What options do I have here...?

[花火]

Big crack on the tamiya 1/6 harley sidecar windscreen. I think my options are...

1. buy another box, pricy, and not worth it.

2. find a way to fix this, pretty much impossible

3. buy a sheet of clear plastic and make a new screen out of it

 

Can I get some great ideas here, guys? Please!

[Mark]

4.  Contact Tamiya, there is a chance they will help you out.  I did that with a Heller kit years ago.  I didn't even buy it at a hobby shop, I picked it up at a show.  They didn't have a problem with that.  It's worth a try...

[花火]

3 minutes ago, Mark said:

4.  Contact Tamiya, there is a chance they will help you out.  I did that with a Heller kit years ago.  I didn't even buy it at a hobby shop, I picked it up at a show.  They didn't have a problem with that.  It's worth a try...

Thanks, Mark! I am afraid that won't work because this kit has been discontinued for years...But I will call the Canadian Tamiya dealer and see...

[Can-Con]

I'd go with the clear sheet. After all, that's how they make the real ones.

[Mark]

I wouldn't contact the importer, I'd go directly to the company.  The importer might figure they'll sell you another whole kit.

[花火]

guys...I think this little thing might help me... what do you think? It's a vacuum former

[iamsuperdan]

I have one of those. They work really well.

[Ace-Garageguy]

 

[花火]

7 hours ago, iamsuperdan said:

I have one of those. They work really well.

Dan, would you mind sharing with me what kind of plastic sheet you are using with this machine? Also, do you think a clear part can be used to make a vacuum-formed part? I am afraid the clear part will crack or deform because of the heat. Thanks in advance!

[花火]

7 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

 

This is brilliant, thank you!

[iamsuperdan]

15 hours ago, 花火 said:

Dan, would you mind sharing with me what kind of plastic sheet you are using with this machine? Also, do you think a clear part can be used to make a vacuum-formed part? I am afraid the clear part will crack or deform because of the heat. Thanks in advance!

I know it's the clear sheets from Evergreen that I've been using. I ran out though, and haven't gone to get more. Will need to do that soon.

I was concerned about the heat melting or warping the original mold/part too. So I actually have a small piece of wood that I just hold over the original part. Then, once the heat has softened the sheet of clear plastic, I quickly remove the wood, turn the heat off, turn on the suck, and drop it down. Seems to work.

 

[oldcarfan]

The surface area looks to be around 4x4 inches? Is that close? I need to find one of those!

 

[Leica007]

PM sent

[Bugatti Fan]

The crack does not appear to go through the outer frame. Perhaps if you can manage to score the clear through very carefully just next to the inner edge of the frame, you may be able to use what you have removed as a template to cut a slightly oversized  piece of clear acetate sheet to glue to the frame and replace the original. Once set the excess acetate around the outside edges can then be trimmed off.

Alternatively you may be able to scratch build one. Simply push a piece of acetate into the original to cut the shape around the outside edge. Then use some thin vinyl tape on each side around the outer edge to make your own frame.