Functioning Cockpit Canopies for the Buck Rogers Thunder Fighter

[Rhaven Blaack]

After finishing the Buck Rogers Thunder Fighter in Stealth paint scheme, I decided to make this tutorial on how to make a cockpit canopy that will open and close.
I will be making three canopies (the first one will be NON-CANON and the other two will be CANON).

I am sorry for the poor quality of the photos, but I do not have access to a good camera right now, so I am using my phones camera.

These are the parts that I used; Parts sheet with the canopy parts, 6 strips that are 5mm X 20mm, 8 strips that are 5mm X 10mm, and two sewing pins cut to 20mm.


Gluing the strips to the pin to form the hinge.


After finishing this one, you need to make one more just like it.


I attached the long strips to the hinge plates.


Attaching the second hinge to the long strip


After you have finished attaching the second hinge, attach the longer strips to the hinge plates. You now have a double hinge.


These are the pieces of the front part of the canopy


Front piece assembled and put into place.


Front hatch assembled and double hinge attached.


Center piece is attached to the center part of the double hinge. This piece will be secured to the plane after the last back piece is in place.


Back hatch is attached to the back end of the double hinge.


Rear part of the canopy is assembled.


I have attached the rear canopy part in place.


The main part of the canopy is now in place.


Here is a side view of the canopy in place.


Hatches are open.


ENJOY!!!

[SJPONeill]

You're a legend!!

[Rhaven Blaack]

Here is the "sliding canopy". I had originally planned on having the hatched just sitting in place to give the appearance of "sliding", but decided to go ahead and make an actual sliding system.
I know that this is not one of my better works, but this is only a "proof of concept". Had I built the entire model from the beginning (with this in mind), I would have done things a bit differently.
I am modifying a TF that I made for a test build of the cockpit interior for this project.

Front canopy piece assembled


Front canopy piece in place.


Rear canopy piece.


Rear canopy piece in place.


Front canopy hatch. As you can see, I used pieces of tooth picks for the slide posts. (This was done for both front and rear hatch)


Side view of front canopy hatch.


Rear canopy hatch


Center piece in place. slide rails cut on either side of cockpit interior.


Front and rear canopy hatches in place.


Canopy hatches open.



I realized that after I had finished this build, I should have started with the rear canopy piece and worked my way forward. That way everything would have fit better and tighter.
OH well, you live and you learn.

ENJOY!!!

[Rhaven Blaack]

Here is the QUAD canopy. In this segment, I made a different hinge system for the hatches. Instead of using a pin for the hinge, I used scotch (clear) tape and sticky labels (as you will see in the photos).
I got the idea from Silveroxide, when he was talking about out to glue clear plastic on to paper to stick together with out clouding the plastic.

This type of hinge can also be used for the two seat canopy as well.

Part sheet (You will want at least three copies for laminating all of the parts)


I took Scotch (clear) tape folded it onto itself. Next to it is a sticky label.


I cut the tape into a strip (40mm X 6mm) and the sticky labels into strips (40mm X 2mm).


I applied the sticky label strips to the tape (on both sides) to make a double hinge.


I cut out and assembled all of the canopy parts (keeping the hatches separate).


I attached the hinge to the underside of the center rail.


Here I have attached the hatches to the hinges.


I double laminated the whole canopy for added strength and rigidity.


I attached the canopy to the plane, with hatches open.


ENJOY!!!

[Uyraell]

It is an incredible amount of very fine work, for a more than excellent result, Rhaven Blaack.
Truly a joy to see such skilled and fine work.

Kind and Respectful Regards, Uyraell.

[Rhaven Blaack]

Thank you for the kind words and compliments.

[mldixon]

Really nice work. This is the kind of detail that makes this such a interesting Hobby, keep thinking outside the box.

[Rhaven Blaack]

Thank you for the compliments.
I will continue to do so.

[rmks2000]

Great tips. Thank you.

[Rhaven Blaack]

Originally Posted by rmks2000

Great tips. Thank you.

You are more then welcome.

I look forward to seeing some of your work.