Advice.

[nashorn]

Hi all, this may well seem a stupid question, but my next build will be an old tool airfix spit.
now i want to do it with the canopy open, so what is the best way to cut the canopy,
i dont have a razor saw by the way.
thanks rich.

[JamesPerrin]

Buy a razor saw. If you try with a knife you will need to do multiple light cuts as too much pressure will likely crack the brittle canopy.

The real problem though is that I would assume the canopy once separated will be too thick to position correctly. For open canopies its best to use a vacform one as they are suitably thin. If you don't want to buy one you could have a go at crash moulding the sliding part of the canopy. You do this by pulling heated clear packaging material over the part you wish to copy. Search the forum for more details.

[nashorn]

Thanks james.

[jssel]

I agree with James. It will be an investment that will pay itself back many times over. And I am speaking as one who has cracked many a canopy back in the day.

[Eric Mc]

Which old tool Spitfire is it?

[nashorn]

Eric, its a MkVb.

rich.

[Eric Mc]

I'd not bother. If you open the cockpit you will reveal how spartan the interior is. Despite that, the Airfix Vb is a nice little model. For many years, it was the most accurate Spitfire in 1/72 scale - and is still more accurate than other more modern mouldings.

I intend to build a few more of these even though the moulds are over 40 years old now.

For an open cockpit 1/72 Spitfire, I'd use one of their newer mouldings (PRXIX, Mk21, MkI).

[nashorn]

Thanks very much for the good advice Eric.

rich.

[Eric Mc]

When I get around to building my Vb it will be in the colours of Irish ace, Brendan Finucane.