SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

could use some help please - misshapen resin part

412 views
3 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    November 2010
could use some help please - misshapen resin part
Posted by ctfw529 on Monday, January 23, 2012 11:55 PM

hi all, i'm looking for some suggestions on how to "reshape" a misshapen resin part. i got a neat little resin conversion kit to turn a hmmwv model into a S. Korean recon variant, from Hobbyfan.

the problem is, is that the main top piece of the "roll cage", that part with the ring mount in it is severely misshapen. i've heard/read somewhere along the line that i could use hot water and/or heat, but i'm very unsure of the techniques involved. any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.

i've tried contacting the company i ordered it from, but they havn't been much help at all. i also tried to search this site for any older posts/threads, but couldn't find anything.

thanks again fellow modelers.

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Monster Island-but vacationing in So. Fla
Posted by carsanab on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 12:09 AM

hot water......direct heat may damage the piece......good luck!

 Photobucket

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by T26E4 on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 6:30 AM

^ Concur 100%.  Never use direct heat.

You want to get a large pyrex measuring cup or bowl.  And then fill it halfway with very hot, almost boiling water.  then you want to gently suspend your part (maybe make a hook out of bent wires) and lower it into the water.  The part should have an inherent natural straightness to it.  The heat should allow it to expand/bend back to its natural shape.  As your part is in the water, see if it doesn't naturally warp back to a more normal shape.  If so, pull it out and immediately lower it in another container of cold water (this cools it and locks it into shape). 

 

However, the part may have just been pulled out of its original mold too early.  If so, then you have 3 options.  1) Ask for a replacement from Hobby Fan -- they may surprise you.  2) Dip it in the hot water to soften it and then pull it out and try to gently nudge it into shape.  3) The other option is to scratchbuild a replacement part.  If it's a circle, I think scratchbuilding is the way to go.  Good luck to you.

Here's some discussion on how to straighten a warped hull

http://www.track-link.net/forum/modelling_construction/10416

 

Roy Chow 

Join AMPS!

http://www.amps-armor.org

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2010
Posted by ctfw529 on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 9:42 AM

thanks very much for both of your replies. i figured hot water was the way to go, but wasn't sure on how hot the water should be.

i'll give it a go and post results in the next few days.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.