Vacuform kits are not as hard as most modelers believe to assemble. Following
the recommendations listed below and using your basic modeling skills, will reward
yourself with a unique modeling subject. That will add to your collection a model
that may never be produced in a standard injection molded kit.
1) Cut the
parts out exactly as you see them in the carrier sheet. Use a fine point ball point
pen and trace around the parts. Scribe as close as possible to the parts with your
hobby knife.
After scribing the out line of the parts. Gently flex the sheet
on the scribe lines until the plastic snaps.
After snapping the parts out of
the carrier, mark the broken edges of the parts with a hard felt tip marker. This
marked area is the thickness of the carrier sheet that will need to be sanded off.
Attach a piece of 150 grit sand paper to a flat surface to use as a sanding board.
Sand the parts until you have only a hair line of marker showing, then test fit parts
and sand as needed.
Sanding with a finer grade (220 to 400) to finish parts.
At this stage you may cut out the openings for cowlings, cockpits,louvers etc.
2) You will notice small dits or dimples on some of the parts. These will be
for struts, landing gear or wing locations. Notice these are not the dimples from
the vent holes created in the molding of the kits.The vent dimples on most vacuform
kits are raised. The alinement dimples are mostly recessed. Refer to your kits drawings
for the location of the alinement marks. Circle these with a pencil or pen so you
don't sand them off.
(The above information pertains to Roseplane Vacuforms
- some other manufactures produce their vacuform kits in a simular manner)
3)
For kits with single surface wings and tail parts. Use a scribing tool to make theses
lines on the undersurfaces.
4) For Biplanes with single surface wings the
under side rib tapes or rib positions must be reproduced by the modeler. The easiest
way to do this is to use 1/32in. wide drafting tape, or chart pack tape sold at art
or office supply stores. Some hobby shops carry a pinstripe tape for model cars that
can also be used. Color of the tape will not matter as you will be painting over
the tape. If you feel it necessary, you can also can also sand the tops of the wings
and tail surfaces and use the tape to match the under side. Do not stretch the tape
when applying it.
5) At this point you can now assemble the kit per instructions.
We recommend liquid type model cements for assembly. Standard plastic filler putty
can be used to fill seams.
6) To rig biplanes you can use Stretched sprue,
fly-tying thread or nylon sewing thread called invisible thread.
Our
Thanks to Bill Marencik for the above Vacform building guidelines.
C 2003 Roseplane / Roseparts / Rosemont Hobby Shop