Fixing a cracked canopy

[sheppsea]

Hello everyone,

I have managed to crack one of the canopy clear parts on my Stuka build (photo below - I thought the crack was actually a seem line at first so started sanding a it!) - the main crack is seen through the middle and there is also one going along the frame above it in the photo



I have got in touch with Airfix and they haven't got any spare on this part unfortunately so I will need to try to fix it. I have read a couple of options on line and just wondered what everyone thought was the best way of going about it? I don't really have the option of experimenting as this will need to go on the finished model (and obviously a spare isn't an option). The option I have found so far are below - what are everyones' thoughts or are there any others?

1. Dip the canopy in Future/Aqua gloss and use CA to fill the gap, I am not sure about this option tbh
2. Drill out the parts representing glass and just use the frame, filling the windows with Kristal Klear later. I must admit I am not keen on this idea as it seem very fiddly and high risk
3. Somehow use Krystal Klear to fill the crack - this is the one I am leaning towards but am not 100% sure how to go about it, is Krystal Klear sandable?

I am prepared for the fact that the canopy will no longer be perfect not matter which option I go with!

[bfrd]

What about removing everything but the framing and filling in with clear plastic sheeting? I don't think KK will sand clear (if it sands at all).

[sheppsea]

What about removing everything but the framing and filling in with clear plastic sheeting? I don't think KK will sand clear (if it sands at all).

Thank for the quick response

The was the method I originally read about in terms of getting down to the frame I just adapted it to use KK.

My reluctance on that wasn't so much the KK bit (I have used that to fill holes to create a window before and it works fantastically well), it was more the going down to the frame as that will be incredibly delicate, and plus the framing has a little crack too (although that will obviously be easier to cover).

[schweinhund227]

http://www.squadron.com/1-48-Squadron-C ... sq9540.htm

[sheppsea]

http://www.squadron.com/1-48-Squadron-C ... sq9540.htm

Thank you - that is of course the back up if this all goes wrong, I was just hoping to fix it first as a way to develop skills etc

[digger303]

What about removing everything but the framing and filling in with clear plastic sheeting? I don't think KK will sand clear (if it sands at all).

Thank for the quick response

The was the method I originally read about in terms of getting down to the frame I just adapted it to use KK.

My reluctance on that wasn't so much the KK bit (I have used that to fill holes to create a window before and it works fantastically well), it was more the going down to the frame as that will be incredibly delicate, and plus the framing has a little crack too (although that will obviously be easier to cover).

Paul Budzik does a utube video recommending removing all the frame detail and starting fresh and making new framing with foil.