Estes Strikefighter, Kit #2015, Build, Part 23, Canopy Carving

Well, I'm cheap! I refuse to pay too much for a canopy when I can make it myself. It may not be an exact copy, but close enough for me.

I've carved a few canopies before, more instructions are found in my article for the Apogee Peak Of Flight Newsletter: CLICK HERE

I went to Michael's Crafts and bought a small bag of basswood blocks. The price was $10.00. I pulled up the Michael's website and found a 30% off digital coupon. That brought it down to $7.00.

The blocks were too big. Using a glue stick, a canopy print was stuck onto the block. Pencil border lines were drawn.

The block was held in my workmate vise and cut with a handsaw. I don't own any power equipment.

With a new #11 blade in my X-Acto knife, rough forming was done making small chip cuts.

Block sanding with 220 grit cleaned up the sides.

Note the edge is wider than the decal print. The clear vacu-form canopy should probably be just outside the decal edges underneath.