Pitts S1-S by EMHW
03-22-2015, 01:22 PM
#4651
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During the periods of waiting for glue to dry on the other Pitts I have been working on the canopy plug. It has been sanded to near perfection and then I coated it with a ceramic paint, actually 5 coats with light sanding in between. Now I need to put it in the oven and bake the paint a bit. I should get something pulled tomorrow.
03-23-2015, 05:55 AM
#4653
Robert I had a thought I would pass on. When I used Lexan for storm windows the one thing the guy at the plastic company recommended was using a type of washer with rubber on the inside to prevent stress cracks at the screw holes. I used these 4X4 sheets for 3 or 4 years taken them down and putting them back up several times a year. Over the course of that time I never developed a crack. Now I was using 3/16" think Lexan but it seems to me if you could get some thin rubber gasket material it might not be a bad idea to have a washer of that material under the screw heads. Good luck with the canopy!
Mike
Mike
03-23-2015, 07:16 AM
#4654
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I have washers with felt padding for just that. It's raining here today and with 100% humidity I am not even going to think about pulling a canopy.
03-26-2015, 07:27 AM
#4657
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I have to be honest, I have been procrastinating getting started. The more I think about the plastics the more I know polycarbonate would be the best route. I have ordered a sheet and will pick it up tomorrow. When I return to the shop on Sunday my goal will be, exclusively, to finish this thing. So beginning Sunday I will post the progress of the canopy and framework, as well as the painting of the prop, also the assembly and installation of the figure. That will be my goal next week and for those that have been looking forward to the completion, sorry for the delays.
03-29-2015, 11:44 AM
#4660
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I spent a few hours running around all the hardware stores looking for a rheostat or even a lighting dimmer of enough watts. I am going to have to wait until the morning when the electrical supplies open to get something. In the mean time I have added the reinforcements inside the table. I also drilled the plastic for mounting in the frame and I am blown away at the difference in these drill bits. They cut through faster and extremely smoother than any other bit I have ever used, period. As it stands everything is prepped and ready for the oven to be readied. See ya's tomorrow.
)
03-30-2015, 07:03 AM
#4662
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Plastic bits have a different tip with 0° rake, works much better than standard bits.
I spent some time this morning running around the electric suppliers, apparently they don't really supply much. So I started shimming the plastic frame away from the oven until it holds at 250° and will leave it set for two hours. I will have to let it cool just long enough to wipe it again with a tak-rag before hitting the 340° vac temp. This is really warming the room up so I am also utilizing the vent system.
I spent some time this morning running around the electric suppliers, apparently they don't really supply much. So I started shimming the plastic frame away from the oven until it holds at 250° and will leave it set for two hours. I will have to let it cool just long enough to wipe it again with a tak-rag before hitting the 340° vac temp. This is really warming the room up so I am also utilizing the vent system.
03-30-2015, 09:12 AM
#4663
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Well, I just made the first one, almost, everything went well right up to the point of removing it from the plug. The bright idea I had of coating the mold with a VHT ceramic paint, well, no so bright. The plastic stuck to the paint. So, I am off to Home Depot for another bag of Plaster and to begin again. Uhhhhhgg.
03-30-2015, 11:32 AM
#4666
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Well guys, I have kind of been playing with this until I know I can do the heating of the plastic right. With todays oven attempt with polycarbonate being a success I will order some proper mold making supplies. They are a bit expensive and needed to know before I went that way I could do it. I just poured another mold with the POP, it should be ready tomorrow. For now I am going to make one with the Plexiglas, it is by far the easiest to make and get this bird finished. I can make a really good one when the molding supplies come in, in a few weeks.
03-30-2015, 11:36 AM
#4667
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Just so everyone knows, I not only want to be able to pull a canopy but I want to be able to repeat it. I have, as of today, pulled two of different materials and can honestly say it is very repeatable. Reason being is I not only want this ability for myself but also to aid others in their search for a canopy, especially this airframe, I already have a couple guys wanting one as soon as I get it.
03-30-2015, 11:53 AM
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That's awesome. Guys like you make building that much easier for others who can't just make one. Good stuff. I'm thinking about going that route for my Mr. Mulligan wind screen. At least I can learn from your trials rather than my own. So thanks.
03-31-2015, 11:01 AM
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LOL! You guys are just as nuts as I. I said at the beginning of this I wanted to know how to do it, not just luck up and do one. I have learned about the plastic, experimented a bit with molding, and now I am ready to do it right. Like I said before, I always have this fear of screwing up when dealing with canopies and want to be able to make them myself. I will order the mold making supplies Thursday, but I will not be back until after next week. We are having a wedding at the house next week for my middle son so I have a lot of preparing of the house to do.
03-31-2015, 12:08 PM
#4675
I have to be honest, I have been procrastinating getting started. The more I think about the plastics the more I know polycarbonate would be the best route. I have ordered a sheet and will pick it up tomorrow. When I return to the shop on Sunday my goal will be, exclusively, to finish this thing. So beginning Sunday I will post the progress of the canopy and framework, as well as the painting of the prop, also the assembly and installation of the figure. That will be my goal next week and for those that have been looking forward to the completion, sorry for the delays.
I'm keeping a close eye on this one because your success will be my success
nothing like learning from someone else's trials... notice I left the word "errors" out... there are no errors in research and development 
John M,
Last edited by John_M_; 03-31-2015 at 05:27 PM. Reason: Grammar