vacuformed canopies

As a personal preference, I use a set of very sharp cuticle scissors to remove the extra material, trim (if needed) with a number 20 scalpel, then file and sand for final fitting. I'm pretty leary of using a heated blade on vac formed plastic of any type, but with clear pieces in particular. Different manufacturers use different plastic and some just don't react well with heat after being formed and stretched thin. It's an easy way to get ripples and ruin your piece unless you have things set up on a form or a buck to preserve the shape and act as a heat sink.

I don't think i would risk a heated blade. I use the method given on the instructions of Squardron Canopies which is to cut as a 45 degree angle and then sand flat.

Hey Aardvark002;

   I would second the suggestion from Bish about the blade at 45 degrees and sand the rest . I used to make and sell Vac-canopies to the LHS in Jacksonville , Ark . I made them on a Mattel Vac-U -Form with custom platens .( workdecks .).

 I always told the buyers the same thing . Cut scrap away at 45 degrees and sand to fit . Never had a complaint .  T.B.

Heating blade risks partial melting along edge.  The plastic then sticks and makes control even harder.  I trim as close as feasible with knife or scissors, and then use a drum sander on my dremel, at slow speed, to smooth the edge and trim to line.  I sometimes use one of my needle files to smooth long, straight edges.

Thanks for the replies. I was leary about the heated blade also, but though I'd check. Nix that idea. Thxs again Aardvark

Sharp, sharp, sharp!

When I have a canopy to cut out, I take a new Nr. 11 blade to remove the canopy from the carrier plastic.  I will cut excess sometimes with a surgical scissors, as someone else mentioned.

I have also learned to pack the canopy with putty (Silly Putty or poster tack), to stiffen the piece a little while handling.

great idea with the silly putty. thnxs for the tip Aardvark

Since the question is pretty well answered...I'll add....always buy two!!!

A fair amount of Squadrons canopies already come in a pair, but many don't. I especially recommend a second set when you have a canopy like the SBD or TBD, with multiple movable sections. A lot of these are not molded into separate sections. If you have two...you can rough cut section 1 from the first, section 2 from the second, section 3 from the first, and so on...that is, if ya want em to be open! Trying to get a precice cut to seperate each section, on a flimsy bit of plastic is screw up waiting to happen!

fermis, The kit is a czech 1/48 Bell XP-77. They did send two canopies with the kit. I just retired it to the shelf of doom today. I will finish it, because it will bug till I do.Really ill fitting parts, Resin cockpit bucket very bad. I did get it done. Cool lookin airplane, but I want to move on to another kit. Thxs for getting back. Aardvark

I hate cutting these out. I would pay extra for them to do it for me. What's the reasoning behind the 45 degree angle?