Building a Canopy from Plastic Sheet Query

Cobra · October 13, 2014, 03:04:01 AM

Hey Guys, while doing some thinking, a Question Hit me:Has Anyone Built a Canopy for an Aircraft Using Plastic Sheet Stock? I'm Getting some Ideas, But thought I'd Use Plastic Sheet Stock like Evergreen that i have to Make like an Armoured Canopy. think it might Work? What Say You? thanks For Looking. Dan

PR19_Kit · October 13, 2014, 04:25:45 AM

I don't know about 'building' a canopy, as in cutting out the parts and glueing them together, but moulding one is pretty straightforward.

The trouble with the 'cut and glue' process for a flat windowed canopy is stopping the glue messing up the windows, it's easier to make a plug and mould one. Squadron sell some wonderful stuff called 'Clear Thermoform' for doing exactly that. It comes in a pack of 10 sheets, about 5" x 4" and 10 thou. thick, and you need to warm it up under a grille or with hairdryer before you plunge mould the canopy.

Dizzyfugu · October 13, 2014, 04:30:29 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on October 13, 2014, 04:25:45 AM

The trouble with the 'cut and glue' process for a flat windowed canopy is stopping the glue messing up the windows, it's easier to make a plug and mould one.

Second that. Years ago I tried to make a flat-paneled canopy from clear material, and it was... messy. Cutting, folding and glueing the stuff ended in a very shaggy thing, I would not try it again - I'd rather look for a blister packaging in the right shape and try to cut a canopy out. Haven't tried the "plug & mould" method, but I guess that this will take some practice, too.

jcf · October 13, 2014, 10:23:41 AM

A flat-plate canopy like that of the AH-1S Cobra or similar is fairly straightforward,
use regular white styrene sheet for the framing and glue the clear sheet panes to
the back of the frames.

No folding required.

rickshaw · October 13, 2014, 09:52:54 PM

I have twice created my own canopy using plastic framing and clear pva glue. It worked quite well, once and failed fairly miserably the second. I replaced the clear panels with black 10 thou plasticard cut to shape and that worked much better.

Cobra · October 13, 2014, 10:29:26 PM

I'm Planning to Try Building a Canopy kinda like some Soviet types,but Using Evergreen Plastic Sheet Stock that i Have. Planning to Paint it but Only After I Measure the Space i plan to put it in. Haven't Decided What Aircraft I'll Use Yet, a Few Possible Choices are:SR-71,F-106,F-105,or maybe an SU-27! What Say You? Thanks For Looking. Dan

zenrat · October 14, 2014, 03:28:05 AM

What scale?

Cobra · October 14, 2014, 04:01:12 AM

Either 1/48 or 1/72, Don't think it would work with 1/144. does that Help? Dan

zenrat · October 14, 2014, 04:07:53 AM

Just wondering. Obviously easier in 1/48.
In 1/72 i've tried using the clear plastic sheet we used to use in the office as the covers of comb bound documents. As it says above, the problem is gluing it. I ran a seam of krystal Klear along the inside of each join but it wan't too pretty.