Trumpeter A-4M Canopy in the open position

[ade rowlands]

15 hours ago, GDW said:

Does anyone out there know of a true mirror product which one can use to make rear view mirrors on a canopy frame? I really don't like the look of painting mirrors silver on a model.

 

I use a Silver roll of Sellotape, it gives a good mirror finish, well good enough, especially after burnishing it down onto the surface of the kit part. I usually only see it on sale around Christmas though. A roll will last forever though. 

[LSP_Ray]

There is also some good and thin reflective material you can find at craft stores. I can't remember what brand I bought, or for that matter, where the hell I put it or I would let you know.

[Greg W]

1 hour ago, LSP_Ray said:

There is also some good and thin reflective material you can find at craft stores. I can't remember what brand I bought, or for that matter, where the hell I put it or I would let you know.

Thank you for pointing me to a craft store!

Edited July 11, 2018 by GDW

[Greg W]

On 7/11/2018 at 4:43 PM, ade rowlands said:

 

I use a Silver roll of Sellotape, it gives a good mirror finish, well good enough, especially after burnishing it down onto the surface of the kit part. I usually only see it on sale around Christmas though. A roll will last forever though. 

 

 

 

I recently found a product at Wal Mart that I thought would be great, but when I checked it out at home, its way to thick to use. I will look for the silver Sellotape for sure. Thanks for the tip! Greg

Edited August 15, 2018 by GDW

[ade rowlands]

6 hours ago, GDW said:

 

 

 

https://imgur.com/m27Wv50

 

I recently found a product at Wal Mart that I thought would be great, but when I checked it out at home, its way to thick to use. I will look for the silver Sellotape for sure. Thanks for the tip! Greg

 

No problem. I looked for a link and a pic to show what I was talking about but the only one I could find was of the packaging not the tape. This is no thicker than the original Sellotape which should be fine for larger scale stuff. The craft store angle may produce something similar too. There’s DIY type tapes in Sikver but these seem quite thick. I’d take a pic of the tape myself but I’m yet to set up a new photo hosting account after photobucket. 

[hamfists nz]

This is good. I was wondering how to do this. My A-4 is in a 4 year hiatus waiting for Anthony in NZ’s exciting cockpit project. I think I need to also make the bulkhead. If the Brazilian version is the same as the NZ version..there is a loose (looks like canvas) strap that flaps around on one side that is for the pilot to pull the canopy down with. 

[hamfists nz]

This is good. I was wondering how to do this. My A-4 is in a 4 year hiatus waiting for Anthony in NZ’s exciting cockpit project. I think I need to also make the bulkhead. If the Brazilian version is the same as the NZ version..there is a loose (looks like canvas) strap that flaps around on one side that is for the pilot to pull the canopy down with. 

[hamfists nz]

By the way..what product is your ejection seat? It looks much nicer that the kits

[Greg W]

6 hours ago, hamfists nz said:

By the way..what product is your ejection seat? It looks much nicer that the kits

 

 

 

 

 

As you know, the canopy for the A-4M is different from earlier models. What version of the A-4 is the RNZAF one based on?

 

 

The pull strap stayed however. The AF-1 is really a A-4M. It looks like the RNZAF A-4 is based off of a earlier version before the M, so the canopy is not the same. 

 

Edited July 12, 2018 by GDW

[LesterPK]

4 hours ago, hamfists nz said:

This is good. I was wondering how to do this. My A-4 is in a 4 year hiatus waiting for Anthony in NZ’s exciting cockpit project. I think I need to also make the bulkhead. If the Brazilian version is the same as the NZ version..there is a loose (looks like canvas) strap that flaps around on one side that is for the pilot to pull the canopy down with. 

 

The strap is 1 inch wide webbing with a loop in the end, it attaches to the canopy hook and is stowed in the grey map/pins bag on the RH cockpit wall.  Its actual use was to stop the canopy opening fully and putting pressure on the canopy bungee, the strap held the canopy a couple inches short of fully open.

[Greg W]

These two photos next to each other, really illustrate the difference between the two models.

 

[thierry laurent]

For Chrome painting on very small surfaces, get a Molotov marker with the 1mm tip. Believe me this is the best, easiest and reasonably cheap solution. 

[iaf-man]

On 7/13/2018 at 9:53 AM, thierry laurent said:

For Chrome painting on very small surfaces, get a Molotov marker with the 1mm tip. Believe me this is the best, easiest and reasonably cheap solution. 

Molotov?

the same from the bottle?

[Dave Williams]

The NZ A-4Ks were based on the A-4F Skyhawk, which includes both the as-built K models and the ex-RAN A-4Gs.  The Brazilian AF-1s are ex Kuwaiti A-4KUs, which were based on the A-4M.

[LSP_Ray]

3 hours ago, iaf-man said:

Molotov?

the same from the bottle?

Molotow Liquid Chrome Markers

Pretty cool stuff, I got a couple to try out. About the most chrome-like paint I have seen. Best used in relatively small-sized areas, though, to keep a evenly coated surface.