1:48 Yak-1B (late production) 1 pcs vacuformed clear canopy

Yakovlev Yak-1B 1:48, a vacuum-formed clear canopy

An accessory for modelers, not a kit. It is a vacuum-formed (vacuform) clear cockpit canopy for models of the Yak-1B of late production in 1:48 scale from Quinta Studio. A vacuform part is pressed from thin clear film over a mold, so it has a markedly thinner wall than an injection-molded canopy: the glass looks optically cleaner, the frames are thinner and the part can be divided and fitted in the open position without trouble. According to the name there is one piece in the package, so it pays to work cautiously.

The real subject

The Yak-1B is the late production form of the Soviet single-engine Yakovlev Yak-1 fighter aircraft from the period of the Second World War. Compared with the earlier series it has a cut-down fuselage spine and a clear bubble canopy, which fundamentally improved the view to the rear. The shape of this very canopy tends to be the weakest point in plastic kits, because the injection-molded part has thick walls and distorted framing.

How a vacuform part is worked

• Trace the outline of the part with a thin alcohol marker, then score it with repeated light passes of a sharp scalpel and only break it out at the very end; never cut with one heavy stroke.
• An alternative: sand the backing with the part on fine abrasive paper laid on a flat board until the canopy releases on its own.
• Work the edges down with fine paper in small steps and keep checking the fit against the fuselage; a vacuform part cannot be stretched, but it is easy to sand away too much.
• Glue it with a clear PVA glue for canopies or with a thin, low-fume cyanoacrylate; ordinary solvent cements will fog the clear material.
• Mask the frames with narrow tape and spray in thin coats, as a heavy coat of paint on thin film will crack.

Who the part is for

• Modelers who are bothered by a thick and inaccurate canopy from the base kit.
• Builds with an open cockpit and a detailed interior.
• More experienced builders, as trimming and fitting a vacuform part call for patience.

The accessory is supplied unpainted and unassembled, and the model itself, glue and paints are not included in the package. The particular kit the part is intended for is not stated here, so it is advisable to check the dimensions against your model before buying.