Super glue and canopy glass

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Techniques
1

Can anyone answer this for me. I’ve always thought that super glue and canopy glas should never go near each other due to the fumes frosting the glass, however in this month FSM mag, one of the articles advocates gluing the canopy into the airframe using the aforementioned sticky stuff, however ,he had dipped it in Klear prior to gluing. So does Klear prevent frosting by superglue.

Thanks,

Rich

2

It will protect it from the CA haze. But I always use a white glue like MicroScale Krystal Klear when gluing canopies.

3

Klear (or Future depending on wher you are) will stop the CA from crazing the canopies or other clear parts.

Even though I dip my clear parts in Future, I like to use testors clear parts adhesive. It’s really nothing more than thinned down Elmer’s white glue. I like it because it’s already thinned and the dispenser is a nice thin tube.

-Fred

4

Rich,

The Future (or Klear) will protect the canopy from the superglue fumes. It’s one of the added advantages of dipping the parts in the stuff. (It also promotes removal of masking materials, makes the clear parts clearer, and corrects small blemishes.) The advantage I’ve found for using superglue for clear parts like the He 111 canopy on the April FSM is that it serves as a filler, helping clear parts which are supposed to be art of the airframe blend in better. If I’m attaching a sliding glass section, like that on a Mustang, I’ll usually use a clear part cement.

Thanks for reading.

5

Is it also necessary to ventilate the cockpit/canopy area if you use CA to put it on? I had a minor hazing problem with my B-25 cockpit canopy, even though it was dipped in Future beforehand. I had tried directing a small fan down the length of the fuselage to blow out any fumes, but apparently, with the nose glass already on, all that did was concentrate the fumes enough to slightly fog the cockpit glass.

6

Hi Guys,

Many thanks for those answers, they’re a big help. It’s a shame I didn’t post this thread a few weeks back, before I struggled with a 1/72 loach canopy. I spent ages walking around the house holding the damn thing in place thinking it should have stuck by now only to watch it spring open again. I’m suprised you blokes in the States never heard me!!!

Thanks again for those tips.

Rich

7

Try odorless CA on your canopies to, I have used it many times and never had a problem.