maxi-model
UK/US/ROW steam narrow gauge railways 1:1
I am in the process of building a laser cut plywood kit. It requires the roof sections to be "steamed" into their simple single plane curved shape by prior binding to a suitable curved former. In this case a surprisingly structurally rigid metal Tesco loo brush container - its exactly right dia', 9 cm (a little undersized, the actual diametre of the curve is 14 cm, to allow for the material to "relax" after forming") and right length, 26 cm (Sorry, too much information 
). The roof sections are made from 1.6 mm ply, so fairly stout but at no risk of breaking/splitting when being bent "cold" to the former's circumference prior to steaming.
Here is/are my problem(s). I have no experience of employing this shaping/bending technique, I do not want to risk ruining the parts through ignorance - No matter how I try I cannot get the material to hold its fully curved shape "cold" before steaming, I cannot devise a simple mechanical means to hold it uniformly and fully to shape due to its 1.6 mm material thickness. I have not risked soaking them prior to steaming. The usual option of employing stout rubber bands, to bend the roof sections down onto the structure they are to be bonded to is not an option - the roof material is insufficiently pliable and the structure it is being bonded to is not of sufficient strength or the correct design to employ that technique or use an IP engineering roof fitting jig either. This is not a complaint as to the kit's design, when bonded and in place on its chassis the whole structure will be very strong and secure. Anyway a glue bond alone, even if structurally possible, would not be sufficient. The roof sections have to be formed to a circumference they will hold prior to fitting and bonding.
I cannot find a tutorial to advise on this method of bending plywood at this scale. Big bits of heavy duty furniture yes, 1.6 mm ply sheets no. Anybody out there with experience of this technique who can advise or point me to a suitable tutorial or forum topic here or elsewhere that deals with this authoritatively. Thanks in anticipation. Max
P.S. I have contacted the supplier and I am sure the will provide advise. But I am an impatient old soul so I thought I'd ask here too
). The roof sections are made from 1.6 mm ply, so fairly stout but at no risk of breaking/splitting when being bent "cold" to the former's circumference prior to steaming.Here is/are my problem(s). I have no experience of employing this shaping/bending technique, I do not want to risk ruining the parts through ignorance - No matter how I try I cannot get the material to hold its fully curved shape "cold" before steaming, I cannot devise a simple mechanical means to hold it uniformly and fully to shape due to its 1.6 mm material thickness. I have not risked soaking them prior to steaming. The usual option of employing stout rubber bands, to bend the roof sections down onto the structure they are to be bonded to is not an option - the roof material is insufficiently pliable and the structure it is being bonded to is not of sufficient strength or the correct design to employ that technique or use an IP engineering roof fitting jig either. This is not a complaint as to the kit's design, when bonded and in place on its chassis the whole structure will be very strong and secure. Anyway a glue bond alone, even if structurally possible, would not be sufficient. The roof sections have to be formed to a circumference they will hold prior to fitting and bonding.
I cannot find a tutorial to advise on this method of bending plywood at this scale. Big bits of heavy duty furniture yes, 1.6 mm ply sheets no. Anybody out there with experience of this technique who can advise or point me to a suitable tutorial or forum topic here or elsewhere that deals with this authoritatively. Thanks in anticipation. Max
P.S. I have contacted the supplier and I am sure the will provide advise. But I am an impatient old soul so I thought I'd ask here too
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