This one is in about the same condition as my P-40, about ready for paint. However, I don’t think these vac-form canopies are meant for this kit. They are molded as one piece, just like the kit canopy. The kit canopy is nice and crisp and clear. The vacs are a touch cloudy and don’t even fit. They are not an improvement, at all! Here is the fit of the rear section. Way short. I took my time and cut it as “tall” as possible.
The forward piece doesn’t fit any better. So, it looks like I’ll have to cut the center section from the kit part and use the front and rear sections, and use the center section of the vac-form, to pose the canopy open.[bnghead]
I added a couple bits of acetate for the gunsight glass.
I knew a few people have mentioned having a hard time with cutting masks for the clear parts. A little trick I’ve used for years (on canopies that don’t have very pronounced frames) is to hold the backside toward a light. You’ll be able to see the line were the cut should be.
Having troubles with the vac-form canopy (poor fit), I cut out the center section from the kit canopy (molded as one piece. BOOOOOO) and used the forward and rear pieces, and used the center section from the vac-form canopy (also molded as one piece)
Vedy vedy nice!! I too was dissapointed in the Squadron vac formed canopies for the 129 im working on right now. Looks like you’ve got everything under control!!
Heh… Squadron makes two sets… One for Hasesgawa, one for Arii/Otaki… SQ9561 is the Hasegawa canopy, SQ9531 for the Arii/Otaki kit… Found that out after the fact…
Had to do some surgery on mine since the forward fuselage section needed to cut off my canopy as I’d already closed up and finished the aircraft. The Squadron canopy would’ve had me cut the aft fuselage about a half-inch to accept the winscreen fairing… Ended up with a windscreen that didn’t fair into the fuselage right, but I did some shim work to raise it and get it done… Doesn’t line up closed since I had to “pinch” it a bit, but looks fine open…
You pulled your Tony off quite nicely Fermis, old boy… Wish I’d thought of that little light trick too… But, I freehand anyway, lol…
