Ok, I’m working on the Fine Molds Y-wing fighter and I’m about ready to attach the canopy, but it has an unusual canopy system:
It has a single clear piece underneath which bonds (with Krystal Klear) to a seperate piece of grey plastic piece on top, which I presume is meant to be attached to the cockpit “head” sub-assembly with regular styrene cemet. BUT, BUT…might the clear bit underneath craze?
What do you think the best way to perform this binding operation is?
Ill be honest, im not quite sure what you mean. Any chance we could get a pic of said sub assembly and the instruction page?
Yea, its kinda cloudy to me as to what you are trying to explain, but what I’m kinda gathering is that your wondering if using regular cement to glue clear plastic and solid plastic will craze the clear? If that the case then you would be alright if there is a frame between the clear and gray plastic. If you dont want to take a chance, just dip the clear piece in future and attach with super glue
If I remember correctly the kit can be build with or without the clear windows(same for most FM SW kits).
This is done so that you can either build as a representation of the studio model(no clear parts) or as they appeared in the movie. Colour changes also needed.
The added in detail should go in easy and not touch the clear parts. For gluing the clear parts I recommend White Glue, cleans easy with water and won"t fog, etc.
HTH.
If you can apply the regular cement to the top of the clear piece (if it has any contact-point thet goes across the top of the canopy roof inside,form one side to the other), then cement-crazing will be no issue… You can also use it or CA, IF, and this is important, IF you keep air moving across it during the drying time…
DON’T use slow-drying CA like Suoer Gel or gap-filling, just regular CA or liquid cement… Just glue it SPARINGLY (and in only a few key places too, like the top of the sidepanels and rear and not the front panel), then keep the air moving across it, with a fan…
It should only take a couple minutes to eliminate the fume-crazing hazard with CA, a bit longer with liquid cement, like maybe five minutes… Don’t use tube glue or even the thinner liquid cement, like Testor’s Model Master black bottle… Use Testor’s Pink Label liquid or an equally thin cement… This’s what I do, BTW, so I’m not just guessing…
I wouldn’t use white glue or Testor’s Clear Parts glue if the canopy is going to be glued down, because it will weaken over time and may drop out of the frame… If you don’t mind tearing it off to repair it, then that’s ok though…
Yes, both plastic cement and CA will craze transparent styrene at times. To be safe I use Krystal clear if I do not need much strength, but epoxy if the bond needs to be strong.
To affix the canopy to the fuselage…solvents nor CA should craze the clear if you first dipped it in Future to protect it.
Some more detail, guys. Sorry, but I wrote last night’s post when I was tired and distracted:
First, the canopy DID get a dip in Future. The clear part itself is a single piece that mimics the general shape of the opaque canopy part and attaches to the opaque piece at the roof, where it’s not visible. I’ve already done that with Krystal Klear. Now I just need to attach that two-piece sub-assembly (clear and opaque parts) to the rest of the model, but if I use regular cement, like I said…it might craze/fog-over.
I thought I’d ask around before committing my nice expensive $50 model’s most visible part to glue. I’ll hold off a while longer to get more feedback.
Since the clear part is dipped in Future it won’t go white on you so feel free to use the CA. Most of the time I use Krystal Kleer or if the fit is very good I’ll use Testors clear parts cement. Neither of these two will attack the plastic and both clean up with a q-tip and water.
I see a gap in the front “wind” screen. I would be more concerned about is the possibility of over spray getting inside when you get to painting. The panels look flat enough to take some clear styrene and cut individual windows to glue in each opening. Dip in Future and use the Krystal Klear.