F-14A Canopy Question

[PhantomPhanatic74]

Hello,
I am building the 1/48 Hasegawa F-14A Tomcat. I am getting ready to close up the cockpit (Its being built gear-up in flight) and noticed that the canopy has a raised line running lengthwise down the center of the canopy. My question is, is this line due to the molding process, or should it be sanded off? If I need to sand this off, what grit sandpaper should I use so that the canopy is useable? 
Thanks in advance!

[Mstor]

It is due to the molding process and needs to be sanded off. I usually start with a old 320 grit sanding stick to remove the line. Then I wet sand using Micro-mesh sanding cloths in progressively finer grits (from about 2400 to 12000). Once it is looking mostly clear, I use the Novus polishing compound that came with the Micro-mesh kit to remove any last sanding marks. Finally, I wash in dish soap and warm water, dry and dip in Future.  I allow it to dry in a covered box to keep dust off.

Edited April 30, 2019 by Mstor

[PhantomPhanatic74]

8 hours ago, Mstor said:

It is due to the molding process and needs to be sanded off. I usually start with a old 320 grit sanding stick to remove the line. Then I wet sand using Micro-mesh sanding cloths in progressively finer grits (from about 2400 to 12000). Once it is looking mostly clear, I use the Novus polishing compound that came with the Micro-mesh kit to remove any last sanding marks. Finally, I wash in dish soap and warm water, dry and dip in Future.  I allow it to dry in a covered box to keep dust off.

Thanks for the information!

[Jonathan S]

Be gentle when you work Mstor's above mentioned process as clear plastic is far more fragile.

[JackMan]

 

Some tutorials from the awesome Narita-san:

 

http://www.naritafamily.com/howto/Su27/day15.htm

 

http://www.naritafamily.com/howto/F15E/day11.htm

 

 

[Mstor]

52 minutes ago, Jonathan S said:

Be gentle when you work Mstor's above mentioned process as clear plastic is far more fragile.

 

Thanks Jonathan S. I should have stressed that. Very easy to crack clear plastic. Try not to grab it by the side edges while sanding as you will invariably apply pressure and end up with a nice crack showing up somewhere.

 

As JackMan's linked tutorial show, an alternative is to use various grades of polishing compounds. Many have shown excellent results with this method. I am planning on trying it one of these days. The warning about about handing gently is even more important with the polishing method as you are rubbing with some pressure. Whether using sanding and Future or polishing compounds the key is to work slowly and carefully. Clear canopy/windshield parts tend to be very thin these days and very easy to break. I have had to ask my share of manufacturers for replacements

[Ishthe47guy]

As an alternative, you could just sand off & polish just the forward portion of each mold line over each crew position to replicate the lightning protection strips that are part of the canopies. 

 

[GW8345]

1 hour ago, Ishthe47guy said:

As an alternative, you could just sand off & polish just the forward portion of each mold line over each crew position to replicate the lightning protection strips that are part of the canopies. 

The lightning protection strips are on the inside of the canopy. ;-)