discussion Canopy seams

[Vaughan]

Hi what's the best way for removing canopy seams. I'm building the Trumpeter 1/32 Skyraider. It has a raised seam right down the middle of the bubble canopy

 

[Mickc1440]

The way I learned off a You Tube video you need a new sharp blade in your knife then a selection of sand papers or sticks from coarse up to very fine and finishing off with a modelling polishing compound, I have Tamiya. Gently remove the line with your blade taking it as flush as possible then start with the papers. It will look horrendous at first but stick with it. Keep sanding the area with progressively finer papers and you will see the canopy start to clear again until the seam has completely gone, then I finish off with the polishing compound. I have in the past used toothpaste as well which left the canopy minty fresh Hope this helps

 

[Ian M]

As Mick said but I will just add try to support the canopy from inside with some softened blue-tac or the like. I have had the misfortune to crack a canopy in half while polishing. Could just be my sausage fingers though... lol

 

[rtfoe]

In between the polish and fine sanding sticks I would rub down with rubbing compound and then after the polish will dip into Future to remove any microscopic scratches.

Cheers,
Wabble

 

[Jim R]

I also cracked a canopy while polishing it so would definitely go with Ian's advice to support it well.

 

[minitnkr]

I use my wife's nail sanding/polishing blocks. file, smooth, buff, & shine sides do the trick.

 

[Miko]

One of these manicure thingies are perfect for such a task with four grades of abrasion, all for just a few pounds



Available in all good girlie shops!


Miko (I 'borrow' mine from missus Miko, maybe one day I might even tell her! Ha!)

 

[Gern]

Barry has just done the canopy on his F16 Sufa. Worth a look.

 

[Tim Marlow]

What Mick and Ian said. I would add to that to support the sanding papers on a flat backing like a scrap of plywood so they only sand off high spots, use the grit papers wet, and to clean the canopy between grades because a grit particle from the previous grade will leave deeper scratches than the grade you are using. When you finish off with Tamiya compounds, again, use different cloths for each and after the final polish the canopy will look better than new. It’s a great way to get car windscreens looking just like glass rather than plastic as well….

 

[Vaughan]

Thanks Gents some really helpful advice. It's a bit unnerving the thought of taking a sharp blade and then sanding a clear plastic canopy. Trumpeter don't have a very good tract record of supplying replacement parts so that adds to the anxiety of having a go. I'm not sure why they mould the canopies like that in the first place as the quality of their kits are to a very high standard.