Finishing Techniques for Model Aircraft Canopies

This video describes a number of methods for finishing and painting canopies and clear windows of scale model aircraft.
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[@bobdyer422]

Mother's plastic headlight restorer works VERY well on polishing a plastic canopy. Even removes hazing from super glue and lacquer thinner. Great vid and tips as always. Thanks

[@windsurfer3329]

I am detailed person, and this video beat my expectations. Beautiful job! Thanks for sharing your tips. I will apply them to building rc airplane canopies.

[@OUTDOOR_SCALE_MODELS]

Ive built models for over 30 years and this guys level of precision leads me to believe he is some sort of engineer. His modeling skills are on a totally different level than your average modeler like myself.

[@bennettrogers7921]

He is/was a dentist. Admire his attention to detail, probably an excellent dentist

[@allandavis8201]

Another fantastic video, thanks. I said in a previous comment that I am refreshing my arsenal of techniques and more important learning new ones, thanks again.

[@paulbland5625]

I find going back to old post videos, helps keep my skills up to date. It is amazing, how many things you end up cutting corners on. Cheers.

[@stephenrose1343]

This is an excellent video, your approach and care in this one video was enough for me to subscribe. Classic modelling at it's best.

[@idleonlooker1078]

Thanks very much for some great info and tips!! 👍

[@keithloyal4943]

Great work. Outstanding presentation. Many thanks. K

[@57hound]

Thanks Paul, I was hoping you would repost this. I am looking forward to putting your methods into practice.

[@justindunlap1235]

Wow great video I'm definitely going to be adding this to my bag of tricks.

[@petermathieson5692]

A master at work

[@CarminesRCTipsandTricks]

Although I'm a little concerned about replicating your results, you've explained it well enough to at least try!! Thanks for these invaluable tutorials.

[@garybrounstein7725]

Very insightful video of painting canopies. Thank you.!

[@tim7052]

Thanks! Some great tips! 👍

[@daveschwi3767]

Excellent!!

[@marino8034]

Thanks, Paul.

[@emilbt7588]

These are excellent tips!

[@gwheyduke]

Excellent video thanks for posting

[@ronwm.dunster7374]

Sure helps me out. I used to paint by hand with no masking of any sort. Looks like hell. Good video. TALLYHO !

[@Flingwing24]

Im not anywhere near your standard but having over the years polished many full size aircraft canopies, I still wonder why people insist on dipping model ones in floor polish...... we didn't. Many thanks. Lots to think about there.

[@KKALFAKIS]

excelent !!!

[@xpane]

thanks for the excellent video. Where can I get the semi rounded blade you use?

[@matthewashley7138]

What spray adhesives would you suggest? I keep finding them to have acetone which is a no go.

[@taytaytay871]

thank you sir

[@jamiehaggo6584]

I'd be very interested in a video showing how you did those acrylic windows. They look fantastic.

[@scale-model-workshop]

Thanks Jamie ... which windows?

[@jamiehaggo6584]

Hi Paul. Those bomber windows, B-17 windscreen and nose side windows. You mentioned you replaced them with acrylic?

[@scale-model-workshop]

Right ... Good idea ... some of it is explained in this FineScale Article from "back in the day" paulbudzik.com/tools-techniques/B-17%20Conversion/monogram_b-17_conversion.html

[@Texicus_Reddicus]

Is there a way to apply some scale accurate dust and oil to them ? super glossy canopies just don't look realistic at all

[@rogerpattube]

Q. Can canopy be cut? I need to make an opening in a PBY-5 canopy where the pilot exits the aircraft.

[@anj4de]

Excellent video...like the rest on your channel reference class! A question though...how can I get bare metal foil off a canopy after painting. I have a 48scale Airacobra with the foil still on sitting on the shelf for almost 10 years now...I am affraid to ruin the glass parts and hence have to tried to remove the masks yet.

[@pebblesthecat3625]

May I make this suggestion to you. I had a disastrous mishap with a canopy that was left only fit for the bin. I contacted the manufacturer of the kit and asked if I could possibly purchase a new one, stating which kit it was, including the barcode and kit numbers, the trouble I was in, and the fact that only a replacement part would rectify the problem. I heard nothing for 3, nearly 4 weeks, but as I had emailed an Asian company, I hadn't expected any response so soon, and then a small parcel appeared through the letterbox - I had been sent a new canopy free of charge ! If the company is still going just try it, but of course, offer to pay. Even if they do charge you, it's likely to be only a small charge to cover postage costs, or at the most a few quid for a replacement. So who was this wonderful kit producer who supplied my new canopy freely - Tamiya ! Kit producers carry spares for a long time after a kit has ceased production, and it may be in production for several years as well, but you may be lucky and they may have a box of canopies in storage somewhere. I hope this helps, and at least you can finish the model and get it off the shelf, even if it's not in the way you wanted to do it. Kit manufacturers know how important it is to keep buyers of their products happy, as they want you to carry on buying their kits, and will often go that extra mile for someone genuinely in need of help. As a side note, I have also read on a forum that a teenager making only his 4th ever kit, who mis-read the instructions on the first ever aircraft kit he was making, and completely fluffed the model, so he contacted Italieri and explained how he had misunderstood the instructions and had ruined the model he was making. They sent someone round to listen to him, so he explained the problem and how he had mis-read it. The rep said ok thanks and left, saying nothing else. A week later the kid got a parcel with half a dozen small kits in, some tools, paints, glue, and a letter thanking him for bringing the problem to their attention and hoped it hadn't put him off the hobby.

[@wonderwulf]

Not gonna lie, when you started to show your strip cutter design I thought you were going to suggest using a gauge block as a spacer!

[@pebblesthecat3625]

Have you any plans anywhere or instructions for making the strip cutting tool you showed in the video ? It looks like a really handy thing to have and I would like to make one. Any chance of a video showing how to make one if there aren't any instructions or plans anywhere ? Thanks.

[@krichteryt]

Thank you for this video! I've tried bare metal foil and have come across a problem: the foil leaves a residue that's about as "stuck" to the canopy as the paint. Efforts to remove the residue removes paint as well. Has anyone had this issue?

[@simondenny7801]

Haven't tried this method, but maybe cost the paint in a hard-wearing laquer and then remove the residue with white spirits?

[@mirrorblue100]

try Goo Gone on a Q-tip

[@raymondmoumou]

Résultats superbes ! Mais est-ce réaliste ? Est-ce faisable ???

[@georgequick1]

Paul, do you use a bench buffer for anything besides canopies, such as to get a smooth, glossy paint job? I tried it with a alum. lacquer and did not get good results. Thanks. Jeremy

[@gsr4535]

Yes, canopies are make or break a model. Sadly, mostly break for my models. I can build a model aircraft well, but it's usually brought down with an only so-so canopy. ☹️

[@sofabiru6852]

💅

[@leester9487]

Thanks for this. There is nothing more infuriating than opening up a kit you spent $$ on to find that the canopy is just a mushy afterthought. Do you always remake your own?

[@tomohisa3049]

No music???

[@andreuguimera5462]

Excellent level of techniques and also affordable for the mid-skilled modellers. Thank you.

[@badrussian4999]

Cool!