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marking out windows

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  • Member since
    January 2007
marking out windows
Posted by martin26e on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 4:05 AM
 how do u guys mark out windows on the clear plasic sheet u get in the model kits and cut them out
  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by Gigatron on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 8:06 AM

Are you asking how do we mask off the canopies (assuming it's arircraft we're talking about) for painting or something else?

If it's about the canopies, there's two methods that I use; either go to squadron.com and look up accessories for the aircraft you're building (either eduard or big ed should have canopy masks), or use masking tape to make your own.  For that, you'll need a new #11 blade a strong light so you can see the frame rails through the tape.

If it's for cars or the like, simple masking tape should suffice unless someone offers masks for automotive kits as well.

If it's about something else, you may want to be a bit more specific. 

-Fred

 

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by martin26e on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 7:08 PM

ok im building a model and is as windows that has to have clear plasic put in them i have a small peice of clear plasic that came with the model kit. now what i like to know is how sum people mark out and cut the plasic to the right size for diffent windows on the model kit's

 

many thanks 

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: West Virginia, USA
Posted by mfsob on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 7:51 PM

What kind of a model kit is it? Airplane, car, what?

When we know that, then maybe we can help you more.

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by martin26e on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 8:03 PM
its a 1:35  scud mobile rocket launcher made by dragon
  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by Gigatron on Thursday, November 1, 2007 8:48 AM

Ok, I see what you're getting at.  They didn't give you windows on a clear sprue, they gave you a sheet of clear plastic and you have to cut the windows out of that, sound about right?

Here's what I would do; from the inside face of the piece that needs a window, lay the plastic sheet over the "window hole" (for lack of a better term) and trace an area slightly larger than the window opening on the plastic sheet using a sharpie marker.  Cut out the window by lightly scoring the perimeter with either a new #11 blade or a needle chucked in a pin vise.  It'll take some time, but it should give you pretty good results.  After you've cut it out, use a little nail polish remover (with acetone) to remove any sharpie marks.  Then dip the piece in future to make it crystal clear and glue with either white glue or watch crystal cement.

-Fred

 

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by martin26e on Thursday, November 1, 2007 12:13 PM

yep ur right on the money is it just dragon kits dont have to windows on a clear sprue or do other makers also do it this way with just giveing u a sheet of clear plastic

 

and thankyou 4 the help 

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: West Virginia, USA
Posted by mfsob on Sunday, November 4, 2007 8:38 AM

It depends on the kit, but just giving the builder a sheet of clear plastic, or photo film, is becoming more common because it's cheaper for them (and of no real benefit to you, naturally).

Any kind of clear, flat plastic can generally be used for windows, for larger scale kits some guys use the plastic from a CD case, again dipped in Future to improve the clarity. The only kind to avoid is that coded with a 3 in the recycling triangle symbol, it's polyvinyl and is the devil to glue.

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