Canopy replacement toot
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 10:15 pm
Part 1
This is a little different from my usual "smash-mold" canopy.
Normally, I just use the kit part to smash-mold over. Works great for most WW2 planes with multiple sections of canopy.
This is for an H-34.
Just smash-molding over the kit part would lead to some issues....#1, the new part would be too big, and #2...molded on windshield wipers would make things a little wonky.
This being my 1st attempt at doing things this way...I tested on a spare P-51 canopy. I brushed on some mold release, just to be safe...no issues!
Moving on, I used Testors clear parts cement to glue some "dams" on the kit part...
Once the mold release was dry, I filled with plaster...
Once that plaster had dried (enough), I added some more plaster and a mounting screw...
Popped free (no prob!)...
After cleaning up the edges, mounted to a scrap board. Clear plastic from an Eduard "Brassin" set and a heat source...
At this point, the blank is too small to smash-mold a finished product. To thicken the blank, I smash-molded a layer...
I cut thin strips of tape to mark the edges...
Trimmed and CA'ed to the plaster. Now it's ready to go!!!
Being relatively large, with curves in different directions....it took at least a dozen attempts, to get just 2 pieces that I could work with.
Not gonna lie...it took a 44oz bladder bustin rum-pop and many VERY angry words to get through this!
After a solid hour and a half...I jacked up the 1st decent piece. I spent a bit more time on the second, and finally have something that's workable.
I had to glue "spreaders" to the side window frames, using the kit parts to set the distances. These things are flimsy as all get out and were the source of many an angry word!
That's where it stands right now.
Hopefully, I can get it finished up tomorrow.
This is a little different from my usual "smash-mold" canopy.
Normally, I just use the kit part to smash-mold over. Works great for most WW2 planes with multiple sections of canopy.
This is for an H-34.
Just smash-molding over the kit part would lead to some issues....#1, the new part would be too big, and #2...molded on windshield wipers would make things a little wonky.
This being my 1st attempt at doing things this way...I tested on a spare P-51 canopy. I brushed on some mold release, just to be safe...no issues!
Moving on, I used Testors clear parts cement to glue some "dams" on the kit part...
Once the mold release was dry, I filled with plaster...
Once that plaster had dried (enough), I added some more plaster and a mounting screw...
Popped free (no prob!)...
After cleaning up the edges, mounted to a scrap board. Clear plastic from an Eduard "Brassin" set and a heat source...
At this point, the blank is too small to smash-mold a finished product. To thicken the blank, I smash-molded a layer...
I cut thin strips of tape to mark the edges...
Trimmed and CA'ed to the plaster. Now it's ready to go!!!
Being relatively large, with curves in different directions....it took at least a dozen attempts, to get just 2 pieces that I could work with.
Not gonna lie...it took a 44oz bladder bustin rum-pop and many VERY angry words to get through this!
After a solid hour and a half...I jacked up the 1st decent piece. I spent a bit more time on the second, and finally have something that's workable.
I had to glue "spreaders" to the side window frames, using the kit parts to set the distances. These things are flimsy as all get out and were the source of many an angry word!
That's where it stands right now.
Hopefully, I can get it finished up tomorrow.