I’ve notice that in a lot of WIP threads, you guys paint your models with the canopy and windscreen off the model? Why do you do that?
When I paint a kit, I glue the canopy and windscreen on and fill any seams before masking, priming and painting, If the canopy will be open, I just tack it while painting and remove it later.
Does anyone else do it this way?
I never really thought about it before, it’s just the way I’ve always done it.
For me it depends in big part on 1) how the canopy fits and 2) if it’s the same color as the fuselage. I just finished a P-47 that had a camo fuselage, but a NMF canopy, so it made sense to paint and assemble separately. Other times the canopy just fits so well I don’t see the point, since it just complicates masking.
I almost always leave the open portion of canopies off, however.
I do it both ways, depends on my mood at the time.
You mean leaving it off complicated masking?
I find it easier to mask the canopy on the model than trying to mask it off the model and mask the hole where it should be.
On the F-84 I just completed, it was easier to have the canopy off for painting due to the multiple colors and decals involved and the superb fit of the parts. On the F-8E and AH-1 that were my last aircraft builds beforehand, it was better to glue on first before painting.
If my final product will have the canopy closed up, I’ll paint it in place. If the canopy will be displayed open, I paint it separately from the aircraft itself.
Well, unless it’s a one-piece canopy, I always leave the open portion separate, otherwise there’s the risk of paint spray between even a tiny gap in the windscreen and canopy proper. Then all of the sudden you have to not only mask the pit, but deal with the inside of the windscreen, too. Masking the pit is usually a few strips of flat tape. I usually don’t bother masking the IP hood, and instead just brush paint that when the masking comes off.
I also prefer masking my canopies off the model, even if I’m attaching them prior to painting. To each their own!
[dto:] Bigtime!!! Mask first, then attach.[8-|]
And another [dto:] to that!
If the canopy will be closed, everything is attached, so any gaps can be filled. If it’ll be open, all but the open portion will be attached and the opening masked off. The open piece will be taped on the inside and attached to a sprue handle for painting at the same time as the rest.
Ditto to the Ditto. I will have to say that if the canopy is going to be closed I always glue it and use it as a mask. If it is going to be open I fill the pit with tissue and spray the glass off the model. But I make sure to spray the same coats on the glass as the kit so it does not look out of place.
Canopies are one of the most troublesome areas for modelers. They seem to be afraid of them. Afraid to test fit and sand on them to get the best and snuggest fit. Afraid to cement them in place with solvents. Afraid to use fillers around them.
This P-51 windscreen needs filler! Removal of the masking was a bit premature. The painting was completed and masking removed before the filler was applied and the gap addressed.[bnghead]
Many will use a little white glue, watch crystal cement or other clear drying cement to attach and till the gap…but then they forget that the metal needs to look like metal and the glass usually framed in with metal…and they typically forget to correct for that.
One should compare the actual aircraft with the model
I’m with Doogs, it depends on the specific build. If it will help minimize or eliminate seams, I’ll attach the canopy to the fuselage before painting.
However, I’ve always found it easier to mask the piece before I attach it. Rather than having to secure and steady the whole model, I find it easier to handle the canopy piece while applying the masking.
Best regards,
Brad
I mask the canopy with adhesive metal foil. Then I attach it with clear parts cement and proceed with painting. I agree with earlier posts that this helps in the seam area. If I’m going to open the canopy then I attach it closed and then pop off the parts that need to be repositioned.
[dto:] to all three. That’s exactly what I do too!!