Model Boat Mayhem

Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Detail Work, Rigging, Fittings, Figures Etc. => Topic started by: westcoaster on February 21, 2007, 06:13:06 pm

Title: Air intakes, vents etc
Post by: westcoaster on February 21, 2007, 06:13:06 pm

Can anyone suggest a supplier or source of 1/32 louvre type panels. You know the sort of thing that you see on the side of a funnel,usually with an airtight door that is normally open but which would be closed in the event of fire.
Best Wishes
Douglas

Title: Re: Air intakes, vents etc
Post by: Shipmate60 on February 28, 2007, 11:34:09 pm

There are some sheets made for Model Railways.
I make up a frame of "L" section Plastruct and set it into this.
Rub down the inside and a respectable looking vent.

Bob

Title: Re: Air intakes, vents etc
Post by: westcoaster on March 02, 2007, 06:27:50 pm

Hi Bob, thanks for that information. The idea of the "L"section plastruct for the frame sounds great
Douglas

Title: Re: Air intakes, vents etc
Post by: John W E on March 03, 2007, 09:22:54 am

Hi ya there Westcoaster

Here's a thought, if you have a lot of these air vents to do...have you ever thought of making a mould out of the paint-on latex.  Do exactly as Shipmate60 says (wor Bob) and take a casting in latex from what you have made.  You will then be able to produce the air vents using say, car body filler P38 or even resin.  I did this for splinter mats and various other items on a model and I found it worked really well.

Aye
John E
BLUEBIRD

Title: Re: Air intakes, vents etc
Post by: tonyH on March 03, 2007, 03:36:07 pm

You could also use plasticine for the moulds, since there isn't any real undercut. Put the master in the end of a piece of wood, roll out the plasticine, press the master into the plasticine as many times as will fit and pour the resin in. Sand off the back...et voila... as they say sur le continong.

Tony

Title: Re: Air intakes, vents etc
Post by: John W E on March 03, 2007, 03:44:25 pm

hi ya there, yep tony good idea, nowt wrong with that, as long as its not the new 'modern day' stuff.  The plasticine that is out now for kids is more like Play Doh.   Another thing too, a lot of trips around the shops trying to get plasticine - they seem to have added something in the 'modern day' stuff to stop poisoining kids ... and whatever the additive is seems to  react with the polyester resin and sometimes you get a gooey mess :-[ :-[

Plasticine is the material that I originally used for my master mould for the splinter mats - unless you can manage to get the original stuff.   My wife thought I needed the childrens' play doh - dugh.....

aye
John E
bluebird

Title: Re: Air intakes, vents etc
Post by: westcoaster on March 03, 2007, 05:34:07 pm

Thanks Tony and John, you've got me thinking now !!!!. Taking Johns point about the Plasticine - I wonder if Blu Tack might have a better consistency. I'm away to carry out a few experiments
Best Wishes
Douglas 

Title: Re: Air intakes, vents etc
Post by: tonyH on March 03, 2007, 06:21:06 pm

Hi Douglas,

You may find that the Blu-Tack is a bit like chewing gum when you try to push the master in. I.e. it may be too 'springy'.

One thing I forgot is that I use the lightest possible smear of vaseline on the first press of the master. I've found it tends to give a tad better release off the plasticene and the heat of the resin curing tends to 'melt' it into any corners.

Tony