I have no problem masking my own canopies. Buying pre made masks is money best spent elsewhere. Even on a large greenhouse type canopy with extensive framing as the TBD-1, it’s not that hard to do. Just time consuming. And pre made masks don’t always fit exactly right.
Bending PE is a bit more challenging, and trying to get the items positioned exactly right also can be a pain. But again, I’m not too bothered by it. I find the bigger problem with PE is dropping/launching losing the part via tweezers, and clean up of attachment nubs on those little bitty items .
"Surely I have made my meaning plain? I intend to avenge myself upon you, Admiral. I have deprived your ship of power, and when I swing 'round, I intend to deprive you of your life."
Stikpusher wrote: ↑Mon Aug 18, 2025 12:30 pm
I have no problem masking my own canopies. Buying pre made masks is money best spent elsewhere. Even on a large greenhouse type canopy with extensive framing as the TBD-1, it’s not that hard to do. Just time consuming. And pre made masks don’t always fit exactly right.
Bending PE is a bit more challenging, and trying to get the items positioned exactly right also can be a pain. But again, I’m not too bothered by it. I find the bigger problem with PE is dropping/launching losing the part via tweezers, and clean up of attachment nubs on those little bitty items .
While doing PE on the P-51 Mustang kit I’ve been working on, I feel your pain. At one point, I lost 3 PE panels, found 2, lost 2 tiny PE bits, found the 3rd PE panel, found the tiny PE, lost it again to tweezers. Screw it, it ain’t worth adding it. LOL! It never ends. Folding PE usually isn’t an issue. Really tiny knobs and switches, I often skip on them because I know I’m gonna lose them to tweezers, or worse while nipping them off their PE fret.
“Who controls the skies, controls the fate of this Earth”
Author unknown- 352nd Fighter Group, Blue-Nosed Bastards of Bodney
“Send one plane it’s a sortie; send two planes it’s a flight; send four planes it’s a test of airpower. - Richard Kohn
keavdog wrote: ↑Mon Aug 18, 2025 2:28 pm
I'd say PE for me - I'm addicted to precut canopy masks
I will happily buy pre cut canopy masks for certain aircrafts, especially those greenhouse canopies. I make sure I get the correct mask set one for the kit brand and aircraft type.
“Who controls the skies, controls the fate of this Earth”
Author unknown- 352nd Fighter Group, Blue-Nosed Bastards of Bodney
“Send one plane it’s a sortie; send two planes it’s a flight; send four planes it’s a test of airpower. - Richard Kohn
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