Canopy Vac Forming Revisted

All things related to 2548 Scale

Moderator: hbartel

Post Reply
User avatar
Dane McGee
Posts: 885
Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2003 1:57 pm
Location: Greenville, Texas

Canopy Vac Forming Revisted

Post by Dane McGee »

I needed to pull some more canopies for my Mustangs and thought I'd doument the basic steps here since I've been asked about it recently.


I started with .030 PETG sheets from my LHS. Ive used thickness from .015-.030 with good results. PETG sheet is available at Regal Plastics, McMaster Carr and other places as well.

Image



..........The sheet in my frame.

Image



I set up my homemade vac form box and plaster plug. I made the plug from an old Sport P-51 ARF that we had some time back that seemed to fit about right. Plaster plugs "wear out" in time, but no more than I need to pull it will last just fine as long as I take care and store it away from damage.

Image



Fired up the oven broiler (while wife was gone) and held frame under burner for a few sec till I got about 2" of sag....turned on the shop vac and placed frame over plug:

Image



Finished product ready for trimming.

Image




My vac form set up is very basic all homemade. For a look at a sho-nuff mac-daddy vac form machine check this out: http://www.phlatboyz.com/Phlatformer-Kit_p_10.html

Image
Dane "Mad Max" McGee
Greenville, Texas
RCCA Vice President 684
User avatar
Dane McGee
Posts: 885
Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2003 1:57 pm
Location: Greenville, Texas

Re: Canopy Vac Forming Revisted

Post by Dane McGee »

...


.................and a little paint and they are ready to be installed on the birds. I have used hot glue and goop to attatch the canopies to the fuse, and then there is always the clear tape trick :D




Image
Dane "Mad Max" McGee
Greenville, Texas
RCCA Vice President 684
User avatar
Blue Note
Posts: 221
Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:02 pm
Contact:

Re: Canopy Vac Forming Revisted

Post by Blue Note »

You do nice work.
Chris Gunter
East TN
RCCA #954
User avatar
Dane McGee
Posts: 885
Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2003 1:57 pm
Location: Greenville, Texas

Re: Canopy Vac Forming Revisted

Post by Dane McGee »

........and glued on the bird. I used goop which holds good and tacks fairly quick.



Image
Dane "Mad Max" McGee
Greenville, Texas
RCCA Vice President 684
User avatar
Which_way_is_up
Posts: 1637
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2002 8:54 am
Location: Dallas, Texas

Re: Canopy Vac Forming Revisted

Post by Which_way_is_up »

That looks really good. You did a good job on that!
Image
"Tail end Charlie"
Criticize by contributing

Roy Appleton
RCCA# Ex-541
Post Reply