Replicating small details w/ styrene

[dragnink]

I was wondering how I should go about doing this. I need to scratch a small trapezoidal piece of styrene to match the other kit part. The piece is so small that I'm having trouble cutting it properly with the x-acto. I'm not happy with my first try so far..

Any ideas?

 

[Max Zephyr]

I'll usually cut out the opening first on a larger piece of stock. This gives you more surface to hold onto while cutting. Makes working with a file easier to. Then when you have the opening the way you want just trim the outside up to it in the shape needed.

 

[RedTwoX]

You might try cutting the piece slightly larger than it should be, then file/sand it down to the correct size. You'll want some good pliers with no texture on the inside surface for holding the tiny part.

 

[Eagle-1]

Maybe.....

Get another of those kit parts with the detail you need, cut it out and place that detail onto the piece without the detail?

Rob.

 

[Eagle-1]

If my last suggestion isn't an option,

Get an appropriate sized piece of rectangular tubing, shapen the edges on one end (the inside edges would be best) and use it as a punch. Use a piece of styrene larger than you'll need and then sand everything around your hole to match the other one.

Rob.

 

[dragnink]

Great suggestions.. thanks. I ended up getting lucky though on my second try and found that cutting the hole out first was the best way to go.

And I have no idea how I would've been able to do this if I wasn't near-sighted =)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Eagle-1 @ Mar 8 2007, 03:56 AM) [snapback]1434361[/snapback]</div>

If my last suggestion isn't an option,

Get an appropriate sized piece of rectangular tubing, shapen the edges on one end (the inside edges would be best) and use it as a punch. Use a piece of styrene larger than you'll need and then sand everything around your hole to match the other one.

Rob.
[/b]

 

[cloudborn]

Cutting a small pilot hole out first is definitely the right way to go.

Try this...draw an outline of the inside area you want to remove. Assuming you're fairly good with the dremel tool, try cutting several small perferation holes on the inside of the line placing them close together while tracing the line, especially at each bend or corner.

Be sure to account for the width of the drill bit and don't drill past the outside of the line. When finished, you should be able to use the Xacto knive to cut/connect across the holes and pop the inside material out.

It's then a simple matter of using a small file to sand down and straighten the edges. One thing to consider, the closer the holes are together the easier it is to cut the inside material out and there will be less to file down afterwards.