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Cockpit frames - the detachable sort


Gary West

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ok so this is so in the wrong place but as there isnt a general modelling chit chat section here goes.

I remember being the old ESCI Tornado back in 1979 to be specific and one of the thing I remember about the kit was the inclusion of a canopy frame- the glass sections were independent. Got me wondering, with these new companies building kits with extendable flaps, and opening panels as standard, wouldn't it be nice to be able to spray a frame without having to spend an hour masking it off.

Messers Kittyhawk, Kinetic, Revell etc are you listening?

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I remember the Esci Tornado and honestly I found the solution adopted for the canopy frames to be very tricky. The frames had to be glued over the clear part with all the risks involved with the use of glue on such parts...

Any separate plastic frame is also very likely to be well overscale and the final effect is simply not as good as the one given by properly moulded frames on the clear plastic.

An interesting alternative would be to suppy the frames as self adhesive material, precut to shape and to be painted in the desired colour.. now this would be something innovative !

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I have just purchased an upgrade kit for my aardvark I will be starting soon.

It includes photo etched canopy frames, so you can have the canopy windows open. Was wondering how to attach them, as superglue could fog the canopy, and I don't think my contacta clear will be strong enough.

Mind you, it means I will have to try and cut the canopy, which adds an extra element of trouble.

Matt.

Sorry for hijacking your thread.

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Kristal Klear, Gator Glue etc. Just take your time and do it in stages. If you let the join dry properly you can then manipulate the rest of the PE frame (with a suitable amount of care and trepidation...) reasonably easily.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I use Aizu micron tape at 0.4 and 0.7 mm to make frames. I pre-paint it and then apply and cover in Future to seal. The Yellow of the underside of the tape can show and you need to be aware of that!

Look in the shops manufacturers and vendors section and then 'scale model shop' thread. I can not post a link with this stupid forum software!

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