Vacuforming Questions

Flintlock

Even though I've been involved in researching SS kit donor parts since '97 or '98, I'm really not that experienced in scratchbuilding. I wanted to know some things about vacuforming.

I've never vacuformed before, and I live in a very small studio apartment. What should I watch out for so I don't let the plastic melt down onto the heating element in my stove and start a fire? After I do it a couple of times I should have enough of a hang of it to do it more. But I don't want to screw it up the first couple of times.

Has anyone tried to vacuform plastruct gray ABS sheet? How's it work out? From what I've seen it's very, very nice for scratchbuilding. But I suppose Styrene is a bit cheaper.

I've learned that the size of the Plastruct hemisphere for the SS TIE Fighter is 5 1/4". Before I thought it was 5" and was hoping to pick up some 2.5" hemis to make a 1:48 TIE. Then I was disappointed, but then I found some 2 5/8" hemispheres (right size for studio half-scale). These hemis are made out of 'virgin' High-Impact Polystyrene, and are really nice for this project. But I need to vacuform over this shape to build the rest of the ship.

Is this possible? Will the heat from the softened sheet warp the hemisphere? Again, it's 2 5/8" diameter and about 1/16" thick.

By the way. The fact that the SS TIE hemi is 5.25" in diameter has some interesting consequences. The Fine Molds TIE marked as 1:72 is too small. It's about 1:100, and the "1:48" I would imagine is still too small. The ERTL Darth Vader TIE Fighter (whose wings and front window frame are used on the SS TIE Bomber) is 1:48, almost exactly - half studio scale. Which would make the TIE Bomber also 1:48, and would make this kit roughly in-scale with the ERTL X Wing. The AMT TIE Fighter double-pack and TIE Interceptor kits are also too small for 1:48. Those kits and the 1:48 TIE from Fine Molds (probably) are about 1:72.

Anyway, any help, advice, vacuforming wisdom would be appreciated. Thanks!

Dung0beetle

I don't believe it to be an issue because the hot styrene will cool very quickly. Your oven needs to be about 200° - 25O° F (120° C). Use a thermometer, don't trust the oven knob. I don't have much experience vac-forming items that small, but you can start with a lower temp and gradually increase the temp. until the material begins to deform.

I don't recommend heating plastics indoors, because they tend to give off toxic fumes. As long as you stay under about 400°, the fumes shouldn't be much of a factor.

I hope someone more experienced will chime in and lend more expert advice. Good luck with your build.

Flintlock

Thanks for the tips. There's no way I should need to get up to 400 degrees right?

3d-builder

Sent you a PM!

3d-builder

You better get know where near 400 deg

3d-builder

Tip..... your riser doesn't have to be that high i used
that because I had it.

3d-builder

Here is the video about temp.....

Flintlock

Great! Thanks!

Flintlock

Oh I had a few more questions.

What's the thinnest sheet you've been able to vac form with? Have you used any Plastruct ABS instead of styrene, and is it pretty much the same deal? Is there any significant change to the thickness of the sheet when it is formed over the buck?

3d-builder

There will be more change in thickness the taller the
pattern is ......I don't think you will have to much considering
the part your forming is basically half of a small globe and pretty
small. Form in the desired thickness you want and just see what you have
thickness wise when your done. If you feel you want it a bit thicker then
move up in thickness.
I don't think you need to form something like that in ABS the material
will be more expensive, the high impact polystyrene will be fine.Remember I by my sheets in 4X8 size, so maybe a small sheet from plastruct is very affordable I wouldn't know? If you think your going to do more forming in the future better to get a half or full sheet from a plastic distributor.
I use many thicknesses it doesn't matter you can form with paper thin,
but it has to SUIT YOUR NEEDS. The thinner the plastic the less time it needs to heat in the oven.
It will heat faster and cool even quicker, so it's important to have a quick smooth delivery to
the platen.


Regards,
Michael

yuumi2891103

You are very lucky man Flintlock-san

Because you got the advice of Master modeler Michael 3d-builder aka Professor Vacuum forming