Question about scratchbuilding Ducts and Vents

Sylvain Auger · Post by **Sylvain Auger** » Fri May 27, 2005 7:47 am

As some of you know, I'm building the Tamiya Bismarck in 1/350 scale and I'm looking at ways to add extra details on the model. Mainly I'm asking if anyone know an "easy" way to make some of the ducts that are found on Bismarck. Those I wish to add are the ones on top of the two hangars on each side of the funnel and also the ones on each side of the funnel (at the base of the funnel) Those ducts start straight at the bottom and they curve at the top and I really don't have a clue how to do this easily. Cutting curves with an x-acto blade is not an easy method so any help and tips will be greatly appreciated.

I'm also looking at ways to make the forward barbette's vents to the correct shape. I saw on Foeth's website some pictures of Joe Visser's Bismarck build and he was able to add those details and it really makes a world of difference.

I hope someone out there can help me out on this one. I've been wondering how to make those details for a long time without any results

Cheers!!!!

tony t · Post by **tony t** » Fri May 27, 2005 3:36 pm

You mean the vents that look like inverted 'J's? My suggestion would be:

1) For the semicircular part of it, get a square piece of styrene with the thickness of the intended vent, and the length = the width of the 'J'. Drill a hole in the middle. The hole should have the same radius of the inner curve of the 'J'. Cut the square exactly in half, across the hole.

2) glue a straight length of rod to one half of one of the pieces above next to the semicircular hole. This forms the vertical part of the J.

3) File away the square edges of the piece from part 1 , and voila, you have a J.

Hope that makes sense.

les · Post by **les** » Fri May 27, 2005 7:21 pm

Or you could use brass, aluminum or plastic rod or tube and bend it. The plastic could be heated. Brass or aluminum can be bent using a tool that is made for that purpose. Flying modelers use it. I also saw an ad in Fine Scale Modeler about plastic rod that can be bent easily by heading it under tap water.

Tracy White · Post by **Tracy White** » Sun May 29, 2005 3:20 pm

On my WARD I took some styrene tubing and bent it after heating. Took a couple of tries and it's not perfect; it's hard to get the right flare, but it can be done.

Sylvain Auger · Post by **Sylvain Auger** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 7:29 am

Thanks for your answers guys!! I'll try both method and see what works best for me.

Cheers!!!!!