waltmert Posted April 7, 2019 Share Posted April 7, 2019 Fellows, Any of you guys has experience vacuforming parts? I sure could use some hints and tips. I got and incredibly good deal on a brand new Micromark Vacuform machine and I would like to make some canopy/windshield copies. Please PM me if you do! Regards, Walter BiggTim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiggTim Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 I brought up the same question in my Stuka build thread, and got some good advice. Might be of use to you. Tim Isar 30/07 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMaben Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 Hi Walt , youtube videos can be helpful https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=vacuum+forming BiggTim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waltmert Posted April 8, 2019 Author Share Posted April 8, 2019 Right on thanks guys. The vacuformed process seam pretty straight forward. Tim that Stuka is sick! OMG the detail of the guns, WOW!!!! My biggest concern is the Master. I have a set of clear windshield I want to copy. Would the hot clear plastic damage the master? Do I have to make a wood master of the windshields? BiggTim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiggTim Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 I actually used the rear canopy section from the kit, and poured resin inside it to make two rough "plugs". Keep in mind that doing that destroyed the kit part (due to the heat generated by the resin as it cured, I guess) but I did not care as I had already cracked it while trying to modify it. I then re-shaped the resin plugs and primed them, and sanded them perfectly smooth. The general consensus was that the clear plastic would probably stick to the primer (happened to me before), so I made rubber molds of them and poured final plugs in resin to use for pulling the actual canopies. The resin worked perfectly, and the plastic did not adhere to it at all, so the multiple steps proved to be worth it. If you do decide to go the same route, and pour resin or push milliput or something into a kit canopy to use as a master, then I would advise picking up an extra one because the kit part will likely be damaged in the process. Otherwise, you'll have to carve your own master from scratch. Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waltmert Posted April 8, 2019 Author Share Posted April 8, 2019 10-4. I will get started on that! Thanks very much! Walter BiggTim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Fleischmann Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Hi Walter, I have done a bunch of thermoforming with my rig over the years- feel free to DM me with questions- Cheers Pete Mebo and BiggTim 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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