Those $%&# canopy frames!

[The Rat]

I know it's accurate, but it's also a nightmare. Might I suggest something for your consideration? Manufacturers should perhaps, instead of giving us raised canopy framing (which are always overscale anyway), give us lightly recessed canopy frames. We could then put paint into them the way we put on panel line washes, using capillary action to spread it along the lines, and build it up a few coats at a time until the recess is basically filled.

[kerick]

If I had to build that kit I would want molded or etched brass frame and no "glass". Far easier to paint and no problem with clarity.
Or with the recessed frame I could lay a piece of painted tape in the recess. Or aluminum tape for bare metal finish.

[jcf]

Probably cost as that would be an expensive mould. The frames would be raised in the mould cavity, which would make it difficult to get it as polished as necessary. Clear is the natural state of polystyrene, it is hard, brittle and doesn't flow well. It's not HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene) which is used for the rest of the kit, HIPS includes other compounds that make it easier to mould and stronger.
Moulding a clear canopy with recessed lines would create far too many stress points and it would break apart along the lines with minimal force, production losses would probably be very high.

[NARSES2]

I've got that kit in the stash, and I keep looking at it. I bought the SH mask set, and I still keep looking at it 

[Captain Canada]

Once that greenhouse is filled with plants nobody will notice the frames anyway.....

[Andrew Gorman]

This might work with vacuform canopies...I'll check tonight. 

[jcf]

Clear 3D printing resins are getting better so it's possible that a canopy of that sort could be doable. Perhaps even a clear printed canopy and a printed  frame cage that's a drop fit into the recesses in the canopy. Any sort of paint buildup on the cage would probably have to be avoided.

[NARSES2]

Perhaps even a clear printed canopy and a printed  frame cage that's a drop fit into the recesses in the canopy. Any sort of paint buildup on the cage would probably have to be avoided.

You'd probably have to do the frame cage in more than one print, otherwise it would be extremely fragile. Plus it would be fun separating the frame from the "print cage", but none the less it's certainly a possibility 

[steelpillow]

What about a transparent decal with the frame printed on? Just drape it over the clear plastic.

[jcf]

What about a transparent decal with the frame printed on? Just drape it over the clear plastic.

Draping a flat sheet of anything over a raised form isn't that easy.
A decal would have to be multi piece or have gores cut into it that would allow it to bend into place. The gores would have to follow the lines of the frame in order for everything to line up when placed. It would be very fiddly, more so than pre-cut masks, want to tear and you'd have the problem of silvering of the clear areas where they covered the glazed sections of the real canopy.
Then, of course, the usual problem of matching the paint to the colour of the decal.

[Joe CalPo]

Sigh.   

I know that canopy is a challenge, I'm working on a 1/144 Kingfisher OS2U and Seahawk SC-1, and they have their own such though not so much.
This is why we model whifs, because it takes skill!  Anyone can snap together Yet Another Gundam or paint another green tank or gray ship.

But oh those were lovely aircraft, and those colors.