Quinta Studio Mig-29 Vacuformed Canopy (QC48008 for all GWH) 1:48

[Mike]

Mig-29 Vacuformed Canopy (QC48008 for all GWH)

1:48 Quinta Studio

 

 

Quinta are renowned for their superb 3D Printed cockpit decals, but they also have a range of crystal-clear canopies, some of which we’ve reviewed in the past.  This set provides a replacement canopy and windscreen for all of Great Wall Hobbies (GWH) single-seater Mig-29s, of which there are a few.  It arrives in a small Tupperware style container with a tear-off section to access the lip of the lid.  Once removed from the box (which is useful in itself), the canopy is protected in a small Ziploc bag that has an adhesive label applied to one side.

 

 

The vacformed canopy is a delight to behold, literally crystal clear with frames moulded-in with good sharpness thanks to the female moulding process used in all good vacforms.  It will provide the perfect complement to their 3D cockpit sets to show off all that lovely detail, and it would be a great idea if they were also sold as a package.  Just thinking out loud, of course.  The corners of the forming material have been removed at source to protect the packaging, and to stop you poking or scratching yourself with a sharp corner, and those corners can be really sharp from my experience.

 

How to Vacform

Some of us are a little phobic about vacforms in general, and when we’re talking about canopies there’s no need to be, as they’re small and relatively easy to cut out of the sheet thanks to their thinness.  Pack the interior of the canopy with Blutak and run round the border with a brand-new sharp scalpel blade, lightly at first.  With successive strokes you will see the canopy start to come away from the carrier, so keep working until the whole thing is free.  At this point you can test fit it and trim away any excess carefully with a sanding stick or very sharp scissors (I prefer the former).  If you are separating the windscreen from the canopy, perform the same actions along the cut-line while the Blutak is still in position.  When you remove the Blutak, you may need to remove the residue with a soft cloth, and a dip in Future/Klear will improve the clarity even further.  To attach the canopy to your model, use either a PVA-based canopy adhesive, or GS-Hypo cement, which is my personal favourite.

 

Conclusion

Shiny, incredibly clear and pocket friendly.  There’s nothing more to say really!

 

Very highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of