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General control line discussion => Open Forum => Topic started by: Steve Dwyer on March 22, 2015, 07:35:54 AM

Title: Looking for Canopy Material
Post by: Steve Dwyer on March 22, 2015, 07:35:54 AM

Gents,

I'm restoring an old Frank Baker design ME 109 48" Span Stunter found in MAN 1955 I built 50 years ago. I made the canopy from a fuel resistive plastic sheet material I can no longer recall what it was. The canopy was not a bubble style but rather a roll over style with a curved windscreen glued together. I added glued on silver striping to create the frame look and hide the seams as well, it looked very nice.

Any thoughts what I can use, it was not very thick material.  The existing canopy material has lasted (no clouding) well but is distorted and must be replaced.

Steve

Title: Re: Looking for Canopy Material
Post by: Avaiojet on March 22, 2015, 07:53:36 AM

Steve,

I have some of that material.

Send me an e-mail.

Title: Re: Looking for Canopy Material
Post by: Andrew Hathaway on March 22, 2015, 08:03:28 AM

Sig sells clear plastic for that purpose.  On the website, sigmfg.com then select Building Materials & Equipment, Plastics, Clear Plastic Sheets, then click on the thumbnail for a list of options. 

Recycled plastic from various consumer goods can be used for some projects. 

Title: Re: Looking for Canopy Material
Post by: GGeezer on March 22, 2015, 06:16:42 PM

The Pet-G material from a 2 liter drink bottle works pretty good too.

Orv.

Title: Re: Looking for Canopy Material
Post by: Curare on March 22, 2015, 06:56:35 PM

I second PET-G but be aware that it'll go brown over time, but then again, so will acetate.

I buy 8'x4' sheets of 0.5mm PET-G plastic from my local plastic guys, and use it for canopies in a vac former. A sheet that big will usually last me about 5 years, and works out to about $2 a canopy. At that price you can pull a few and choose the best, or just mess up more than once!