Scratchbuilding advice

[GTX]

Hi folks,

I thought a general topic for ideas about scratch building might be useful.  Post various related questions here and hopefully get some answers.

I'll start:  Probably my biggest fear with scratch building is canopies.  How does one make a canopy that is accurate if one is trying to replicate a real aircraft?  A few ideas I know are:

• Re-use a canopy from another kit - great if it matches, but what if there is nothing close or at least close in the scale you are working?
• Vacuform one - great if you've got a vacuform machine but otherwise?

What other techniques can members advise?

regards,

Greg

[NARSES2]

Well the old method was to plunge mould a canopy. Make a male and female mould. Cover the female mould with thinnish clear plastic, stick under a heat source (don't use the grill of the cooker if mums about  ) and when it goes all "shimmery" simply push the male mould through and cut out once it hardens. Will probably take a few efforts but quite simple and effective.

Did a few back in the days of Allan Hall in the old Airfix Mag, havn't done it since though

[sequoiaranger]

They are the HARDEST thing to scratch-build, because they must maintain their transparency. The best advice I can give you is do the plunge-mold thing to make a COPY of what you have laboriously scratch-built. Having a large supply of canopies from other kits is helpful to source possiblities. Measuring carefully, you can mix-and-match canopy parts, file and sand, until you have the SHAPE and SIZE you want, then polish and refine all the edges, etc. before duplicating it in thin, clear plastic.

It's not for the faint-of-heart, but quite do-able.

[jcf]

Plunge-moulding detailed in Harry Woodman Scale Model Aircraft in Plastic Card:

http://www.wwi-n-plastic.com/Book/harry/chapter3/06-mono.htm

http://www.wwi-n-plastic.com/Book/harry/contents.htm