Airfix P.1127 canopy fit.

[chrisonord]

Has anyone here built the re release of the Airfix P.1127. I am currently building mine, and the canopy is to wide and too long. I have trimmed it down at the back, and it still doesn't fit, also it is about 1mm too wide, so it doesnt fit as should over the cockpit. The plastic is too thick to attempt to bend it in also, so I am stuck as to what I can do with it. I have emailed Airfix about it, but I want.to know if anyone else has this problem with theirs.
Cheers.
Chris.

[PR19_Kit]

Sounds like they're including a canopy from an later mark of Harrier, total madness! 

[The Wooksta!]

No, it didn't fit in the last release either.

[chrisonord]

Hmm, marvelous effort from Airfix then as I am sure others in the past will have complained about the thing.

[The Wooksta!]

Sand it to fit and polish it back?  Seen it done with worse canopies.

[zenrat]

Given its Vintage Classisms status why not do as would have been done in the day.  Glue it on with half a tube of stringy tube glue and use the other half to try and bridge the gaps.
Then put a big thumbprint right in the middle.

[PR19_Kit]

I've still got an original issue P.1127 in its plastic bag, I'm tempted to open it up and see if IT'S over size too. I can't remember building an original one either.

[Nick]

I recall doing some severe sanding and cutting on my P1127 kit canopy. Still looked wrong.

[chrisonord]

I recall doing some severe sanding and cutting on my P1127 kit canopy. Still looked wrong.

Thanks for saving me the trouble Nick     

[rickshaw]

Would Harrier canopy replace it?

[Weaver]

I've still got an original issue P.1127 in its plastic bag, I'm tempted to open it up and see if IT'S over size too. I can't remember building an original one either.

I've got an original issue P.1127 half-built that I got for a song a few years back. The fuselage is already glued together. I've also got two new Vintage Classics ones.

Comparing the two, the original canopy is SLIGHTLY too wide (maybe 0.2mm) and a SLIGHTLY better fit than the new one, but there isn't much in it. I'd say the new one is wider than the fuselage by no more than 0.5mm, and that may be flare right at the bottom, so my impression is that some careful sanding could improve matters.

I'd like to be more precise about the measurements, but my digital caliper has just risen to the challenge by immediately breaking...    

UPDATE:

Okay, this is wierd. Both canopies are a WORSE fit on the new issue fuselage, more like the 1mm that Chis reports, BUT I can't find a measurable difference in the fuselages! Of course, without calipers...

[chrisonord]

I messaged airfix about the problem, and they technically completely ignored my query. They wanted my details so they could send me a replacement. Whether it is an improved canopy, they didn't say. But to be honest, what are the chances of that happening?

[chrisonord]

Well, so much for being helped out with this one. No further correspondence, or anything through the post. What a waste of 7 quid that kit was. I have tried a harrier and sea harrier canopy on it also and it is the wrong shape also.

[Rick Lowe]

Would something larger, cut down, do the job?
If you can match the upper curve, and the width is correct, then cutting it at the bottom and rear could give you what you want.
I'm thinking of a Sabre, or similar canopy.
The frames might not be correct, but you could sand them off and paint the correct ones on.

FWIW, HTH

[chrisonord]

Would something larger, cut down, do the job?
If you can match the upper curve, and the width is correct, then cutting it at the bottom and rear could give you what you want.
I'm thinking of a Sabre, or similar canopy.
The frames might not be correct, but you could sand them off and paint the correct ones on.

FWIW, HTH

It could well come to that, but my hands aren't  trustworthy enough to carefully chop canopies up, could end up an expensive and frustrating exercise.