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Never built a vacuform kit before

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Never built a vacuform kit before
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 15, 2004 11:47 AM
I picked up a DFW CV vacuform kit from Sierra Scale. Having never built a vacuform kit, I was looking for some hints / helpful info on assembling the kit. The instructions recommend using strip styrene to strengthen the fuselage and adding ribs to the wings. Is this really necessary ?
Thanks
Neal
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: United Kingdom / Belgium
Posted by djmodels1999 on Friday, October 15, 2004 12:42 PM
I'm not familiar at all witrh this manufacturer, but usually, vacu kits are very basic and any details is left for you to add... I've seen a couple of fantastic-quality vacu in my 'career' but for 99% of all the others, it will be your skills and your time that makes the difference...

There's a Group Build dedicated to Vacu kits starting soon, by the way, Neal. You may want to postpone your build until then..?

If not, get good references (there must be a Windsock Datafile on this bird, for sure!) and start cutting away! Well, before that, take a black marker and draw black lines where the flat plastic meets all the future parts of your model. Some of those parts are probably not worth much and could easily be replaced with your own bits made out of evergreen stuff (struts in particular!) or even from say, Aeroclub items (engine, wheels, machine guns,..).

If the kit is big, you may indeed need to re-inforce the plastic. The cockpit will in any case need detailing for sure.

Anyway, after the marker phase, cut out the bits you need out of the flat plasti card. Do not cut too close, you will want a bit of 'flash' around the bits. Then start sanding away, pushing as evenly as possible th part onto a very flat sheet of sandpaper. Once the 'flash' disappear, you have basically removed the thickness of the plastic card and have reached the part you need. Repeat for all parts you need, then proceed with the re-inforcing, detailing, building,..
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Friday, October 15, 2004 12:56 PM
You really do need to use plastic strip to reinforce the fuselage. Wings aren't so critical, however. Other than that, DJ covered it pretty well.

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Placerville, CA USA
Posted by Mark Joyce on Friday, October 15, 2004 3:48 PM
You might want to check out this link:

http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/vacformbg_1.htm

If this link doesn't work, then try hyperscale.com, then go to the reference section and scroll down and you'll find a topic on vacuforms.

Haven't built one myself, so can't give you any personal advice. Good luck!

By the way, welcome to the forum Neal!Sign - Welcome [#welcome]

Mark
Ignorance is bliss
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: United Kingdom / Belgium
Posted by djmodels1999 on Saturday, October 16, 2004 3:15 AM
Here's a link to that Group Build..

http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?page=1&TOPIC_ID=25963

Hope to see you there! I've got my vacuformed Brasilia ready, just awaiting workbench clearance...
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 18, 2004 11:01 AM
Thanks for the info and links
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