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Best way to glue a canopy

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matt lonsdale
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Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2010 6:44 pm

Best way to glue a canopy

Post by matt lonsdale » Sat Jul 18, 2015 8:58 pm

Hi all, I've been doing models for about 5 years now and the one thing that never seems to work out how i wish it would,i can glue the canopy on but once the glue has dried it just looks messy inside and shows where the glue is,just wondering if anybody could help me on the best technique to do this please?
Any info would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Matt
Equipment used-Kodak AZ251 PixPro,Polaroid Tripod

"I may not believe in myself but i believe in what i'm doing"
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Vulcanone
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Re: Best way to glue a canopy

Post by Vulcanone » Sat Jul 18, 2015 9:43 pm

Matt

If its still available, I use Revell Contacta Clear with a fine paint brush and it dries as clear.

Although I have never spilled it yet, it also is easy to clean off if you get it wrong.

Tim

matt lonsdale
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Re: Best way to glue a canopy

Post by matt lonsdale » Sat Jul 18, 2015 10:54 pm

Hi Tim,thanks very much for the reply,I shall try this if it still available to buy.

Thank you

Matt
Equipment used-Kodak AZ251 PixPro,Polaroid Tripod

"I may not believe in myself but i believe in what i'm doing"
Jimmy Page

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garyscott
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Re: Best way to glue a canopy

Post by garyscott » Sun Jul 19, 2015 6:06 am

Another thing i have found, is just prior to glueing, make sure you clean the canopy, inside and out, really well with a clean cloth. Any finger marks etc or natural oils from your skin will react with the glue and glue vapors to really highlight them. :)

matt lonsdale
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Re: Best way to glue a canopy

Post by matt lonsdale » Sun Jul 19, 2015 10:52 am

Hi Gary,I'll definitely do that,I'm in the middle of building a C130J model at the minute and just wanna try make it look the best i can,so will most definitely try these things.

Cheers guys very much appreciated


Matt
Equipment used-Kodak AZ251 PixPro,Polaroid Tripod

"I may not believe in myself but i believe in what i'm doing"
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Unknown74
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Re: Best way to glue a canopy

Post by Unknown74 » Sun Jul 19, 2015 2:51 pm

Best way is if you have a really steady hand a very light dribbling round the cockpit area should be all you need to do.

On a related issue does anybody else leave this part of the model making process to the last thing they do?

matt lonsdale
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Re: Best way to glue a canopy

Post by matt lonsdale » Sun Jul 19, 2015 5:49 pm

I've not got the steadiest hand haha and I always leave the canopy til last, I've got a 1:48 scale F4to finish yet,the body is complete just needs painting with decals and the canopy doing but leaving the canopy open on this.
Equipment used-Kodak AZ251 PixPro,Polaroid Tripod

"I may not believe in myself but i believe in what i'm doing"
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tin can alpha
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Re: Best way to glue a canopy

Post by tin can alpha » Sun Jul 19, 2015 7:03 pm

Best stuff i use is micro kristal klear,very much like pva glue and as it says dries clear and so good you can use it to make camera bay covers etc just use a cocktail stick to apply and no reaction with the canopy.

matt lonsdale
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Re: Best way to glue a canopy

Post by matt lonsdale » Sun Jul 19, 2015 8:41 pm

I'll definitely have to look into all the different products,because i wanna be able to make my models looks a lot more presentable and better looking.

Thanks

Matt
Equipment used-Kodak AZ251 PixPro,Polaroid Tripod

"I may not believe in myself but i believe in what i'm doing"
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fencer
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Location: Bude North Cornwall

Re: Best way to glue a canopy

Post by fencer » Sun Jul 19, 2015 10:16 pm

I usually dip the canopy plastic in ' johnsons klear' which I still have a stash of, then when definitely hard and dry I lightly sand off the klear off the mating surfaces to be glued and then hold in place while I apply Tamiya extra thin cement to the join. This gives you time to adjust ,but makes a very good bond when canopies need to be sanded and filled after. I don't apply the canopy last because it quite often needs to be blended in with the fuselage and allows the canopy to be painted at the same time as the rest of the model. Just have to be careful that capillary action does not drag glue where it shouldn't go, e.g. the rear cockpit windows of a p-40.Think ahead, take care, and don't be scared off by a bit of plastic . ;)

