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.
..........The sheet in my frame.
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.
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:
Finished product ready for trimming.
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
Canopy Vac Forming Revisted
Moderator: hbartel
- Dane McGee
- Posts: 885
- Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2003 1:57 pm
- Location: Greenville, Texas
Canopy Vac Forming Revisted
Dane "Mad Max" McGee
Greenville, Texas
RCCA Vice President 684
Greenville, Texas
RCCA Vice President 684
- Dane McGee
- Posts: 885
- Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2003 1:57 pm
- Location: Greenville, Texas
Re: Canopy Vac Forming Revisted
...
.................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
.................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
Dane "Mad Max" McGee
Greenville, Texas
RCCA Vice President 684
Greenville, Texas
RCCA Vice President 684
- Dane McGee
- Posts: 885
- Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2003 1:57 pm
- Location: Greenville, Texas
Re: Canopy Vac Forming Revisted
........and glued on the bird. I used goop which holds good and tacks fairly quick.
Dane "Mad Max" McGee
Greenville, Texas
RCCA Vice President 684
Greenville, Texas
RCCA Vice President 684
- Which_way_is_up
- Posts: 1637
- Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2002 8:54 am
- Location: Dallas, Texas
Re: Canopy Vac Forming Revisted
That looks really good. You did a good job on that!
"Tail end Charlie"
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Roy Appleton
RCCA# Ex-541