Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: True Details, 1115 Crowley Dr., Carrollton, TX 75011-5010, phone 972-242-8663
Price: $1.98 (2 per package)
Comments: Precut, self-adhesive canopy frames with instructions. Sets tested: No. 41001, Hasegawa Bf 109E (late issue); 41002, Tamiya Spitfire Vb; 41003, Hasegawa P-51D; 41004, Tamiya Fw 190A; 41005, Tamiya Fw 190D; 41006, Tamiya F4U-1.
I often scratch my head over how to paint certain canopies. Do I mask and spray with the risk of cutting into the window areas, or should I hand paint the frames and try to straighten the edges after the paint is dry?
Fast Frames are precut, self-adhesive, thin clear plastic designed for particular kit canopies. The packaging has general application instructions, plus a sheet of instructions for the specific kit showing where the frames fit. Information on interior colors with the color names in English and appropriate Federal Standard numbers also is provided. Each package contains two sets of frames. Here's how they work.
First, airbrush the interior framing color onto the entire Fast Frame sheet. When it's dry to the touch, overcoat the frames with the model's exterior color.
Next, use a knife to peel away the self-adhesive plastic around the frames so only the frames are left on the paper.
The instructions advise carefully lifting the frames from the backing paper with tweezers and dipping them into soapy water. This keeps the frames from sticking to the canopy until you position them. That's a good idea, but when I dipped some of the larger frames in the water, they folded up and were difficult to straighten. Instead wet the canopy with soapy water, then wet the tweezers (to keep the frame from sticking to the tool).
With the soapy water lubricating the frame, gently slide it into position over the molded-in canopy frame lines and press down. The water will squeeze out and the adhesive (unaffected by the water) will hold the frames tight on the plastic.
Now you'll be able to see why the interior and exterior colors were applied: You can see the interior color through the canopy. Fast Frames are thin enough for 1/48 scale, and should be OK for 1/72, but right now only 1/48 frames are available.
Concerned about which paints would stick to Fast Frames, I tried Testor Model Master enamel, AeroMaster Warbird Colors, Testor Metalizer, SnJ Spray Metal, and Polly Scale acrylic. All adhered well.
How well do the Fast Frames stick? My test frames haven't lifted in three weeks, even though I had dipped the Mustang canopy in Future acrylic floor finish.
Some of the Fast Frames didn't quite fit their canopies, and several sets have oversize straight frames intended to overlay other portions. Leave extra material on the bottom edges of the fixed portions of canopies until they have been attached to the model. Just trim off the excess.
The little frame sections at the top of the Spitfire windshield were not angled correctly, so I pulled and stretched the frames to the correct angle and let the adhesive do its stuff.
The tiny windows on the trailing edge of the birdcage Corsair canopy are deeper than their companions, but the Fast Frame is cut straight across. The top and bottom frames for the Fw 190D windshield were too wide.
I'm enthusiastic about Fast Frames and I hope True Details brings out more -- especially sets for the big "greenhouses" on the Avenger, Dauntless, Texan. . .
- Al Jones