Hunter canopy

Hi Lads,
Can anyone give me some advice on making a canopy for my ancient Flair Hawker Hunter.
I have made a plaster of paris mould from the old canopy and filled and sanded it to the right shape. It has then been mounted on a wooden plinth to make it easier to work on.
I have tried to shape cut up pop bottles over the mould using hot/boiling water, a hair dryer( don't tell the wife) and a heat gun( Black and Decker paint stripper) all with no success what so ever. The first two methods didn't get the plastic hot enough and the heat gun just wrinkeled it. I tried the heat gun at various distances but all I managed was scorched fingers. Would I be better using a different plastic and if so where do I get some? Maybe a different heat scource?
Any suggestions would be welcome (apart from wearing asbestos gloves)
Thanks,
Steve

Try looking in google for "making model canopies"

here is one example
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3819/is_200410/ai_n9430401/

I have used an oven warmed heated sheets of clear acetate mounted on a frame pulled down over the plug and followed by a cut out shaping sheet to stop the edges wrinkling
plug works better if made of balsa or foam so it doesn't rob the hot sheet of it's heat as it contacts the plug.

Years ago we tried to make a Smog Hog epoxy glass fuselage
Method
make a full size wax coated plug of the finished fuselage shape OK
make a wooden box to contain the freshly mixed plaster paris mixture OK
Mix the plaster of paris and pour it into the mould box OK
Immerse one half side of the plug into the wet plaster of paris....Failed.........

The whole lot began to go solid and too hot to touch long before the plug was immersed.. It got onfire and the plug and box went up in flames
The remains are buried somewhere on Middleton Rubbish Tip RIP

So
Finally it was done by making left and right female epoxy moulds off another plug and then making the finished fus off them.

Then the new design came out ....The AstroHog and that was built up
Ah well happy days

sounds like you really need a vacuum former

Hi Steveh
Bit more info
The Hunter cowl is peardrop shaped and you should be able to get something like quite cheap from most model shops, they usually have an assortment. I know they have some at Webbs and probably at Hobby Corner. Cost a couple of quid.
Don't be put off by the critics, it's not going to be perfect scale and they don't know what one looks like anyway
Or
I found this

The man was trying to copy an old cowl and using the old one as a template. This his account of adventures with vacuum forming:

His approach

1. Tape all holes watertight on the old cowl. Use ducttape.
2. Place cowl in a plastic bowl / container. Nose first. Apply some grease on the inside.
3. Fill the cowl with plaster. Leave to dry.
4. Take out the mould. Finish surface real smooth.
5. Cut the bottom out of a coke bottle. (I used a 1,5ltr, tight fit)
6. Put the mould in, nose first, push as far as you can.
7. Tape the bottom back on with ducttape.
8. Connect the vacuum cleaner hose to the bottle opening with ducttape.
9. Turn on the vacuum cleaner.
10. Make sure the mould is in the right position.
11. Use a heat gun on it's lower temp setting to shrink the bottle. Make sure to heat all parts gently. Start at the back of the mould. Slowly work your way to the front.
12. Treat parts that need to shrink more to the higher heat gun setting.
13. Leave to cool down. Turn off the vacuum cleaner. Enjoy the silence.
14. Cut the new cowl out of the remains of the bottle.
15. Use a mini drill to make the cowl cooling holes.

Then he said :-
You see? Buying a $5,- replacement cowl is probably cheaper and quicker...
ps don't forget to drink the coke !

Thanks for that lads, I think I will start off by phoning the model shops, seems like the easiest solution! Tried Flair but no luck.
Failing that, the vac method looks worth a go.
Cheers,
steve

i belive (although may be wrong) a company called vortex used to do some moldings for Flair product may be worth a call to them

http://www.vortex-vacforms.co.uk/generalpage.htm

M

Thanks Mark,
I have sent them an e mail and shall see what comes up.
Cheers,
steve