Advice Needed

You mean sand the canopy mask? Why? I'm not understanding.

Probably means he mask covered part of frame.  If so I wouled remove with X-acto or scalpel.  It is messsy sanding masking material.

Tojo72

You mean sand the canopy mask? Why? I'm not understanding.

 

Dave

Still not clear,hopefully someone can come up with an answer for you,sorry

Tojo72

Still not clear,hopefully someone can come up with an answer for you,sorry

I think he means there may be a gap adjacent to where the clear canopy and body meet and he'd like to fill and sand the gap while protecting the canopy?  If I'm right, then I think masking and careful sanding should be fine. Just don't burn through the mask.

David from PA

I need to fill a small area when the clear part is installed and I was wondering if it would be possible to use the canopy mask to protect the clear part. I can always use masking tape, just trying to save myself some work. Dave

Any chance you could post a picture of what it is that you're trying to do?  When I have had to fill areas underneath canopy parts, I have just used Aves Apoxie Clay to do that.  Its a two part epoxy clay that comes in two jars.  You just grab equal-sized little blobs of it out of the two jars, knead them together, and then work that mixed putty into the area you're trying to fill with a toothpick.  The cool thing about the stuff is that before it cures, it is water soluble, so smoothing it down can be done with a damp cotton swab.  No sanding required.  There are other water-soluble putties out there, but those are all fragile and will crack with the slightest impact or stress.  Aves Apoxie Clay won't do that.

I used Aves Apoxie Clay under the center canopy piece on this F-4B (between the front and rear cockpits) so it blends in with the fuselage like its supposed to.

You CANNOT sand over the masking material on the canopy without risk of damaging the canopy so I would not go there. You CAN sand the frame at the edges where it ends or meets the fuselage if you are VERY careful to correct a fit issue or blemish, but work slow and be very careful. Just don't rely on the mask to protect the canopy. The masks only protect from paint. And don't get your glue near the masks. That it bad too.

Sanding Masks?

      Uh,uh! Not unless you want a disaster! If you have a void under a canopy part then use a filler (Somewhat Stiff )Put it around the canopy opening Sit the Canopy in it until it is tight.(the edge first.)Remove. Now you have your filler sand to contour then install canopy. DO NOT try to sand on or around any mask!