warped clear parts

Hey there, Bossman. What a coincidence, I'm building a Seaking, too.

Im not too sure about heating up and bending clear parts. The last time I did some bending on clear plastic (with and without heat) it left a gazillion tiny cracks that made the canopy look scoffed. If the warping is not too bad, may I suggest you make the fuselage conform to it instead. Why not ask for a replacement part from Airfix?

THe clear stuff is a thermoplast, just like the rest of the kit (i.e. if heated, it flows. Resins are thermohardners. If they're heated, they set). I suggest take a bit of the sprue the windshield is on and use the ol' warm water treatment on it. That way, if the plastic doesn't react too well to the treatment, then you know this material isn't suited for it.

Bossman, I'd be very surprised if you could heat and then bend the canopy without leaving hundreds of tiny stress fractures.
I'd first try to get a replacement from Airfix before messing about with the original screen.
Good luck
LeeTree

Hi Bossman. Have you thought of molding a new conopy? just get a small piece of 1/4 ply (about 6"x6" will do) fill the kit canopy with with plastercene /bluetack or whatever you have as modeling clay stick a bit of sprue in it to use as a handle cut a hole in the ply the same shape as the canopy but slightly larger so it will just fit through pin some clear styrene sheet to the ply then warm it in the oven untill it goes slightly soft (taking care not to burn yourself as this stuff gets very hot) then take it out then push the canopy through the hole so it is just clear of the ply and hold it there for a few seconds then remove the kit canopy and cut around the new one and admire!!! . you may have to do a few to get one just right but it will look loads beter than the kit offering and will easily bend to fit the fuselage. ho and very lightly grease the canopy that you use as a plug mold to aid removal. Hope this helps...Greg
BTW I have built two airfix seakings (both USN and RAF) and both canopys didn't fit...Greg

Just wanted to THANK YOU guys for your input.
MAN ! 4 months before a reply !!!!!!! Sorry - my modelling proceeds at an equally slow rate.

Anyway - she's done - and turned out good. If I do another one (And I think I may) - I'll take your advice gregers. I wound up getting impatient and I used a different method. I noticed that the part was off by about the width of a hacksaw blade. I wound up cutting a width out of the piece just inside one of the center braces (that way it would still be symmetrical). I glued it with white glue and I have a hard time seeing the correction. So I'd say it was a success.

I don't frequent the forum all the time - but I've learned alot whenever I have. Thanks again for the advice. If I get hold of an e-camera soon, I'll include a pic.

Too bad its over... I would have said buy a replacment from squadren, if they make one.