Larry Rice is about to, or has, obtained a vacuum former. If someone will carve the forms (easy!!!), I'll bet he would mold a few sets of parts as a thank-you! (Sorry, Larry if I am making promises on your behalf! But, I assume you get to keep the molds as part of the deal {it is what I would arrange}). Ayway, RSM distribution has a vacuum former and would probably do it for a minimal charge, and there are simple techniques for forming pop-bottles into canopies with a heat-gun. So searches on canopies and learn.
Heck, I used to do professional model making and did vacuuforming in the kitchen with a shop vacuum and my kitchen oven. (my wife hated the smell, but liked the money) It ain't rocket brain surgery, guys.
Believe me, the hardest part is detailing out an accurate, smooth buck over which to do the forming. What you see is REALLY what you get, every dimple, bulge, grain mark will show. For regular production, the pros carve and totally finish a master, make RTV molds and then cast metal filled epoxy duplicates that are flawless. They are the ones that are used in the Vacuum Machine. Raw wood grain will show, some finishes will stick. One thing that works pretty well is to form a very thin plastic over your form, then form the final, heavier plastic over that. (talcum powder on the inner layer prevents sticking)
It really isn't difficult if you understand the basic principles and material reactions. There used to be a book on hame Vaccuforming, check the web!
Topic: Scientific P-38 canopy (Read 1631 times)