Some car models almost defy construction by virtue of their ambiguous, sloppy relationships between major components. I couldn't ask for a better example than the AMT 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery that I'm currently working on.
There are four major components to the model -- chassis, fenders frame, interior pan and body. The chassis and the fenders frame register to one another by way of two pins and sockets. The rest of the assembly doesn't register together in any positive way. There are no obvious connection points where one would apply glue. One is left at a loss as to how to perform a final assembly that will result in a solid, correctly registered construction.
I solved the problem by resorting to screws and 30 AWG copper wire loops. The screws and wire loops admittedly result in some anomalies in the finished model, but I think those anomalies are tolerable. Following are some views of what I did to hold the model together.
First off, there's now a 2-56 screw and nut clamping the interior pan, fenders frame and chassis together, and there are two wire loops securing the body to the fenders frame at the extreme lower rear.
You can see what I mean by 'anomalies'.
Underneath, the 2-56 hex nut is somewhat concealed by the rear axle.
Note the screw end poking up through the rear leaf spring in that photo. That screw is holding the rear axle together with the chassis.
At the front, there's a screw and two wire loops holding the fenders frame together with the chassis.
Some notes on the method:
- For 30 AWG wire, you'll have to go to an electronics supply house like Digi-Key.
- Most hobby shops will have sub-miniature screws, 2-56 and smaller. Watch out for scrapped small electronics items; those will occasionally yield suitable screws.
- - -
Update -- SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2017
Here's a view of a wire's appearance at the rear of the body of the finished model.
It's certainly an anomaly, but given the construction of the model, I could see no good alternative.
# # #
# # #
No comments:
Post a Comment