Heat-Gun Formed Windshield | Belly Tank Ep77
Acrylic wind deflector heat formed using a heat gun over an aluminium buck.
Turned out pretty well.
The plan is that there is still enough space for me to enter and exit the cockpit with this windshield in place, but it can also rapidly unclip for convenience using push-button release fasteners. Always good to have extra options.
I have done something similar to this before with a completely different project. It can look very good when done and people often don't believe you can create such a thing with basic tools in a garage. It is generally easier if there are two people with a heat-gun each, as both sides of the acrylic can then be heated at the same time.
You have to be patient as it takes a while for the heat to penetrate the full thickness of the acrylic. If you constantly wobble it very gently back and forth with one hand, you will feel when it suddenly starts to soften and become pliable. You shouldn't need to force it at all, which might cause small stress cracks inside the material, it is more of a process of gently guiding it into shape as soon as it reaches the softened state.