I'm unable to get the clear styrene to conform to the curve of the corner windows in a satisfactory manner.
These Niles cars have these stylish curved corner windows. Curving almost a full 90 degrees. Quite a handsome feature if you ask me. If I can only get the glass (clear styrene) to curve that way too!
So I scoured the internets looking at all the nifty theories on bending styrene. I tried a bunch of them, finally building the above jig. How it works is, the styrene fits between the two pieces and then the whole shebang is put into the oven (I forget the temp). It kinda worked:
... but while that method might work fine for regular styrene, it caused the clear styrene to frost over. That might be fine for some folks, but you know me, everything has gotta to be overly realistic. I want to try for crystal clear.
So I'm asking for YOUR help, my dear readers. Below this post you'll find the "comment" button. If you have any ideas on how to fabricate and install curved window material, I sure would like to know. Please, click on that comment button and make you voice hoid! Yes sir! Make your voice heard!
Dandy
I have these issues all the time when i build a coach or trolley. I just give up sometimes and use that clear plastic from any old 2 liter or 20oz. soda bottle.It works fine for me as i cut it just a hair wider than the inside of the window frame, then use super glue in the corners and some edges to hold it in place.It might not be much, but it works great for me.And my windows are clear,lol.- Tony Laino
ReplyDeleteI can't really give any suggestions for warping styrene, but have you considered building a vacuum forming machine? I figure you could use clear plastic and a curved section of brass to create the right shape for your curved windows.
ReplyDeleteWhy not roll the sheet styrene over an appropriately sized dowel? It will hold the shape. As for myself, I glaze the flat side "glass" but ignore the trolley ends, too much hassle for a small payoff.
ReplyDeleteVacuum forming clear sheets over a mold is commonly done for canopies for model airplanes.
ReplyDeleteSee http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVVE5EHzRnk or
http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2002/08/stuff_eng_tech_moulding_canopies.htm
I agree with Dan S.
ReplyDeleteWhen I worked for Walt Disney Imagineering, that is the only option. If you want help with that, Let me know.
Thank you guys for the ideas! I'm going to give some of these a try. Except for Vacu-forming, that might be overkill for a window that is smaller than a 1/4". But Vacu-forming might be perfect mass-producing trolley roof ends when I get to scratch building trolley cars, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteDandy