maxidad66

Hi
Can anyone explain the process to me of moulding or shaping styrene in order, for example, to box in the wheel wells of an aircraft?

Thanks

rjwood_uk

the easiest way would be to get the appropriate thickness of styrene card you need. work out how large you need the box to be.

first of all score the shape into the card. do it as if you were making a cube from a piece of cardboard. also score the fold lines. then cut out the main shape and fold allong the score lines to make the cube and glue togeather.

what aircraft are you making the boxes for? if it is 1/48 i actualy have some p/e boxes for wheel bays if you would like them pm me your address and i will send it to you.

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Bunkerbarge

One usefull technique is to bend the polystyrene card around a former and pour hot water over it. Trial and error will determine the radius of the former and the material will flex back to a small degree after it is removed. For more complex curves use thinner card of say 0.3, 0.4 or 0.5 mm and for the straight edges to give the structure a bit more rigidity you could use 1.0mm card.

Scoring and bending is also a very usefull technique and helps to keep things in line and square.

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maxidad66

Thanks for those. Of course when I say "boxing in", the shape is more likely to be a shallow cylinder. I have a couple of models in the stash which are rather primitive (read "bought 'em cheap"). One is an old (i.e. 1965) Monogram FW-190 in 1/48 scale, the other a rather dinky Heller Renault Caudron 714 in 1/72. Neither has enclosed wheel wells. Shaping and bending styrene card will be another new skill to acquire.

jankers

You could consider "Plunge Moulding"
http://www.scale-models.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4447

J.

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maxidad66

Ah yes, I saw that thread, but this method looks like a lot of work to use on a bit of plane which only me and God will know about! Unfortunately, my wife just thinks I'm mad buiding models and doesn't appreciate the finer side of the art.
However, I appreciate the suggestion, Jankers.