So I’ve read that some like to paint the bottom edges of the canopy black for more detail. I would think you’d paint them whatever color the framing is?? But in my case it’s black as that what color the aircraft is going to be. So if I do it, and I’m thinking in dipping the canopies in PFC, woild I paint the edges 1st, then dip in PFC then tape and paint the rest? I’m using Tamiya and Vallejo acrylic. What you be the correct order of operations?
Personally, I use Tamiya paints. I always polish the canopy first with 12,000 Micromesh and then dip in Future, then allow a good 48 hours to dry before masking and painting. Never had any issues that way.
Dip in PFC first, and make sure you shake off all of the excess before leaving it to dry. I put my freshly-dipped parts on a sheet of printer paper (since its lint/dust free) and cover with an upside-down Gladware container. You can take the container away after about a day. I usually let the PFC cure for at least 4 days before messing with anything.
Not sure about the context of what is meant by painting the bottom edges of the canopy black, but I definitely paint the inside and outside of the canopy frame with black first. That way it looks like an actual frame, rather than a colored line on plexiglass. It also eliminates the translucent appearance of not doing that before the final color goes on the outside. In the case of my F-16CJ, I used X-18 (semi-gloss black) for this step. Then the first mask on the outside came off and the second mask on the outside went on, slightly offset from the first mask to give a thin semi-gloss black line between the clear and the final color. This simulates the sealant that goes around the canopy, between the frame and the glass.
Still not sure… You mention to dip 1st then to paint 1st??? Should i dip, dry then paint or paint the bottoms 1st then dip then do the frame?
I read in an article in FS Mag on an aircraft build where the author mentiones painting the bottom edges of the canopy to make it more realistic looking. Of course now i cant find the article! Thanks!!
tks Steve - to confirm, you paint over the PFC or Future? Wm
Think of the two paragraphs as a sequence. PFC first and let that cure, then the painting sequence. [;)]
I paint over the cured/dried Future. (Actually don’t know what PFC is!?)
PFC is Pledge Floor Care. Its what they started calling Future here in the US.
Tks all…, Just checking to make sure I got it right.
The problem with painting the bottom edge of the canopy is that it is usually the gluing surface. If you do paint it, make little dimples through the paint with a tiny drill. Else you will get a weak bond (drill holes through the mounting surface too if it is painted.