How to - making mesh intake covers

OK, I have been promising to post this thread for quite a while so finally I decided to put this together.
For those who don't visit the motorsport forum, here is a picture of the intake mesh on my 312T3 in 1/20 scale
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b246/robrex/Ferrari%20312T3/intake3.jpg

Most aftermarket mesh available is metal and IMHO looks too thick.
Before I start, this involves the use of heat and VERY flamable material so please take extreme caution!

STEP 1
You must find, or make a suitable template. Luckily I have a lathe and turned a piece of metal to the exact size I needed for the Ferrari. I also made another female piece to ensure perfect shape although this is not necessary
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b246/robrex/How-to/how-to5.jpg

STEP 2
Use a suitable tool for applying heat to a piece of material made of nylon cloth. This material is generally used for curtains.
When heating the material it is usually easiest to hold it above flame until it starts to tighten then quickly pull it down over the template.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b246/robrex/How-to/how-to7.jpg

In the last photo I also pushed the female part over the mesh and here's the result
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b246/robrex/How-to/how-to8.jpg

Next, just take it off the part and cut it to size with scissors. When building my Ferrari I probably made twice as many as required because they are quite fragile. The other difficulty with this method is judging the correct amount of heat to apply. Too much and the material will melt, not enough and the mesh won't hold it's shape!
Sorry about the photo quality...it's certainly not my strong point?
I hope this helps?

Thanks

Sweet. I'm totally with you- and that's really usefull.

Just one thing- the female part of the mold- it is essentially a 'hollow' tube, drilled out to fit over the male mold?

Fine nylon curtain mesh, eh....?

Brilliant!

VERY useful how to

It's about time, I've been losing sleep trying to figure this out!

Just kidding, great how to though, This will certainly be used in the future.

Only one thing left, got to go and buy a lathe!!!!!

Just one thing- the female part of the mold- it is essentially a 'hollow' tube, drilled out to fit over the male mold?


You could put the correct size ball end mill in the tailstock, and make the exact female pattern.

You could put the correct size ball end mill in the tailstock, and make the exact female pattern.

That's it Mike!

has anybody used window mesh before? You can get a roll of the stuff at a home center for cheap in browns and blacks. It might be a little easier to heat and form than nylon cloth (less fragile).

Thanks a lot Rob: I imagine something like that but I expected something with styrene: well i'll try, brillant as ever:)

brilliant! :D

Great How To :)

Great tip Rob!...but, what about using this tip with the 1/43 metal mesh from tameo, like I'm doing now, do you think will work equally?

I'm posting this picture of some metal mesh made in japan so you see how it looks in 1/43.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Porsnatic/Stacksscreen.jpg


Thanks a lot again for your help!

Hey Rob, or anyelse that can help me, I'm still waiting a tip on how I can use this tip or another method to do smoething like this in my 1/43 312T model.

This is a couple of pictures of my model, where I intend to put this on.


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Porsnatic/Picture008.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Porsnatic/Picture040.jpg



Thanks!



Great tip Rob!...but, what about using this tip with the 1/43 metal mesh from tameo, like I'm doing now, do you think will work equally?

I'm posting this picture of some metal mesh made in japan so you see how it looks in 1/43.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Porsnatic/Stacksscreen.jpg


Thanks a lot again for your help!

Great how to Rob. I was surprised to see you using nylon mesh as this would work eqaully well with metal mesh with the process of annealing. I have done a similar thing with photoetch mesh to make aftermarket air filters, been meaning to do a how to on that for some time.

Could you share

you how to? That's the material I will use.


Thanks!


Great how to Rob. I was surprised to see you using nylon mesh as this would work eqaully well with metal mesh with the process of annealing. I have done a similar thing with photoetch mesh to make aftermarket air filters, been meaning to do a how to on that for some time.