Why do yous guys vacuum-form canopies?
When one vacuforms a canopy, a very thin plastic is used thus creating a more realistic (scale) thickness to any wind screens and glass areas of the canopy.
Also some people like to have the canopy open on their models and often the canopy supplied by the kit will not allow you to do that (single piece). A good example is the Hasegawa Hawker Hurricane Mk1. It has a one piece canopy but you can use a vacuformed canopy to display it open so people can seen any detail you may add to the cockpit.
I hope that is a reasonable explanation. Also vacuformed canopies can be much clearer, due to their thinness. I used one for the nose of a 1:72 bomber and you can see all the detail in the nose very well.
I was hoping this would be a “how-to” thread.
Does anybody use kit-supplied poly canopies as
molds to make vacuformed canopies. if so, how?
I believe Bgrigg vacuforms some of his canopies… I’m sure he’ll be around sooner or later
IL2windhawk, there is an excellent how-to article in an FSM mag from MArch 2005. I built the vacuforming box described in the article and will soon be trying to vacuform a canopy for a 1:72 Bf-110. Will let you know how it turns out.
The process is really simple but I don’t think you want to use the kit canopy to vacuform a new one as you will be then create a canopy that is a tiny bit larger than the kit one. If the kit canopy fits just right then the new vacuform one will be a smidgen too big all around.
I make my canopies without any vacuform box at all.
All you need is a a carved wood form of the canopy from good hard wood. attach a stick at the bottom *strong bond needed here. Then by light a candle, low flame the transparent plastic is held over the flame, get it melted enough that you can push the wood form in it--------- and you got the canopy. Cut with sharp knife. The canopy framework is done with very thin slivers of paper painted to the aircraft’s color…do remember to make the wood form a little bit larger, so the plasticone will fit just right…Be carefull and don’t burn yourself!!!