What do you do with warped plastic?

[Bigdaddy Mark]

OK, I started the Dragon 1/350 Mobile Bay, and the decks are warped. The aft deck is off by about an eighth of an inch in one corner, and I know if I try to glue it down it's going to warp the hull. The thick mid deck is also warped. Is there a technique for flattening out these decks?

[TCC]

hot water or a hair dryer and lay flat under weights to cool?

If that didn't work, the same but then applying an opposite torque and leave to cool.

I don't generally kit-bash but that's what I'd try. Try to test the method on a scrap piece so you know the 'heat' won't ruin your deck..

[Bigdaddy Mark]

I'll try the hot water method first. I was hoping it would be something easy like this. I noticed a few other pieces that are warped, but those I will work out using braces from one side to the other.

I'm thinking with the way those pieces are the extra support will be good anyhow.



Thanks again for your help, I'll post how it worked out tomorrow.

[TCC]

You may get away with just applying an opposite bend to that piece. When you talked of 'decks', I had in mind a big long main deck.

You should be ableto straighten that easily... more easily than I can explain how.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

No it was a long section of main deck. I didn't get a picture of it. This bulkhead section will be easy.

[commodore4]

My experience in this regard goes two ways.I will either use hot water and weights or I will lightly bend the part over the burner.Now , if you,ve done all this and still have a ripple try this. If you have the space use EVERGREEN strip and put stiffener strips on the back of the part .This has worked for me in the past. GOOD LUCK--- commodore4

[Bigdaddy Mark]

I used the hot water and weights for the decks, but for the bulkheads I used a hair dryer. Then I used stiffeners made out of the stand from the NC. They were thick, and "I" beam shaped, so they were easy to glue. All In All it worked out well.



You can see one of the big stiffeners. I used these all the way through the structure. Just a side note, I had to remove one so I could put the hanger bay in. Live and learn I guess.