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WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Hints and Tips/Questions about modeling => Topic started by: Flamingo on November 02, 2023, 11:44:24 PM

Title: Scratchbuilding wings in 72nd scale, part 1
Post by: Flamingo on November 02, 2023, 11:44:24 PM

Here is my way of preparing wing planks for 72nd scale in the kitchen:
A piece of 1.5 mm styrene is bent into a special cooking pot for wings asparagus, about 20 cm high and 16 cm diameter.


The plastic has to be longer than the diameter x 3.14. Press it in and mark two pencil lines.

Scroll down for continuation, this is a "repaired" thread because the picture hoster went down and attachements are limited.

Title: Re: Scratchbuilding wings in 72nd scale, part 1
Post by: Dutch522 on November 02, 2023, 11:50:37 PM

Very interesting system, Joachim, thanks for sharing it! And I just happen to have one of those asparagus wing-pots in the kitchen too! Mine even has a basket so you can pull the whole thing out without resorting to tongs.

Dutch

Title: Re: Scratchbuilding wings in 72nd scale, part 1
Post by: WD on November 03, 2023, 12:48:28 AM

What a great idea to put in our tool box of modeling tricks!

Thank you!

Warren

Title: Re: Scratchbuilding wings in 72nd scale, part 1
Post by: pepperman42 on November 03, 2023, 02:45:41 AM

This has lots of applications! I would think bigger pot, thicker plastic etc etc could work for 1/48..maybe even 1/32 for short spans...

Steve

Title: Re: Scratchbuilding wings in 72nd scale, part 1
Post by: Rookie on November 03, 2023, 07:41:19 PM

That's brilliant Joachim!

I bookmarked this one  ;)


Would it work the other way around to straighten curved styrene? A while back I bought 4 sheets 0.5 x 140 x 100 mm styrene sheet. Or so I thought....

I was delivered in a big tube. Turned out to be 0.5 x 1400 x 1000 mm sheets. Paid only € 32.00 for it though.

(https://i.postimg.cc/dtd5mrkL/Rolled-up-styrene.jpg)

I tried this, but it didnt work:

Quote from: Berman on May 24, 2021, 10:16:37 AM

You could try placing the styrene between two minimum 5mm thick sheets of absolutely clean glass. Place in direct sunlight. Check every thirty to sixty minutes depending on the temperature.

I wouldn't need a 50 gallon asparagus pot; I'd cut of strips of the length I need.

Willem

Title: Re: Scratchbuilding wings in 72nd scale, part 1
Post by: Flamingo on April 06, 2026, 06:22:34 PM

Cut it longer than the marks and try again. It has to be a very tight fit. I made two cuts and it is still longer than the marks.

Title: Re: Scratchbuilding wings in 72nd scale, part 1
Post by: Flamingo on April 06, 2026, 06:24:12 PM

Now fill the pot with water and put it on the stove. To save time and energy use a lid. Mine is from larger pot so it does not touch the styrene.

Title: Re: Scratchbuilding wings in 72nd scale, part 1
Post by: Flamingo on April 06, 2026, 06:26:26 PM

Temperature is crucial, so use a cooking thermometer frequently.It is better to start with less heat, no problem to repeat if the curve is not tight enough. Too much heat may damage your styrene beyond use.

Title: Re: Scratchbuilding wings in 72nd scale, part 1
Post by: Flamingo on April 06, 2026, 07:40:04 PM

My stuff was good at 87 degrees centigrade, but next sheet might be different. I let it cool down naturely.
Now cut off strips of the required chord with some margin, this should give you raw planks for some 20 models.
With these planks very little sanding of undersides is required. Compare with a flat block.  Laziness is the mother of invention!

Greetings Joachim

Title: Re: Scratchbuilding wings in 72nd scale, part 1
Post by: Jorgo on April 08, 2026, 01:53:11 AM

A great post, Joachim. In these times, when everything revolves around 3D printing and PEs, it?s good to get back to basics and focus on your own ideas in modelling.

Greetings
Joerg

Title: Re: Scratchbuilding wings in 72nd scale, part 1
Post by: Flamingo on April 08, 2026, 07:42:12 PM

Thank you Joerg, had to repair this thread because upload went down.