Creating doors that open

I am working on a 1955 chevy that I'm trying to replicate for my dad. He has been a big inspiration towards my building, as I built with him when I was a kid.

I want to replicate his old Chevy he loved so much, but I want him to be able to open the doors to see the interior, so it can take him back to a time he loved.

He's getting older and I want to do that for him.
Is there a tutorial on how to do this successfully?
Thanks
Derrick

It's one of the most difficult and often least satisfying modifications that you can make to a build. I would shutter to think of all the kit bodies that have cut open for this modification that have never and will never be finished, simply because in 1/24 it's really freaking hard to do well. Some people occasionally manage to do a good job, but more often than not a completed build has huge door panel lines (and/or pooly fitting doors) that are simply impossible to ignore. A lot of people would point out that the Tamiya Enzo- a magnificently engineered kit with openable doors designed into the kit- looks much better with it's doors open because the doors never really close properly. (How many kits have you built with opening engine lids that don't quite fit closed?)

It can be done, but if you ever want to finish this build and present it to your father it would be a much better bet to skip the opening doors. Leave them closed, or cut them open and build them open in a static position. Or you could always leave the windows rolled down.

If you want to 'play' with the doors, a diecast is always an option.... :2cents:

I can't help but to agree to andy's statement on opening doors...
cos' right now i have a shelf full of incomplete ferraris with doors & hood all cut out, i thought i could pull off this feat somehow or rather with 32+ years of OOB modeling behind me. but i was dead wrong...

1) accuracy
2) common sense(logic)
3) physics foundation

to build a model with opening doors or hoods, it's no longer just modeling, but rather a form of building science/art that blends the 3 mentioned skills together. these skills must come together at a correct mix to succeed, no other way out.

i suggest you try out this feat on some scrap/junk, try to understand the thoery behind it first before starting on your prized build.
also, read up on some of the extreme builds in this forum which feature opening doors & try to interprete a mod that you're comfortable with.

unless, you have an inborn talent of mixing these 3 skills without sweat, there's simply no easy way out for this.

go give it a try...
for once you've understand the fundamentals of opening...you can open any door on any cars! but the first step(often failure) is always the hardest.

take heed

marc:uhoh:
SGP

Check that one:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=768417

Regards

Personal experience?
IMVDO?: Not good.
I wanted to do Gullwing doors of some sort...
IF you are going to cut,reinforce the body,because it is not meant to have the doors open...
PATIENCE. Our hobby is based in patience,but really,you'll want to see the door open so hard that you'll hurry a bit...So,NO,no rushing,patience,and SHARP,very sharp blades.

If the doors are cut,then comes the hard part. Detailing.
OK,if you are a detail nut,you'll be concerned about the amount of detail in the doors,how accurately the doors will fit,the interior details,etc.
If you're not,when you are going to cut the doorpanels and glue the doors,PLEASE fill the smallish spaces that'll be open when everything is cut.

It's quite a hard work,takes a lot of guts and skill,but if it is done,and looks good,it'll be a killer!
So,take your time,slowly do things,sand and smooth them carefully,when the doors are cut,they will be shorter than they were,so if you are looking for the 'tight' fit,fill with a bit of putty around the door,just to make it a tighter fit.

Did I mention patience,a lot of calm and time? :p

Sorry if I was rude,but i'll do my best to explain you well,so people won't make the same mistakes I did,and those left scars on my modelling experience. [I've cut my right minor finger with a blade,no scar,but did hurt...Ouch.] :screwy:


EDIT: Ah,right,for precision work,you can use PE saw's,I love mine! :D
They really do things sharply,not much filling needed,but then again,CUT IT WITH PATIENCE!! :grinno:

Thanks for all the great advice! I don't know that I'm going to be able to pull this one off, but I am going to give it a try.

The one thing I'm gonna do is test it on a model that I use for test spraying before I paint. I'm not going to ruin a body before I determine whether or not I'm competent enough to pull it off.

In theroy it sounds impressive.

I do have quite a bit of patience and am a bit of a detail nut. I've looked at Mr. Rawls WIP.....I can see this will be a challenge. (Beautiful job by the way, Mr. Rawl)


I appreciate all the information and years of experience you guys bring to the table.
I've been modeling for over 20 years and I still learn something new in here all the time!

A few years ago, Revell made kits of the 55 that had doors that opened. Your best bet might be to find one of those re-issued kits and just go that route, rather than trying to recreate all the door sills, hinges and jambs from scratch.