Replace a canopy.

I have a 1/72 scale canopy set for a two seat a-7 hobbyboss. My email is  benzay@comcast.net

This is a long shot but it worked for me recently.  There are sellers on ebay that will part out kits and sell the kit one parts tree at a time.  I had a Ju-88 kit where I screwed up the canopy.

I went on ebay and created a search that would email me whenever there was a hit.  It took a couple month but a seller finally showed up selling the clear parts I needed.  I got it for $8 shipped.

You could always try this strategy and shelve the build for now until the part shows up.

Also as mentioned you could cast a new part from the one you have.  Fix the one you have and sand the crack as smooth as possible.  Create a mold using RTV silicone with the repaired canopy.  Cast a new canopy using clear resin.  Alumilite sells the RTV and clear resin at most craft stores or buy it online.  You will have enough RTV and resin to mold and cast lots of parts.  

Trying to get a new canopy sprue for my 1/32 Tumpeter Wildcat.  Having no luck at all.

Not at all offended Rory!

I have no problem with returning a kit that has a bad/missing part...to wherever it is that you got it. Like you say, that's all a part of business.

What I was meaning was...

Kit 1 being mail ordered, for example. (has busted part)

Kit 2 is purchased locally.

Take good part from Kit 2, and swap it out with bad part from Kit 1.

Return/exchange Kit 2(with bad part), back to your local retailer.

Hello Fermis, Thanks for your input and sorry you are at odds but here is the  way I see it . First I am on very good terms with the owners of my local hobby shop as I spend a far amount of time in there store, I also purchase a good amount of product from them every month. They have been in business along time the main reason for this is there customer care they put forward, like any successful business if you have a problem with a product they carry they will exchange or refund your money. I am not sure of why you have a problem with that. Now if you are dishonest or you miss represent your self than shame on you but I stated no such thing. I said I would see if they could get the same kit from there supplier and if there was a problem with it I could return it and try again that is part of doing business.iam not trying to offend you I truly appreciate your impot and advice. Hope this clears all up.

thank's bill , that's one for the favourite's .

Here's how I do it. Although I use this technique more often to make an original part from a master.

First, prepare a master. In this case it is the original canopy, and it needs to be pretty clean. That means gluing the crack, filling and sanding it reasonably smooth.

Support the master on a riser so that it's steady and clamped to something. Since it's sacrificial, that might mean filling the underside with glue or hardening putty and with a section of sprue or a stick in it.

Position where you can work at it from the top down, with clearance all around.

Take a piece of clear plastic and cut a large enough piece that you can grip it by the edges.

I use the flat tops from the clear tubs at the grocery store that salad comes in. Like a clear to-go tray with a lid. You can swipe one from the salad bar.

Take your piece and hold it over a candle flame briefly. It takes a few tries, but it can be figured out about as quickly as it takes to learn how to strectch sprue.

Switch to your master and pull the piece of plastic down over it with the soft spot over the master. Add a little extra beyond the bottom edges of the master.

It'll set in a few seconds.

I'll do a half dozen or so one right after the other in the same piece.

Then you can cut them out with scissors and trim to fit.

I'm surprised at how much fine detail gets transferred. Don't count on the plastic forgiving flaws in the master.

I call it plunge molding, Jeremy had another term. "Smash mold".

It's a good way to make dome lights, hub caps, bombs,stuff like that. You can practice on the end of a pencil.

I hope that's helpful.

steve5

TB , could you tell us how you make a copy please mate ?

Same question here. How on earth do you make a 'copy' of a canopy?

TB , could you tell us how you make a copy please mate ?

Rory T

I have looked and exhausted all posible retail and internet sites for a replacement or a vacuform canopy for this kit. As I stated in my last post I will suck it up and by another kit but I will by this one from my local hobby shop if they can get it . This way if there is a problem I can easily return it. I will still buy  Hobby Boss and Trumpeter from Hong Kong as I find there prices and service good,I find my local shop does not carry alot of these kits?. They are not Tamiya or Edaurd but for the price I find them really well engineered, you may have to work a little harder but they build in to really nice kits!. Enjoy your projects and thanks for all the help . 

 I find myself "at odds" with this suggestion...ethically/morally.

I remember, as a kid, it wasn't uncommon to get kits that had busted or missing parts. Of course, the issue was never discovered until well after the build was under way, so returning/exchanging really wasn't an option. I'd buy another kit and swap out the busted part, or parts tree with the missing part, with the new kit...return or exchange it for another new kit.

I'm not sure how that sort of thing would work out for the owner of the shop...do they end up eating some cost???

Might be an option! Tell the shop owner of your delimma, and ask if he has any cost involved in returns to his supplier...offer to pay the cost, if any. Could be just the cost of shipping...maybe no costs(???). Having two good A-7K's is far better than having just one and most of another! 

