Kingston Vacuumworks Mini Globe-O-Former Vacuform First-Look

By Michael Benolkin

First-Look

A few years ago, we had the pleasure of reviewing one of the vacu-form machines from Kingston Vacuumworks ( look here) and have had great success with the product in a variety of projects.

When I want to create my own vacuformed canopies, I simply take the original part, add any corrections I want, stuff the inside with modeling clay and insert a short stand into the clay.

Sandwich a sheet of clear styrene between the two black frames, clamp the frames together with the binder clips included in the kit, set the frame on a middle shelf in your pre-heated oven on the wood blocks (also provided), and watch for the styrene to soften.

As soon as you see it change states, grab the frame with an oven mitt (not included), slap it onto the vacuform box, turn on your vacuum, and bang! you have a new part. This does assume that you've pre-positioned the master part on the vacuform platform and have the hose of your trusty vacuum cleaner plugged into the vacuform machine.

This is the latest installment in the Kingston vacuform tool line - the Globe-O-Former. This is a fully functional vacuform machine with a new twist. The unit has a 2.75" x 6" perforated stage that performs the usual vacuform duties as any of the other units in Kingston's line-up, and this size is ideal for canopies up through 1/24 scale too. I've made some replacement canopies for several projects and this sized machine is ideal in that you don't have much wasted plastic when you're done.

The twist with this machine is the interchangeable stage. Remove the perforated stage and insert the oval-cut stage in its place, and now you have a completely different tool.

Let's say that your kit is missing the clear blister dome from the nose or atop your aircraft, or perhaps you want a clearer (less thick) part to replace it. If you have the original part, you simply use the normal vacuform, but if the part is damaged or missing, make a new one with the configuration on the left. How? Glad you asked.

This set comes with clear and white plastic card stock. You can trace the outline of the missing dome onto a sheet of thick clear stock, then carefully cut out the shape. It is also possible for you to use drafting templates to get the right shape and diameter. You'll need to tape over the holes you don't need for this job. Place the hole template over the oval on the stage, heat your clear styrene as usual in the metal frame, place the soft plastic on the stage and turn on the vacuum. The Globe-O-Former will suck down the clear through the hole and create your shape. You'll need to experiment with how much vacuum to use, but you'll get nice domes that can be trimmed to fit.

The Globe-O-Master comes with the machine and a supply of styrene to last you a while. If you do run low, Kingston also sells sheet styrene batches that are pre-cut to fit your specific machine(s).

This might look a little intimidating or strange, and I confess that I was a little skeptical the first time I tried it, but I was able to bang out a new (and thinner) A-37B canopy and windscreen for my Monogram kit in as much time as it took to pre-heat the oven. Creating the mold with clay and small Lego blocks under the kit clears, setting up the unit and vacuum cleaner in the kitchen near the oven, heating the oven, setting the clamped frame onto the wood blocks, watching for several minutes until the plastic started to sag, grabbing the hot frame and pushing it down onto the stage over the masters while hitting the vacuum's power switch and in an instant, I had canopies.

This is a nicely engineered and made device. The versatility of these vacuform machines using your home vacuum cleaner and oven make the job of making new parts easy. Not to mention that you're forced to do all of the work in the kitchen, so you're not needlessly cluttering your workbench…

My sincere thanks to the Kingston Vacuum Works for this review sample!