canopy paint

Yup, one of my easy methods is to create a chisel / wedge out of the same sprue that the clear part came off of than use it to scrape the paint off. This will not scratch your canopy as it is the same plastic material.

...I read this in FSM about 10 years ago!

thanks, Toad...will give that a try. Wish i could do a better job on the darned canopies.

They never cease to be a pain in the butt.

Nothing ruins a good model like a canopy with a poor paint job.

After you get the paint off, try and polish it with some plastic polish. Either Novus #2 or the Bare Metal polish work well. Have you ever tried Bare Metal foil to mask the canopy? I use it all the time with great results. I use the chrome as it seems to be the thinnest, rub it down with a Q-Tip, and use a SHARP xacto blade to trim. Any residue left on the canopy when you take it off comes up easily with your finger or a bit of polish.

i tried the sprue/chisel thing, but it doesnt seem to be taking the paint off...it is chrome/silver, and it has taken the shine off, but the paint is still there..

I have never used anything from Bare Metal, but maybe i should give that a try. Anything to get a good looking canopy.

If the paint is still wet, I use a damp/wet toothpick (natural wood--the colored toothpicks leave their color) and gently sweep and push the paint toward the frame. WIPE THE TOOTHPICK on a paper towel AFTER EACH SWIPE THROUGH THE PAINT! The wood toothpick will USUALLY give way and bend or break before the clear part does. I have had this work exceptionally well for acylic paints that had been overlooked when the paint was wet and dried on the canopy. It left very little, if any residue at all. As far as dried enamel paint, you might try the damp/wet toothpick to remove the residue. Like I said, I've had it work, but it just depends on how thick the paint is on the plastic. This technique just might get the residue off, that was left by the plastic "chisel". Let me know if it works.