New Guy W/ a few questions

Hey how is everyone doing. Im new to this forum and let me start off by saying that all the information on this forum is so so so extremely helpfull. You guys are amazing. It's great to see that everyone is willing to help everyone else out. I have learned a great deal from everyone. Thanks.

Now to my questions. I was wondering how do you guys make the antennas for rally cars. I know some of you guys buy them but i know that you can make them as well. A while back i made a Subaru rally car and noticed it had instructions on how to make it but they werent very clear. I have done a search and havent really found anyting to help me out. The only thing i have found is to use guitar wire or something of that sort. Any info you guys could share would be greatly appreciated.

Also how do you guys cut doors and hood etc. i have an exacto but it almost seems as if i run the blade a few times on the seam id have to sit there for a while. Ive thought of heating the blade but that would warp the plastic.

Thanks guys.

I can help you w the antenna making part. Simply take a piece of the plastic frame where all the parts of your model are attached to, a few inches will do. Hold that piece over a heat source (I use a candle) and slowly warm it up while gently pulling the two ends of the piece apart untill you can stretch the plastic apart.
Now stretch the part to the length and width you need, you just made an antenna.

For antennas you can take a spare bit of sprue and heat it over a lighter flame. When it's softened stretch it until you get the desired thickness of plastic, then cut it and stick it on your model. It's cheap and you get to mess with flames :flamer:

Same for the antenna's...

For the doors there are 2 ways : the expensive one and the cheaper one.

Expensive one : buy 2 kits and cut out the door of kit nr 1 a little too small, and then sand the body opening to the right size. Then cut out the door of kit nr 2 a little too big, and then sand the door to the right size...

Cheaper way : cut as close to the seam as you can, and when you are finished, repair both the door and the body with little pieces of sprue and putty... I did this on a Mercedes C9 (pics will follow) and I must say that I succeeded wonderwell :)

Welcome:wave:

For antenna's (or is it antenni???) i use picture frame wire. You need to unravel it so u can use the indivual stands, then you need to flatten it out, rolling it between two pieces of thich card does the job. To make the coiled base, as with some antenna's, I twist it around one of the drill bits from my micro drill set. Leave a small lenth of wire at the base to attach to the model and obviously a longer length at the other. Paint it black if u need to and your done. Alternatively u could use fuse wire.

Cutting doors
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t61545.html

Welcome to AF, hope you enjoy it here. Sounds like you've found this place very useful so far, some of the new Tamiya rally kits come with antennas don't they? if they don't, you can just make some by wire or guitar strings. Don't make them out of plastic though, as if your model lands on its roof or it is tipped over onto the roof or bumped whatever, the plastic antennas will break very easy. I'd suggest you use a very thin guitar string because they will spring back to position if bent like wire. Sounds like you got some nice models "in the works" looking forward to seeing that 66 GTO and the Camaro!