How often have you messed up a single piece Aircraft Canopy? A few times right? If you haven’t then you don’t build a lot. Here’s a very Finicky but useful way to make a new one if you cannot Smash mold or Vacuform and the Budget doesn’t allow for Aftermarket Parts!
Get some very clear Sprue from Some friends who build Monogram kits. I know there are others. BUT, the Monogam material seems to come out Optically clearer as Sproo-Gloo. Now starting with a VIRGIN!! Quarter Bottle of Tamiya green Top, start making your Sproo-Gloo, You want it to be a little thicker than Cool Honey.
Now, take the original canopy and make a box out of LEGO, Megablox or whatever. I Even use small cardboard boxes. Take some Pla-Do and blend it till it’s very soft and pliable. Put it in the Box and carefully push the canopy in it, being very careful not to distort it.
Very Carefully, pull out the canopy leaving that imprint behind. Put in Refrigerator for an hour! Put it in a Ziploc bag to keep dust away! Now being patient let the Pla-Do harden in the room air till it’s a hard as a rock. BUT keep that imprint covered.
Now, Your Clear Sproo-Gloo should be ready. Before pouring you must do this. Carefully coat the Pla-Do with either PAM or Olive oil. Make sure it’s NOT Runny! Very carefully pour the Sproo-Gloo into the pattern Cavity. the same rule applies here. make sure it’s not too runny
You must be patient and keep rotating the mold till the Gloo sets up. Then Set it aside AFTER pouring Ice water in the mold. This will quicken the surface hardening. 24 hours later,take the mold and carefully saw almost to the canopy in four directions. The Pla-Do should then break off, giving you a nice clear canopy!
Let it sit for another day before trying to work with it. Yes, there’s a lot of steps here. BUT, when you run out of options what do you do? Try something outrageous! It Works!
Especially the last two. As you were reading, you’ll see I mentioned the lack of equipment or ability to Smash mold said canopies. Or Vac-u-Form them. This is a WAY OUT project that worked. So I figured I would mention it.
Sprue Glue, being called Sproo-Gloo by yours truly is nothing more than Liquified Plastic. Yes, the Chemical Bonds have been relaxed by the chemicals in the glue. But, and here’s where it is important. Even though the amount of plastic, glue mix, can limit moldability, Sproo-Gloo Can be used in place of Resin for clear and tinted items very well.
Come on guys. TB had it in in his first paragraph that his idea is for situations where you can’t vacuform or smash mold for whatever reason. Don’t be so quick to dismiss someone’s idea when you don’t take the time to read it. [whstl]
No problem TB. I might have to try that idea some day. Almost had to do something like that with my Frogfoot windscreen, but luckily I found one on Ebay for a reasonable price. One in a million shot though…those things are as rare as hen’s teeth, I think I bought the only one.
Build a lot of rarer aircraft, when you get the chance, Buy a used Mattel " Vac-U-Form" and make a couple of your own Platens( vented molding surface) and do your own canopies. Sometimes I would get guys or ladies to lend me a canopy for copying then make one extra for Him or Her. Worked like a charm. Vivak works great, Does not " Glue Fog" and is scale thickness at.010 or .020 !.
The Original idea behind the “Sproo-Gloo” canopy was an emergency situation.A friend had borrowed another friends commercially made model and the Ubuiquitous non-feeling, Labrador tail sent it to the floor upside down. Scratch one canopy. No hiding the cracks. New canopy needed. My concoction the only alternative, as my Vac-U-Form had somehow developed legs? Filled, old glued up canopy, Sanded the cracks out, Made a female mold from Pla-Doh and the rest is history.
Sorry for being “dense”, but what exactly is Tamiya Green-top? And, you just add the clear sprue in quantities until it melts into the consistancy of cold honey . . .
Tamyia extra thin cement. Sold in square glass bottles with the green lid. Not to be confused with their standard cement which has the white top. Should be easy for you to find.
If you take the right amount of crystal clear plastic shards and dissolve them in a half Bottle of Virgin Glue ( Tamiya-Green Top) It should work. I keep my Clear Sproo-Gloo mix at about 70-30. The mold can be clay(baked) or even Pla-Doh allowed to harden. Just make sure the donor for the shape has no flaws on the outside. Remember this is a female mold!