I painted my canopy for my P51B a couple of weeks back. Went to install it today and, unfortunately, found that it had "curled" inward significantly. I assume that the paint I used on the inside of the canopy dried and shrank a bit.

Now I can't get it shaped correctly to the fuselage for installation.

Big question is how to "uncurl" it. Any thoughts about heating the canopy w/hot water to make the plastic more pliable?

Other ideas?

R

I have used my heat gun on a deformed canopy with decent results. It's best to find something hard that is the shape you want your canopy to be. I just recently left a plane in my car to long, and it melted! I ordered a new one, but untill it comes in, I heated it with my gun and shaped it using a towel to protect my hand from the heat. Maybe not the best recommendation.....

Forget the heat-gun....it will only make it worse...

You didn't say what paint you used. Might it have been TF Lustre Coat? I found that Lustre Coat is not compatible with Great Planes canopies, at least not the one supplied with their P-51. I painted the framing on the outside of the canopy and it deformed the canopy so much that it looked like something very heavy had squashed it.

Yes, it was LustreCoat. Canopy did not flatten, but did curl significantly.

OK guys, do not use Lustre Coat on canopies! We have suffered the consequences already and now you know the stuff may destroy the canopy.

What kind of paint will work on canopies?

get the testors transparent paint. I just bought some and it works like a charm.

I don't think the problem is just with Lustercoat. The Lustercoat can even states that it will curl canopies, but I think it is because of the solvents which are widely used in the industry.

Despite what the can said, I used it anyway without curling. I primered first with Rustolium (grey) and then shot the lightest coat possible of Lustercoat grey that I could. It seem to work, but the plane is fairly new and only time will tell if the finish will be durable.