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WANTED: F7U-3 Canopy Perspex
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Author:  Cutlass [ Fri Apr 08, 2016 6:28 pm ]
Post subject:  WANTED: F7U-3 Canopy Perspex

Am looking for a new-surplus F7U-3 plexiglass Canopy section. Cash paid, I will come and pick it up.
Will purchase any other F7U-3 related items as well,


Please contact:

Al Casby
Mid-Century Aviation, LLC
Project Cutlass

P.O. Box 62733
Phoenix, AZ 85082

602-684-9371
Alcasby@projectcutlass.com

Author:  TheBeave [ Tue Jul 26, 2016 10:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: WANTED: F7U-3 Canopy Perspex

Al,

That part (I would consider) would be a hard thing to find. When I read your post it brought me back to a visit at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, OH. I got a tour of the restoration hangar once and the Restoration Supervisor, Greg Hessler, showed me how they made a canopy for an aircraft.

They built a box that had a vacuum system attached to it. The top of the box had the sheet of Plexiglas on it. The box was only as big as it needed to be (as wide as the finished canopy would be) as the box needed to fit into the oven to heat the Plexiglas. Once heated to the proper temperature, they flipped a switch to begin the vacuum and voila!, they vacuum molded the canopy. The Plexiglas was vacuumed down into the box to the point of being molded to the constraints of the canopy mold box. It took them 8 tries to get the canopy mold just right to replicate a proper fitting canopy. And I'm sure a full sheet of Plexiglas isn't cheap, so multiply that times 8. But, they did it and it worked!

If it comes to that, you might want to consider this method. For what it's worth.

Beave

Author:  Cutlass [ Sun Jul 31, 2016 3:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: WANTED: F7U-3 Canopy Perspex

Thanks Beave!

Right now, for an example that can be produced to airworthy standards, it's running about 35K for a vacuum or draw formed reproduction. I'm holding out hope for the holy grail before I go that route!

Thanks for your reply

Al

Author:  carseneau [ Sat Oct 29, 2016 4:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: WANTED: F7U-3 Canopy Perspex

Al,
We had a non-airworthy canopy made for our P-51H project at Airplane Plastics in Tipp City, OH. Price was very reasonable. Of course airworthy was much higher but still reasonable. We sent then out damaged canopy glass to use as a mold but if they have done one before they may have a mold already on hand.
Lots of "if's" but may be worth a call.
937-669-2677

Author:  Cutlass [ Sun Oct 30, 2016 8:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: WANTED: F7U-3 Canopy Perspex

Thank You Curt !!!

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