Modelers, I have a piece of clear plastic that a piece has broken off of. I CAed back together, sanded it some and brushed it with Future. Ok, apparently that isn’t right. The seam is very visable. Am I just scrw** here? Is there any way to fix this? Thanks.
Ow. Hmmm… I assume that you used the non-fogging kind of CA. maybe you can take it apart again with some of that debonding agent they sell in hardware stores (though i don’t know if this will for fog up the canopy). i would suggest that you PVA (elmer’s glue) it back together because it dries transparent. i’m sure someone more knowledeable will come around and be of more help. [:)]
Dana,
The seam where it cracked will aways be visible no matter what you do. Your best bet is fill the inside with clay and use it as a master to form a new canopy by heating some clear thermoform plastic or a piece of clear packaging over a candle util it gets soft and stretch it over your canopy. Unless Squadron might have some vacuform canopies for your kit. What kit was the canopy for?
Well, actually, it’s not a canopy. It’s a 1/48 F-89 and the part is the radar operator’s sheild. It’s a stangly shaped piece and I’ve never in my life even attempted to thermoform.
Here’s a pic of the part in question. Note the very prominate seam. [V]
I think Mel hit it on the head Dana…you can buy the sheet from www.squadron.com…and you just heat it up over a candle 'till it’s warm, and then pull it over the master (your part in question)…I’ve never tried it, but I’ve heard it works great.
Dana,
I’ll check mine out when I get home next Tues and see if it’s possilbe to “form” another one. Is the whole thing supposed to be clear or just some sections of it. I have done several old Monogram canopies, Wildcat, Dauntless, and Corsair by the method I discribe with good results after a few tries. If just the “side” windows are suppose to be clear, maybe you could make a new side from clear sheet plastic. It looked like the crack ran through the left side but I couldn’t tell if it wend down into the “bulged” area.
Only other option is to “beg” Monogam for a replacement part!
It has a very fine frame. The crank went straight across the side of the thing. The crack is cloeset to you in the pic.
Is there anywhere on the net that gives a quick “how to” on thermoforming?
Well, I don’t know if it’ll do any good, but I just filled out the online order for the part on Revell’s website. We’ll see I guess.
I’m looking around, it’s not on aircraft resource center…i’ll keep checking!!
Dana, here’s an online tutorial on how to use squadron’s thermaform