HELP!!!!!

[RAFF-35]

Does anyone have any tips or techniques for vacuform models??? Got my first one today 

[Librarian]

Superglue, several grades of plasticard, many grades of sandpaper, ****loads of patience, test fit as often as possible, don't fear reinforcing the plastic from the inside and outline all parts on the sheet with black marker/sharpie to aid in cutting. Can be frustrating but the sense of achievement at the end is palpable.

Blu-tack when cutting the canopies is also very useful.

[RAFF-35]

Can't use normal modelling cement then?

[kitbasher]

Blu-tack when cutting the canopies is also very useful.

Mmmm.....a really sharp blade usually works for me.   

[Hobbes]

Yes you can. The vacformed sheet is usually styrene, just like ordinary injection-moulded kits.

Once you've cut the parts from the sheet, sanding them down to the right size is critical. Glue a sheet of sandpaper to a surface you know to be flat. A sheet of glass or a ceramic tile, for example.

Then sand (preferably wet), making sure to apply pressure to the part evenly. Lots of checks during sanding to make sure you're sanding evenly.

[McColm]

Start with a small kit, wash the vacform to get a better key when gluing. Take your time, sometimes the parts don't line up. Don't over sand but keep checking.

[Librarian]

Apologies...superglue is just my preferred gluing medium. And watch your fingertips when sanding .

[RAFF-35]

Haha, thanks guys, it's comforting that I'm hearing the same advice from everyone so I know it's solid knowledge  has anyone got any pictures of their vacforms at all? And are there any benefits to vacform over injection, asides from the oddball factor? 

[dadlamassu]

Rareplanes Douglas Divebombers - Royal Iraqi Air Force 1941


Rareplanes Breda Ba-65 - Royal Iraqi Air Force 1941


The Breda's gun turret was really difficult to get to sit properly - lots of sanding, patience, testing and cursing!

[PR19_Kit]

Large chunks of my Boeing 777-900 were vacformed.

It used two Minicraft 777-300s, one Doyusha 777-300 and two Welsh Models vacform 777-300s. Melding all the bits together was lots of fun, as you can imagine. 

I used Revell Contacta cement with Slaters MekPak on the joints, and the vacform bits glued very well to the injection bits.

[kerick]

Good advice here!
I don't build with vacuform very often but I found reinforcing the joints with strips of plastic glued from behind to be very helpful. Many times the edges are too thin to glue like an injection kit.

[kitnut617]

has anyone got any pictures of their vacforms at all?

This is my Airframe 1/72 Martin Baker MB5, used lots of Aeroclub bits & pieces. It was a lot of fun.

[RAFF-35]

Thanks guys, this has been most useful, I now feel slightly more brace to attempt the kit 

[RAFF-35]

So this is the suspect in question, a rareplane 1:72 Lockheed U2, however, there were no instructions provided with the kit and whereas I obviously know were the big bits go, there are a few little niggly bits that I'm not sure of.... again, any help would be very useful 

[TheChronicOne]

Large chunks of my Boeing 777-900 were vacformed.

It used two Minicraft 777-300s, one Doyusha 777-300 and two Welsh Models vacform 777-300s. Melding all the bits together was lots of fun, as you can imagine. 

I used Revell Contacta cement with Slaters MekPak on the joints, and the vacform bits glued very well to the injection bits.

Dude, that's just nutty! I knew you were into long wings but long fuselage?!