H5487

Hi,

How does one prebend windshield plastic prior to cementing it in place with RC56? The material is about 1/16" thick and is about as stiff as 1/16" plywood so there's just no way I can cement it in place and expect the glue (or even screws or nails) to hold it in a curved shape. Therefore, I need to prebend it.

How do I do that? I'm considering cutting a form out of wood and securing the plastic to it while I heat it up. Should I use my Monokote iron or my wife's oven? If I use the oven, how hot and how long?

The kit's instructions (while otherwise very good) do not say how to curve the windshield; only to "Cut it out according to the plan and glue it in place."

Thank you,

Harvey

jay2000dakota

Harvey, your idea with the form is good, I would use a covering heat gun and gradually heat it until it bends with ease, be careful not to melt it. then let it cool and check if it held its shape, if it doesnt repeat the process again

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

Yep, covering heat gun with the plastic bent over/around A mold.

H5487

Thanks Guys!

Harvey

FILE IFR

1/16th inch plastic is a little thick to do by hand. Can you use a thinner plastic?

Beware... It's not as easy as it seems it should be. Be prepared to do 2 or 3 pieces as there is a good chance you may get it too hot in one area and ruin it.

Good luck and don't rush it.

Live Wire

Dip in hot water form and hold till cool Heats evenly in water and less distortion.

Rodney

A form and a heat controllable oven works best. Slowly heat to the point where the plastic relaxes then let cool very slowly. It is very difficult the heat evenly enough with a heat gun but it can be done if you have no other choice.

H5487

I tried Live Wire's idea first (softening the plastic in hot water) since it seemed the simplest and sure enough, it worked!

I put a large coffee cup in the microwave for 3 minutes on high (right up to the start of boiling) and then immersed the plastic for about 30 seconds. I then pulled it out (with tweezers) and formed it around a jar laid on its side that had the diameter that I wanted. Because the jar wasn't hot, it wicked the heat from the plastic too quickly and it didn't take on a perfect curve (the ends lifted a bit) so I did it again. This time the jar was still warm from the first try, the plastic didn't cool immediately, and it came out great! As I type this, I have a perfectly formed windshield sitting in a fresh bead of RC56 on my fuselage. Problem solved! Thanks, Larry!

I appreciate all of the other suggestions of using hot air from a heat gun. That was going to be my next attempt if the hot water trick hadn't worked.

Thanks, Guys!

Harvey

FILE IFR

Good work Harvey. Glad it worked out for ya, but I was thinking the winshield was fairly big. I didn't realize it would fit in a coffee cup.[X(]

H5487

Looking back, I can see where you concluded that I was working with a bigger windshield because 1/16" thick material is awfully thick for a 1/6th scale plane. But it was also a pretty big coffee cup.

Harvey

PS
What do you fly IFR?

FILE IFR

I fly planes and helis

H5487

Never been into helis much. What kinda planes?

FILE IFR

They range from a small handful of fast EDF jets, a few large scale prop planes and two turbine jets.

Helis are fun for me during the New England winter months and it keeps my skills sharp, then I resurrect the planes in the springtime.

H5487

No, I mean full size.

Harvey
AOPA 967296

FILE IFR

Oh LOL. C-182 & C-310 R

H5487

Both are nice planes. I used to fly skydivers in a 182 and night freight (cancelled checks) in a 310R.

Here's my current "giant scale" project...

Harvey

bob_peterson

My Feedback: (2)

I have a question for you fellows. I have been looking for a place to buy some plastic for windows. I am building a 10ft Turbo Porter and all the windows are flat so I do not have to worry about bending the plastic. I have a windshield for it and that is not a problem. I suppose 1/16" would be OK.