the clear start to sink into the hole and than zapped the master through the clear till it was deep enough into the hole.

It's only 70% successfull I find so you need to be prepared to make a few before you get a perfect canopy. I know some others here have used Milliput for the masters so there must be a way of using it for good results,

[Father Ennis]

PR19 is correct in his methods. I know people who have done that for years and can get good results neatly every time they do it. I've done it myself and gotten great results. I've known many people to.use muliput for masters and gotten great results,too. One thing to remember is the master will be smaller than the copy so you have to take that into account.  Basla is also a good choice for your master. If you are pulling a canpany from an injection molded  one you should sand it smooth first. You may also want to fill the interior with clay or something and to mount it the a base.

[NARSES2]

In the past I've used the old balsa, dope and talcum powder technique for the master.

I've cut a hole in a thickish sheet of balsa a bit larger than the master and pinned a suitably large sheet of clear plastic across the hole, then heated the whole shabang till I just saw the clear start to sink into the hole and than zapped the master through the clear till it was deep enough into the hole.

Method I've used in the distant past. I suppose it's the classic one