Home made blank FG canopies

[wespen]

im finally happy with my home made FG canopy.
Got it pretty light, only 12grams heavier than stock plastic one.

They started at 74 grams with some heavy self-extinguishing epoxy resign and now with another lighter resign and clever application got it to 53g with 1 layer of white spray paint.
Its rock solid since its a single piece from a mold (not 2 halves like Fusno) so it wont deform.

Maybe I could make a few more if someone is interested.

From L to R: stock, HeliDirects, mine, mine painted.

3rd image - Helidirects came to me like that

Wesp

[CatchmyCorsair]

Wow, the Helidirect canopy is sad. I would have sent it back.
How did you make your mold? Yours look really nice!

[wespen]

A friend made a mold, he works with composites so its a piece of cake for him.

He took stock plastic one, reinforced it inside with FG and took a negative with some thick FG and gelcoat.

Stock canopy shape is really nice so you can pull them out in one piece.
Since he didnt spare on the mold they came out perfectly smooth (used some expensive gelcoat that he uses for industrial molds >1000 reuses on that stuff) and there you have it

Wesp

[Swashmix]

Your canopies look great! Nice to have friends with special trades! Looks like your home made canopies are a piece of cake for you too. A little practice with some airbrushing and Canomod Canopies .... look out!

[wespen]

Nah, ill just make 10 blank white ones, airbrushing takes 10 times more.
Ill let you express yourselft with paint/sharpies

Wesp

[kgfly]

Looks great. I'd love one but probably not cost effective from Croatia to Oz.

[expertrcpilot]

Too bad you don't live in the states Wes. I'd for sure pic one up from ya, I'd imagine the shipping would be heavy priced to get one too me. Guess I'll have to settle for deformed one from HD. Good lookin canopy though.

[wespen]

Well good thing im in NY next week then

Wesp

[expertrcpilot]

Well, in that case I'd like to know what kind of price tag these canopies have? Just so happens I have a freind in the auto collision field that loves too paint. A blank would be great! You'd be mailing to Ohio.

[wespen]

Could make them for like 15$.
That HeliDirects is 13$ and MSH one is 20$ so this will be in the middle

I can make a few unpainted sanded blanks, white coated blanks, with cutouts or without

Wesp

[expertrcpilot]

Originally Posted by wespen

Could make them for like 15$.
That HeliDirects is 13$ and MSH one is 20$ so this will be in the middle

I can make a few unpainted sanded blanks, white coated blanks, with cutouts or without

Wesp

PM sent

[Swashmix]

Wesp, when are you coming to Toronto with a briefcase full of canopies?

[wespen]

Man, I cant make that much of them..not to mention strange looks of a US customs officer

Im not making them for profit anyway, all that money will go to Protos spares.

Just to help you with the wait for MSH one to come back in stock, so you dont have to work with crappy one in the meantime.

Wesp

[wespen]

Ok, first 6 are out of the mold
They are 53 to 60 grams.
They are water sanded (<- is it right term?) and ready for paint. I think my friend is gona hate them after 10 more
Its so cold here it takes some time for them to cure.

Wesp

Sorry for crappy iPhone photos

[ayash]

Just out of interest, can you post photos of the mold itself?

[Melly]

The last photo red/blue/white canopy and in cyrilc "MCH Protoc"... hahah, great!

[CatchmyCorsair]

Originally Posted by wespen

They are water sanded (<- is it right term?) and ready for paint.

We usually say "wet sanded" but you said the same thing.

[JMoore12]

I have already spoken to you wesp but I will defiantly be interested in one or two. And ill hook yah up with some pretty colors.
-J

[robiheli 1]

Yo ! Wespen
dobar ti je taj plastičar !!!
da je meni takav !

[Big E]

Curious, why is it taking so long for MSH to replenish stock of their plastic canopies and to introduce their FG canopies?