Homemade plane canopies

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    • March 6, 2008 at 9:31 am #12926
      Cavo
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      • Posts: 97

      Here’s a set of pic instructions for making small canopies 4 planes etc

    • March 6, 2008 at 9:33 am #61685
      Cavo
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      • Posts: 97

      next set of pics !!!

    • March 6, 2008 at 9:36 am #61686
      Cavo
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      • Posts: 97

      Final set of pics.any problems etc let me know.I find packaging plastic handy 4 canopies,not too thin,not too thick,just right !!!!

    • March 9, 2008 at 3:06 am #61616
      klims
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      • Posts: 332

      thats more like it. thanks cavo!

      do you coat the balsa in anything? i’ve tried something similar in the past and had trouble with balsa fibers getting stuck to the plastic and making it look crap.

      thanks,
      Andrew.

    • March 10, 2008 at 11:17 am #61602
      Cavo
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      • Posts: 97

      Sounds like you got the plastic too hot if balsa stuck.Use hard balsa for the plug mold and final sand with 400-600 grit paper(baby bottom smooth)and wipe with dry cloth.Take your time when heating and pushing the plug into the plastic NOT TOO HOT and you should be right.

    • March 11, 2008 at 10:59 am #61605
      Kerosene
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      • Posts: 329

      Nice one Cavo. I’ve seen a few DIY vacuum formers at instructables.com that I’ve wanted to try out. But your method looks far more appropriate for those of us who have a 10 min attention span 🙂

    • March 18, 2008 at 9:23 am #61517
      Cavo
      Participant
      • Posts: 97

      Quicker and easier the better I say.All my planes are built with a burst of “OH YEAH” I can biuld that,followed by I can’t be bothered anymore ! Then a test flight of joy or despair !As long as you have a good clear plastic,it should only take 20 mins before you discover you can have all the canopies you want for nix !!! It’s easy,,I thought it was hard until I actually had a go !!

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