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Typhoon2
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Re: Best way to glue a canopy

Post by Typhoon2 » Mon Jul 20, 2015 11:01 am

I use wood glue, takes a few hours to dry and dries clear! I apply it with a cocktail stick very thinly on the edges, and it has worked for me.

matt lonsdale
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Re: Best way to glue a canopy

Post by matt lonsdale » Mon Jul 20, 2015 4:37 pm

Hi guys,appreciate the info very much,i shall definitely look into these and see which gives me the best results,I'll keep you updated but I'll probably be posting pictures soon of the build and when it is complete and finished.

Thanks again for the info,appreciate it very much.


Thanks

Matt
Equipment used-Kodak AZ251 PixPro,Polaroid Tripod

"I may not believe in myself but i believe in what i'm doing"
Jimmy Page

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steve149c
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Re: Best way to glue a canopy

Post by steve149c » Mon Jul 20, 2015 10:17 pm

Any PVA glue, use a wet cotton bud to remove excess from outside cockpit seem.
Amateur modeller
Canon 7D2, 100-400mm IS L lense, Icom R6 and alot of luck!

matt lonsdale
Posts: 201
Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2010 6:44 pm

Re: Best way to glue a canopy

Post by matt lonsdale » Mon Jul 20, 2015 10:54 pm

I'll have to try this,try give it a good finish.
Equipment used-Kodak AZ251 PixPro,Polaroid Tripod

"I may not believe in myself but i believe in what i'm doing"
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seven
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Re: Best way to glue a canopy

Post by seven » Tue Jul 21, 2015 1:38 pm

Has anybody tried canopy glue?

7
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Doughnut
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Re: Best way to glue a canopy

Post by Doughnut » Tue Jul 21, 2015 1:55 pm

No need for expensive products, they mostly like the same PVA / wood glue sold in craft shops. PVA easily be cleaned of with a wet tissue and will not stain the finished paint.

matt lonsdale
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Re: Best way to glue a canopy

Post by matt lonsdale » Tue Jul 21, 2015 9:57 pm

I'll have to see if my local model shop is still open and see what range of glues are in there,i use a strong glue,cement glue i think it's called but dries in minutes.
Equipment used-Kodak AZ251 PixPro,Polaroid Tripod

"I may not believe in myself but i believe in what i'm doing"
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Tronk 11
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Re: Best way to glue a canopy

Post by Tronk 11 » Tue Jul 21, 2015 11:00 pm

Johnsons clear and then you can use anything you want. Its fantastic stuff, and all you need to do is dip the clear parts in Johnsons. The clear parts don't react to any solvents, just carefully scrape the edge you want to stick. You wont be disappointed.

matt lonsdale
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Re: Best way to glue a canopy

Post by matt lonsdale » Tue Jul 21, 2015 11:14 pm

I'll try johnsons clear,I'll have a look for it in shops,what supermarket can i buy it from please?
Equipment used-Kodak AZ251 PixPro,Polaroid Tripod

"I may not believe in myself but i believe in what i'm doing"
Jimmy Page

fencer
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Location: Bude North Cornwall

Re: Best way to glue a canopy

Post by fencer » Wed Jul 22, 2015 7:18 pm

Unfortunately having raved on about Johnsons Klear it should be mentioned that the formulation has been changed and it is now known as Pledge Multi-Surface Wax. I've read mixed reviews on it and can't give you any first hand knowledge, but if you have a canopy spare for any reason it's probably worth a try. Humbrol seem to produce a 'Clear' acrylic varnish which I gather has a similar effect to 'Johnsons Klear', again I have not used it. I used to use PVA type glues but found they weren't solid enough for my liking which is why I use liquid cement now.Hope this ramble helps!

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