Cracking Canopies

[homechild]

Okay, so the title's a bit of a misnomer (and yet not). I've been having a bit of a problem with canopies recently, the only one I still have can be seen below, the previous one was trashed long before I even thought of asking for help with it.

So, as you'll see from the photo, the canopy seems to have cracked at the edges.

I used bits of Tamiya tape to mask the canopy and Humbrol Clearfix to fix the canopy to the body. There was plenty of time between the last use of poly cement so that hasn't caused it.

I have no idea what could have caused this, has anyone else seen this?

I'm considering getting a different glue to attach canopies.

[ATTACH]62262.vB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]63723.IPB[/ATTACH]

[yak face]

Is it cracking drew or is it primer or paint that has crept underneath the masking tape?

[homechild]

You know, you could be right with that. Is there anything I can use to remove primer that won't kill the canopy? WD-40 on a cotton bud or something like that?

[Guest]

if it is primer or paint and not cracks, try just rubbing/scraping it off with a cocktail stick

[Guest]

You know, you could be right with that. Is there anything I can use to remove primer that won't kill the canopy? WD-40 on a cotton bud or something like that?

WD40 is essentially oil thinned with White Spirit. Therefore, when the White Spirit evaporates it leaves an oily residue, which you would not want if you are going to any more painting or varnishing, or gluing, unless you clean it off with Isopropol Alcohol or something that does not leave a residue.

[stona]

If it's an acrylic primer meths on a cotton bud will do the trick. Otherwise white spirits or similar, followed by meths or isopropyl alcohol as a clean up.

Cheers

Steve

[homechild]

It's Tamiya primer if that's any help.

Wouldn't IPA or white spirit discolour the canopy?

I don't plan to do any more painting or varnishing with this guy, really just wanted to know in case it happens again (this ones in the loft with the rest of my models anyway).

As for rubbing it off with a cocktail stick, I tried that with a sharp blade and it did work (to an extent) but I'll try the IPA.

[Guest]

the idea of the cock tail stick is that it should not scratch the canopy whereas a sharp blade may. if you dip your canopy in klear pledge floor polish first before painting and leave to dry, this task becomes even easier as well as making your canopy lovely and shiny

[stona]

Alcohol (meths or ipa) won't discolour your canopy. Normally the solvent and a cotton bud will shift the paint.

If you want to scrape the paint with a tool, take a cocktail stick and cut the end off at about 45 degrees to give a "chisel". The wood of the cocktail stick, unlike a knife blade, is softer than the canopy plastic and shouldn't scratch it.

Cheers

Steve