PvG Aussie Posted July 16 #1 Posted July 16 (edited) What is the safest way to straighten a plastic mast when it has a bend after cutting off the sprew? It is already painted so I think hot water isn't an option. Should I perhaps use my wife's hairdryer? Help! 🤔 (No baldy head hairdryer jokes thanks!) ☺️ Edited July 16 by PvG Aussie mtaylor 1 Quote PvG Aussie (Peter) Started modelling Jan 2022. Joined MSW March 2024. Quote: Rome wasn't built in a day! Current Build: Piececool The Queen Anne's Revenge 1:250 Metal Past Builds: Artesania Latina (AL) Belem (1:75), AL Vasa (1:65), Scratch build Australia II BOTTLE (1:225), AL Bluenose II (1:75); AL Bounty (1:48), AL HMB Endeavour (1:65), Trumpeter Bismarck (1:200), Border Models Avro Lancaster Bomber (1:32), AL Fokker Dr1 (1:16), Das Werk WWI German U-Boat SM U-9 (1:72); Scratch build HMS Victory BOTTLE (1:530), Wolfpack PBY-3 Catalina (1;72), Scratch build MS Sibajak 1928 BOTTLE (1:1150), Imai Kagaku Spanish Galleon 1607 (1:100), Brandenburg State Yacht 1679 (1/200), HMS Endeavour (1/450) BOTTLE, ILK USS Enterprise (CV-6) (1/350), PLUS approx. 13 more ships in bottles.
GrandpaPhil Posted July 16 #2 Posted July 16 (edited) Lol, I have the same bald head. Plastic masts, especially from old plastic kits, tend to end up fragile/brittle. I straightened the spars out on an old Heller La Reale with heat. They were fine for a couple of years, then they buckled. Between that and a couple other issues with that model, it ended up a total loss. I would remake the masts from wood personally. Edited July 16 by GrandpaPhil mtaylor, BETAQDAVE, paul ron and 1 other 3 1 Quote Building: 1:200 Russian Battleship Oryol (Orel card kit) 1:64 HMS Revenge (Victory Models plans) 1:64 Cat Esther (17th Century Dutch Merchant Ships)
Solution tmj Posted July 17 Solution #3 Posted July 17 I agree with GrandaPhil. Remaking the mast out of wood would be a good approach for a long-lasting solution. Wood has a longitudinal grain that will tend to hold its shape much better/longer than a granular material with no lengthy grain at all. That being said, if the bend is not too isolated and sharp, nor in a really bad place... proper rigging techniques and good quality ropes will pull/straighten the mast out and hold it proper without the need for repair... mtaylor, Thukydides and PvG Aussie 2 1 Quote "The journey of a thousand miles is only the beginning of a thousand journeys!" Current Build; 1776 Gunboat Philadelphia, Navy-Board Style, Scratch Build 1:24 Scale On the Drawing Board; 1777 Continental Frigate 'Hancock', Scratch Build, Admiralty/Pseudo Hahn Style, "In work, active in CAD design stage!" In dry dock; Scratch Build of USS Constitution... on hold until further notice, if any. Constructro 'Cutty Sark' ... Hull completed, awaiting historically accurate modifications to the deck, deck houses, etc., "Gathering Dust!" Corel HMS Victory Cross Section kit "BASH"... being neglected!
dafi Posted July 18 #4 Posted July 18 (edited) I think the warm water is a better option than the hair dryer, as it is better controlable. As most paints are not touchy against water, it should not matter. If it is, just wash off all paint in the process 🙂 Still replacing is one of the best options 😉 XXXDAn Edited July 18 by dafi PvG Aussie and mtaylor 1 1 Quote To victory and beyond! http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/76-hms-victory-by-dafi-to-victory-and-beyond/ See also our german forum for Sailing Ship Modeling and History: http://www.segelschiffsmodellbau.com/ Finest etch parts for HMS Victory 1:100 (Heller Kit), USS Constitution 1:96 (Revell) and other useful bits. http://dafinismus.de/index_en.html
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