Rory T ;

 I would like to make a suggestion for you .When you buy or start an airplane kit . Make a copy of the canopy as soon as you open the box . That way , If you make two for each kit .Then , you will have a spare if something unforseen happens . I did that for years .

I have looked and exhausted all posible retail and internet sites for a replacement or a vacuform canopy for this kit. As I stated in my last post I will suck it up and by another kit but I will by this one from my local hobby shop if they can get it . This way if there is a problem I can easily return it. I will still buy  Hobby Boss and Trumpeter from Hong Kong as I find there prices and service good,I find my local shop does not carry alot of these kits?. They are not Tamiya or Edaurd but for the price I find them really well engineered, you may have to work a little harder but they build in to really nice kits!. Enjoy your projects and thanks for all the help .

stikpusher

 

Are there any vacuform canopies out there for this kit?

 

Negative....unless it's under that one rock I missed!

There are correction sets (intake and canopy, from Zacto Models) for the 1/32 Trumpy kit, but nothing that I've found for the 1/48 and 1/72. All three are basically the same kit, with the same issues.

Yes, currently Hobbyboss/Trumpeter have absolutely zero customer service.  They are two sides of the same house.  

Trying to get another company’s parts to fit is an iffy proposition at best. Different model companies take of the same subject can often have just the slightest differences in dimensions or contours due to their engineering. 

Are there any vacuform canopies out there for this kit?

yes it is the 2 seater.

Thank you all for your imput and advice very much appricated, I purchased the kit online from a China/Hong Kong shop, I use 2 differnt shops from there and for the most part have good luck with kits not having any issues. I purchase kits and supplys from my local hobby shop as well but some of the kits they do not carry or if they do they are just to expinsive, I will pay $20 to$30 more at my local shop over buing from the net to support my local shop. Sorry got off track iam going to see what ebay can do for me if no luck there i think i will purchase another kit and build one in a crashed diorama some where down the road?. I will try the home made vacuform technic and not to sound negative but i have found in this hobby like most things in life it takes time and much practice to get good results from your effort it will be A skill to work on .  Agian thanks for the help

What scale.Is It the two seater?

BlackSheepTwoOneFour

Hmmm.... My take: return it for a replacement of same kit. Another idea, find a cheap brand kit of same Corsair and use the canopy from that kit. Third option, find an aftermarket canopy in another online hobby store.

 

A-7K is the two-seater. The only vacform canopy I could find was part of a conversion kit for Hasegawas A-7...bet that's pretty pricey these days! 

I think smashmolding/thermo-form/plunge mold (like Tanker suggested)  is gonna be about the only way to replace it...other than getting the kit exchanged...if it came from a local store....not really worth the time and effort of mailing.

Also, if you do smashmold it, it will be a little larger than the original...not a big deal if it's in the open position.

And if all else fails you can paint it glossy black.

What Tanks suggests is plunge molding. If yiou haven't, it's a useful skill.

It can be a little simpler than that. Glue it together and smooth out the crack. Fill the part on the inside with clay or silly putty and put it on the end of a stick clamped in a vise.

Take a clear plastic lid from something like a salad container from the grocery store. The lid'll have ridges and such, but find a big enough flat spot. Hold it over a candle flame for a few seconds, then switch and pull it down over your part. Give yourse3lf a little extra so that you can cut it out and trim the edges. 

Canopies are ambitious, but I do this often for simpler shapes like little domes or little short cylinders.

Hmmm.... My take: return it for a replacement of same kit. Another idea, find a cheap brand kit of same Corsair and use the canopy from that kit. Third option, find an aftermarket canopy in another online hobby store.

Hmmm;

 What I used to do if it is a clean break is this . Glue the halves back together . Sand the seam as fine as you can get it and polish madly . Now , take some .030 sheet and cut some little bulkheads out that will fit the inside of the canopy . If this is a two part ( Windshield and Main ) this really works well .  You may have to touch up the seam a little .

   Now , put the first bulkhead right at the front edge . One in the middle and one at the extreme rear . All inside the canopy . Let dry a few days . This last part is crucially important . Next fill the voids with Sculpey till it overflows a little . Even Pla-Do will work here . let air dry . Sand the bottom smooth .

Make sure the canopy is secured to a steady surface about a quarter inch clear of the surface . Stick it on a block of wood or something like that where it stands alone . Now heat up a piece of .020 clear sheet big enough to cover the whole canopy . Apply it and use a heat gun or hair dryer on high and let it sag over the original canopy .

 When you reach the bottom edge and it imprints well . STOP . Let cool in the ambient air . When cool , pop loose , cut along the frame lines and there you have it , a basic clean home-made replacement that doesn't require a Vacu- Forming machine .

I'm assuming that HobbyBoss has the same customer service as Trumpeter....if that is in fact the case...you're SOL.

They do have a site, where you can order parts trees...and you can place your order...but you'll never get it. At least you never see any charges on your CC statement.