Canopy frames question

[DavidWomby]

I am about to do a 1/72 Lancaster canopy. I know about applying strips of painted decal or Scotch (Sello) Tape as one solution and I know about masking the clear panels to paint the frames too.

However, I am tempted to go with the old 'brush them on freehand and clean up the edges with a wet cocktail stick' on this one but I have a question: if I dip the canopy in Future/Klear first and then paint on the frames with acrylic paint, will the cocktail stick clean up damage the clear parts coated in Future/Klear? I don't want to dip the canopy after painting the frames as then the frames would end up glossy!

Anybody tried this?

David

[fredk]

yes, that works. I do it sometimes. It also works if you do not put Future/Klear on first. As long as the paint is a water based acrylic, eg Humbrol, Revell or Vallejo, but not Tamiya
I let the paint dry and make a chisel tip on the cocktail stick, only using a pointy one on corners

[DavidWomby]

yes, that works. I do it sometimes. It also works if you do not put Future/Klear on first. As long as the paint is a water based acrylic, eg Humbrol, Revell or Vallejo, but not Tamiya
I let the paint dry and make a chisel tip on the cocktail stick, only using a pointy one on corners

Thanks. I'll give it a go and have just dunked the canopy and turrets in Future. Hopefully I will get to try brushing on frames tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

David

[PaulBradley]

I tend to find that the Future will come up using that method. I much prefer decal strips or Kabuki tape masking. Yes, a lot of work, but I find it gives better results. And it is, after all, arguably the most prominent part of a model.

[fredk]

Let the Future/Klear cure for some days then its less likely to chip off with the paint. If it does, just flood the area with fresh F/K, this will soften the old and mix in.

[DavidWomby]

I'll be able to experiment a bit, gents. I have a spare set of the canopy and turrets.

David

[JamesPerrin]

I would dip the canopy after framing or at least don’t use acrylic paint for the frames.

[Early Bird Fan]

i dip mine in Humbrol gloss varnish, it seems to work well and doesn't come off during the clean up process. It also helps the cocktail stick glide easier while you're cleaning up the edges

[DavidWomby]

Because it is such a glasshouse on the Lancaster and because I was up before 5am this morning, I decided Paul was right and this time I would make framing from painted Scotch/Sello Tape. I'm happy with the results although it took 2 hours. It's not glued on the fuselage yet, just sat there:



However, the tape is not adhering very well in places so I thought I should probably dip it in Future again. A couple of challenges with that: a), it got handled so much it could do with cleaning but I am scared I'll displace some tape doing that and b) that will make the frames gloss so do you apply matt clear with a thin brush to the frames?

David

[DavidWomby]

I opted not to clean it rather than risk damaging the framing. So it's had a second dunk in Future and I will brush some matt clear onto the frames when it's dried.

David

[iggie]

It looks very neat David, but if my attempts are anything to go by the tape will lift a little in places as you have found. As you are proposing, a coat of gloss will help seal it in place and then some matt varnish on the frames.

[fredk]

It takes several coats of F/K to make matt paint even semi-matt. I'd not worry a bit about dipping the canopy once or twice.

[PaulBradley]

Looks great, David!

Some years ago, it was Aeromaster, I think, that released decal sheets that were printed with various WWII interior colours, then overlaid with a camo colour, specifically for canopy framing. I think I have some somewhere....