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Bending plastic fenders

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  • Member since
    April 2023
Bending plastic fenders
Posted by KeithRob on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 7:53 PM

Was wondering how one bends plastic?. . . such as fenders on a tank

 

thanks.  

"Charlie don't surf!"

Lieutenant Colonel William "Bill" Kilgore

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Poland
Posted by Pawel on Thursday, January 25, 2024 4:07 AM

Well... I can show you how I did it here:

1:72 M48A3 Vietnam DONE! - FineScale Modeler - Essential magazine for scale model builders, model kit reviews, how-to scale modeling, and scale modeling products

But most people replace plastic parts with sheet metal parts and mistreat those, most of the time the ffects are better this way. The most important thing, though, is to work with references and try to replicate real life effects on the model.

Good luck with your builds and have a nice day

Paweł

All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!

www.vietnam.net.pl

  • Member since
    April 2023
Posted by KeithRob on Thursday, January 25, 2024 11:13 PM

thanks!

"Charlie don't surf!"

Lieutenant Colonel William "Bill" Kilgore

  • Member since
    February 2024
Posted by S Hollowell on Thursday, February 15, 2024 7:07 AM

Hello, I've seen people use a rotary drill to thin the fenders, then they can bend them. I tried it once, but I'm guessing I didn't thin the it enough, because it broke.

 

S.H.

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Southern California, USA
Posted by ABARNE on Saturday, March 16, 2024 11:37 PM

If by bend, you are attempting to crumple a bit to simulate some damage, you could try some heat from a lighter to soften the plastic.  I used that technique years ago create some realist looking dents in a car that was built looking old and beat up.  With a tank fender, you would want to thing the plastic to give a scale appearance, so you would need to be careful with the heat and not melt it.

  • Member since
    January 2010
Posted by CrashTestDummy on Thursday, March 21, 2024 2:12 PM

I'd think that trying to control the temp of the part while heating it with fire would be incredibly difficult, usually resulting in something heat shrunk and badly warped.  I think I'd try a dip in hot/boiling water first.  Trying it on a piece of sprue first, of course, to see how that particular plastic reacts to hot water, and see how hot you have to get the water so soften the plastic enough to be flexible.  

I think I'd definitely try to recreate it from thin aluminum or brass sheet, first, though.  

G. Beaird,

Pearland, Texas

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Friday, March 22, 2024 7:56 AM

Save your money on books or magazines.  It's simple, similar to stretching sprue-use a candle.  Hold the part over a lighted candle-not immediately over the flame, but high enough to warm the plastic. It will soften. When it does, you can use an object like a pencil or a dowel to shape the fender.  Once you have it bent to the general shape you want, let it cool, and then you can refine it by thinning edges, adding nicks, etc.

It worked for Shep Paine, it works for me.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Friday, March 22, 2024 11:29 AM

Hi, Wanna bend a fender huh? Use foil. Pawel can show you how! T.B.

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