Canopies - probably been asked a million times but...

[Guest]

...when did that ever stop me?

What is peoples' preferred way to "do" canopies? Do people like to glue them onto the model then mask and spray? Or prefer to mask an open cockpit and spray separately?

I'm doing this (really very frustrating*) ICM Spitfire Mk XVI with the bubble canopy and am planning to have it "open" so can't really glue the main canopy section to spray/mask but the front bit is an option.

What are the thoughts of the Scale Models Forum hive mind? Cheers, Rob

*every body piece has needed major filing and filling, cowling won't fit if engine installed, canopy doesn't look the clearest, decals rubbish (have bought some aftermarket ones which I thought I'd never do)... the list could go on. Still, it WAS cheap :cry:

[papa 695]

Hi Munkster I usually mask then glue then after any filling to do paint . But if having canopy open ,mask paint then glue hope it helps but i will watch this thred for any better tips ( Ian )

[Ian M]

Well you have sort of replied to your own question.

If I do a closed canopy, I glue it on and mask the glass panels off then spray it along with the rest of the fuselage.

If the lid is going to be open, I mask off the cock pit and spray the fuselage, the canopy gets masked and sprayed by its self and put on at the end.

If the canopy is a bit iffy, dont forget that you can often 'save' it by dipping it in klear or what ever its called these days.

Another thing to be aware of if painting the canopy off the plane is to remember to match the camo with the rest of the pattern. Not a problem on single colour aircraft, but can look weird if you get the cammo in the wrong place. (or reverse the colours!!! Yes I have).

Another way around the issue with open canopies is to "glue" it in place klear. once set it holds quite well. Paint the canopy on the fuselage, then when you want to display it open you can just pop it off carefully with a scalpel and glue it in place in the open position.

Hope that helps.-

Ian M

[stona]

I'm with both above. A sliding hood could be painted seperately but a windscreen or other fixed part I try to paint on the model. I leave it masked and paint varnish and weather the part with the rest of the model. I don't want it to look "stuck on".

On something like a three part canopy on a Bf109 I usually adopt the same tactic as Ian and temporarily fix the centre section in for painting unless I have evidence that it was not in the camouflage colours (not as uncommon as you might think).

A secondary question is "how long can I leave the masking on the canopy?" I mask with Tamiya tape and leave it on for weeks with no problem.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Cheers guys, food for thought. Have decided to leave the windscreen off since it goes over bodywork that is yet to be primed or painted so if I glued it in place I'd have a job getting to it.

This model has been a challenge for me from the start so I guess I should have expected the canopy not to be easy...

That said, I've now dipped the canopy parts TWICE in Lakeland Klear-a-like and they're coming up a real treat. I could even say that they were transparent now! :-)

[Guest]

pretty much as above, I dip in Klear, then mask first, then brush paint the panel lines with the cockpit colour, then fix and paint.

If closed and mask and paint seperately (don't forget to cover the inner with blu tack or masking tape before painting) if spraying seperately to the model

The other option re fixing in place can be done with a dot of white glue, i find it holds better than klear as a glue, it can ping off if the ab pressure is a bit high

[Guest]

If you purchase Military Modelcraft International they sell something called tacky Wax, this is a temporary fixing gum that works very well and allows you to put the cockpit canopy on to paint and then you can remove it to do any other finishing work.

I use it and it works a treat

Andy