09-06-2010, 01:21 AM
Whew and that dental work ain't cheap either. Insurance or not they find a way to make you pay.
Anyhow, still enough left in the budget for a small project. Like a modest vacform table. This was the first pull and with the help of a friend later I was able to get pulls so nice that I had to cut the plastic to get the tools out. lol.
![[Image: vac002.jpg]](http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn227/budmataul/vac002.jpg)
Cobra Chris has provided some excellent information on materials used throughout this thread. Big thanks for that! After some serious consideration of what will be best I've decided to diverge a bit. It will be much easier to vacuum form fuselage halves. BUT I'll have to use negative molds to do so. I've read the results are usually better than positive 'bucks' as webbing is no longer an issue.
I hope Frank does not mind, but I'm waiting on the Pyro X to get here before I panel my fuselage. This will certainly take some of the guesswork out, but I am debating on which panel template to follow. It would be great to match Blue Leader (Red2) or perhaps leave a few off just so everyone has an accurate base to start from. That's right EVERYONE.
The above experiments were with .030 white styrene. The MB is probably thinner than that in many places. A SS replica needs to be thicker. I'd like to step it up as thick as possible, but will not be compromising surface detail. Sticking to this method is significant. It will be quick to make, and the cost will be lower. The downside is that strength is compromised. That doesn't mean you couldn't paint some resin in there, or build a skeleton underneath for a metal tube.
I keep coming back to it, but I am very happy with how this is coming along.
![[Image: fuselagedun.jpg]](http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn227/budmataul/fuselagedun.jpg)
I'm thinking this Hero fuselage kit would include:
Resin:
Backplate
Droid strip
R2
Pilot
2 Part cockpit
Nosecone
Styrene:
Fuselage top and bottom
You'd be on your own for the wings, but I'd like to talk with Jase a bit more about this.
Feels good to be on top of this project again. I'm ahead of myself already so please no PMs with interest. When the time comes, you'll know. Keep checking this thread.
Anyhow, still enough left in the budget for a small project. Like a modest vacform table. This was the first pull and with the help of a friend later I was able to get pulls so nice that I had to cut the plastic to get the tools out. lol.
Cobra Chris has provided some excellent information on materials used throughout this thread. Big thanks for that! After some serious consideration of what will be best I've decided to diverge a bit. It will be much easier to vacuum form fuselage halves. BUT I'll have to use negative molds to do so. I've read the results are usually better than positive 'bucks' as webbing is no longer an issue.
I hope Frank does not mind, but I'm waiting on the Pyro X to get here before I panel my fuselage. This will certainly take some of the guesswork out, but I am debating on which panel template to follow. It would be great to match Blue Leader (Red2) or perhaps leave a few off just so everyone has an accurate base to start from. That's right EVERYONE.
The above experiments were with .030 white styrene. The MB is probably thinner than that in many places. A SS replica needs to be thicker. I'd like to step it up as thick as possible, but will not be compromising surface detail. Sticking to this method is significant. It will be quick to make, and the cost will be lower. The downside is that strength is compromised. That doesn't mean you couldn't paint some resin in there, or build a skeleton underneath for a metal tube.
I keep coming back to it, but I am very happy with how this is coming along.
I'm thinking this Hero fuselage kit would include:
Resin:
Backplate
Droid strip
R2
Pilot
2 Part cockpit
Nosecone
Styrene:
Fuselage top and bottom
You'd be on your own for the wings, but I'd like to talk with Jase a bit more about this.
Feels good to be on top of this project again. I'm ahead of myself already so please no PMs with interest. When the time comes, you'll know. Keep checking this thread.