Randy Ayers Nascar Modeling Forums

[GAS]

What is a good way to put dents in a plastic body? Hair dryer does not have enough heat. Open flame is too hot. I tried a soldering iron. Worked OK at first. The long shaft on the iron gets hot also and makes it hard to heat one small place. Internet showed someone using incense. I do not know if it would be hot enough. Looked like you could pit point the heat, if it is hot enough. If this does not work at least the room would smell good. I may try a thin aluminum can. Looks like this would be hard to get the lines correct. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

[TN Vols fan]

You could maybe try a heat gun? Mine has two settings. I don't remember the exact settings as far as temps go, but one is significantly higher than the other. I've never tried it on a body.
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[jh63fan]

Soda can is a little too thick for that. Seen several times where people use heavy duty aluminium foil, burnish over the body panel to make a copy, then replace the panel and inflict the damage. Also heard of using embossing tin or foil, but haven't seen that finished.

[TonyK]

I've always used a candle. You can move the model around above it to control the heat. Then I use assorted things like pliers, a screwdriver, some type of blunt tool to make the dents. Lots of patience to get the results.

[Vdc]

You can sand the bodyshell from inside?

A thinner guage plastic would deform quicker.

If you burn through, you could repair from the inside and perhaps the dent atea edges would look sharper too. More scale correct.

[Crime Dog]

You can try brake checking Ross Chastain or Kyle Busch!

Actually the methods mentioned above see to work pretty well.

[Firefly]

The best way to get convincing bent metal? Use metal.

This was done with an aluminum diet coke can:




The hood is actually the original resin, though - but since it was a pretty clean crease, I just scored and bent it a bit.
Some pieces were done with wine bottle foil.
Can aluminum is a bit brittle but the thickness is scale accurate. Trace a panel, cut with snips, bend with needle nose pliers or whatever - take practice, but at least the material is cheap!
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[George Andrews]

[GAS]

Thanks for all the suggestions. While I work on the interior, I will think about how to do this. I am leaning on Firefly's thoughts. Since his model turned out so well, I may be using soft drink can. Any thoughts on how to hang the aluminum to the plastic (epoxy and bondo)?

[Firefly]