>
> What are the "tolerances" for calling something "scale"?
As much as it would be nice to have a reasonable standard for this, or
'tolerances' as you say, I'm pretty sure the real answer is that there is
none. It's more of a what-can-we-get-away-with
while-making-the-various-compromises kind of thing (fits in the box better,
flies better as a model, etc. etc.) And when the alterations from scale get
too embarrassing for a kit-maker, it becomes 'semi-scale' or 'stand off
scale'.... :)
Since there is no limit to 'true scale' down to using miniature versions of
the exact same building techniques, machining micro-hardware to create exact
match canopy latches, the whole thing is really a spectrum from
'kinda-looks-like-the-original' to 'if-you-could-just-find-a-1/5th
scale-human-being-with-a-glider-rating,-he-could-get-in-and-fly-the-thing'
With scratch scale building, you get to determine your own standard, which
is half the fun.
Also, no problem forming your own canopy without vacuum, just make a good
plug, epoxy coated, sanded out fine, and then heat a sheet of PETG (tape
some cardboard 'handles' to each side of the sheet to give you something to
hold) over an oven burner or heat gun until soft, and then draw it down over
your plug. The more you stretch, the thinner your resulting canopy will be,
and you can try as many times as you need to (just a few cents a try for the
material) until you get a perfect canopy.
Lift,
Scobie in Seattle
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