In-flight model base with a plastic rod

There was an issue of FSM about making bases w/ clear rod. Don't remember the issue but I think the guy used acrylic.

Not sure about that issue but in the December 03 FSM Readers Tips section..... it mentions this. I remember vaguely seeing the article reffering to Acrylic rods.....The problem Im having is finding a local source for Acrylic Rods....I havent seen any at either Hobby Lobby or Michaels....I dont know where else to try!

Those links that I posted look like you can get a bunch of those acrylic rods for very cheap... I may do that.

Do you know how to bend the rods? Can you use a lighter as a heat source or do you have to do something special? I'm looking for some technique.

I think that's a great idea.

I have used acrylic only in the sheet form, and one way to get rid of the rough edges left from cutting is to use a butane torch, a technique called 'flaming'. If you want to bend rod I would think that this would work, but it would have to bend itself over a form. I know that plexiglass items such as a rooftop skylight are baked in ovens over a form, like a big vacuform machine. I don't know what temperature is right though.
Try looking in your yellow pages under "Plastics - Rod, Sheet, etc." If you live in a metro area, someone should be able to sell and advise you.

BTW what diameter rod are you thinking of?

Also, try looking around for Lexan. It's similar to Acrylic, somehow different, but when I would ask to buy a sheet of 'plexiglass' they would always ask if I wanted acrylic or lexan.

I'm sure that Styrene will jump in here and save your day.

Hope this helps, and good luck.

Stinger

plexiglass and lexan are not the same thing...

Acrylic refers to a general class/family of chemicals. Plexiglass (poly methyl methyacrylate; abbreviated PMMA) is a member of this family.

Lexan is polycarbonate (same stuff CDs and aircraft canopies are made of). With regards to properties (i.e. melt point, strength), they're different. With regards to appearance, they're pretty much the same.

I think the acrylic was left dangling in an oven but I can remember the temp or the time. Hot water dunking would probably work too.

Thanks much folks. I am going to go with the acrylic rods... i got several very cheap from this location:
Acrylic:
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=Acrylic&product%5Fid=clear+Extruded+Acrylic+Rod

I got 1/4, 3/16, 1/8 rods. for about a dime each!

I will play around with the oven technique and let you know how it works out.