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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: Gary Anderson on March 26, 2008, 05:02:34 PM

Title: Canopy made from two liter bottles
Post by: Gary Anderson on March 26, 2008, 05:02:34 PM

Hi guys,

 Has anyone used one of the two liter bottles to make a canopy? I have to make a windshield for a super ringmaster type plane. Looking at a empty two liter bottle and was wondering how that would work? Maybe heat it in the boss's oven? Maybe use hot boiling water? Just to cheap to purchase one. We used something of this nature when my Dad would help us, just can't remember how we did it. Some of the fuel tank Dad would make was from tin cans, it was fun and we didn't know any better. To us our planes where the greatest things around, sure wouldn't want to see what they really looked like, Ha Ha. Would appreciate any input, thank you Gary

Hi guys,

I added the next pages to my article, can't find the last page. Have a great day and thank you for your input, Gary

Title: Re: Canopy made from two liter bottles
Post by: Gary Anderson on March 27, 2008, 12:05:09 AM

Quote from: Ty Marcucci on March 26, 2008, 11:40:31 PM

I have made several canopies from the two liter bottles, Coke to be exact. 7UP is too green LL~

I make a mold then cut a large piece from the bottle, place it in a jig, and heat it with a heat gun, then press the canopy form into the hot plastic, QUICKLY. It cools very fast.  Usually two tries to get a good canopy. The material is free, so no waste. What isn't used, goes into the recycling bin.
 y1
Also I have made three round cowls from the bases. A different technique. Too long to go into just now. H^^

Hi Ty,

 I didn't want to use heat, so I tried hot water. Thought about boiling water in micro wave but I tried hot water from tap. Seems to work great for the wrap around type windshield. Have you tried the boiling water method? I don't think it would be enough to make a full type canopy. I think I will try my roaster oven outside, not sure what type of gases you would release heating the bottle. Thanks for your reply, Gary

Title: Re: Canopy made from two liter bottles
Post by: Wynn Robins on March 27, 2008, 01:53:19 AM

I have done the same thing - wrote an article about it....

I use a heat gun - PET shrinks down to around 30% of its original size - so is a cool product to use/

Title: Re: Canopy made from two liter bottles
Post by: Gary Anderson on March 27, 2008, 09:38:24 AM

Quote from: Wynn Robins on March 27, 2008, 01:53:19 AM

I have done the same thing - wrote an article about it....

I use a heat gun - PET shrinks down to around 30% of its original size - so is a cool product to use/

Hi Wynn,

 I would love to read your article. I looked in search before I started the article, could you direct me to your article? I would appreciate you taking the time, thank you Gary