Patreon members -
Don't request these yet. I may have some resizing and tweaking to do.
I thought it was funny that the back of the cockpit decal had a fire extinguisher and first aid kit.
I assumed Estes used the old Centuri Fighter Jets clear canopy. Those kits were ST-10 or about 1" in diameter. The Strikefighter is a larger diameter BT-55 at 1.325" diameter.
The Strikefighter canopy is larger. I won't be able to use the small canopy I have.
Checking the forums, the Strikefighter kit used a canopy similar to the the Guillows P-51 Mustang. To see it, CLICK HERE.
Now I've got some thinking to do. Do I order a Guillows canopy for $10.00 plus $5.00 shipping?
Morerockets.com has a Strikefighter replacement canopy for $5.99 plus $12.99!!! shipping.
Or - do I carve a larger canopy and use it in my vacu-form machine?
Going by the shape of the cockpit decal, I'd say that the fire extinguisher and first aid kit are at the back (i.e. the "pointier" end is the back, to match the shape of the bubble canopy). The end with the "scallop" is the front with instrument panel (grey area with the round and square shapes).
ReplyDeleteThanks Naoto,
DeleteI meant to type "front".
As for myself, since I don't currently have a vacuform machine, I'd probably end up carving a buck (i.e. form) from wood, then plunge-mold (aka "heat-n-mash") the canopy.
ReplyDeleteAn alternative to the rounded bubble canopy could be an angular framed style with flat panels as seen on the X-wing starfighter from Star Wars, or the Thunderfighter (aka Earth Forces Starfighter) from Buck Rogers. Also interesting to note with this style is the front is the "pointier" side -- the opposite of what you'd generally see on an aeroplane.
I forgot one of the reasons why I'd mentioned a framed style canopy -- they can be more readily made from flat sheet materials and doesn't require the use of a vacu-form machine. You can bend and curve the flat sheet material into the basic shape, and the joints can be covered over with a frame.
ReplyDeleteOr you could tweak the decal and "run what you brung." The smaller canopy just suggests the craft is larger vs the pilot size. Personally, I'm not enough of a purist to take the $ hit on the strikefighter replacement.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous,
DeleteThat thought did cross my mind. Carving and vacu-forming the canopy turned out to be half the cost of ordering one. I like a challenge.