So I’m finishing the 1/48th F^F-3 when I realize that the two piece canopy supplied can not be displayed in the open position!
The canopy will not sit down on the rails…it fits perfectly in the closed position but is too thick to rest in the proper location open…
Any other Hellcat builders run into this one?
I really hate to hide all that cockpit detail…
Steve
i know exactly what you mean. built the same kit not to long ago. i didnt glue it down so if someone wants to look inside i can just take it off.
I found myself in the same position with Hasegawa’s series of 1/48 Hurricanes. Though the cockpits are excellently detailed OOB, I added a lot of PE and scratchbuit details to my Mk. IId. Well, this cockpit didn’t have a really big opening in on the original airplane, and it didn’t have a fold-down entrance door like the Spitfire which showsoff cockpit detail (The Hurricane only had an emergency knockout panel that modelers often incorrectly pose folded down like a door). To add insult to injury, HAS only provides a thick, heavily framed, one-piece canopy.
So I went to the obvious solution, which is also yours: Spend two bucks on the True Details/Falcon canopies in the Squadron catalogue. I use them even when I don’t have to, because they are extremely clear, and as thin as a vacuform canopy can be, which is very thin indeed. Use decals or those wonderful EZ Mask strips to form your canopy frame, to give it some dimension, or “thickness,” though you can just paint it on if you want.
And, True Details generally supplies two canopies in case you bollux one of them up.
TOM
Like Tom said, go the Vac canopy route.
Its true as much as we’d like these types of options…they’re not all available…and squadron.com does have a bunch of great stuff for you…maybe you’ll check out a sweet set of decals while you’re there…
I noticed Hasegawa’s beautiful f-4 phantoms have the same concern…one molded canopy in the down position…
Sometimes after market stuff is the way to go when you’re looking for specific details.
Tank