Aptivaboy Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 Does anyone have any suggestions? I have a comb type, but its rather industrial and more for carpentry. I'd like to get a really fine scale modeling contour tool so that I can transfer measurements from a model kit or part into a CAD program, draw parts off of the measurements and shapes in a CAD program, and then print away. Thanks for any suggestions. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.B. Andrus Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Ray Posted June 3, 2020 Share Posted June 3, 2020 2 hours ago, D.B. Andrus said: +1 +2 I searched several years ago, bought two different ones, both ended up being basically identical and quite industrial. Anything model-sized they are unusable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted June 3, 2020 Share Posted June 3, 2020 (edited) Lead wire and a steady hand, or sacrifice the part to a bandsaw and slice it up at the station points you want. Edited June 3, 2020 by Ryan Jack 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_K2 Posted June 3, 2020 Share Posted June 3, 2020 There are some toys out there that use a similar concept, and may just be very useful for such a job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Mike Posted June 3, 2020 Share Posted June 3, 2020 Perhaps a fine strand of solder? Ryan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wegener Posted June 3, 2020 Share Posted June 3, 2020 Paul Budzik has a rather good video at Paulbudzik.com which shows an alternative to a contour gauge for determining the shape of a bulkhead, for example. Might be worth a look. Title is ‘When a contour gauge isn’t good enough’. His other stuff is very useful too. Jack 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLWP Posted June 3, 2020 Share Posted June 3, 2020 2 hours ago, Wegener said: Paul Budzik has a rather good video at Paulbudzik.com which shows an alternative to a contour gauge for determining the shape of a bulkhead, for example. Might be worth a look. Title is ‘When a contour gauge isn’t good enough’. His other stuff is very useful too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aptivaboy Posted June 3, 2020 Author Share Posted June 3, 2020 That's an awesome video and technique! However, I have neither the time nor the patience... I guess I suck. I'm trying to take curves off of of all things the exterior of a Star Trek model with a lot of compound curves so a contour gauge is the better fit. LSP_K2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted June 3, 2020 Share Posted June 3, 2020 Slice it up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aptivaboy Posted June 3, 2020 Author Share Posted June 3, 2020 I'd rather not sacrifice a model I paid $35 smackers for! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Ray Posted June 3, 2020 Share Posted June 3, 2020 Best would be fine steel wire sliding on some sort of guide with fine holes. Even spacing of fine drilled holes will be the trick. I am not sure if 3D printing would work. Maybe a block of plastic and a fine drill press? The problem is, could take longer to make a tool than to build the model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aptivaboy Posted June 3, 2020 Author Share Posted June 3, 2020 Yeah, I think I'm gonna just have to buy a commercial one, find the nicest one that I can, and hope for the best. Take off the curves, trace on paper, scan into the CAD program, draw and trace the curves digitally, draw the new parts onto those curves, then print. I've done similar before, its just time consuming. Ultimately, I'd like to make a TBF-1 conversion using this technique. Mostly, its the cowling that needs the most work, that and some radio and cockpit changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_K2 Posted June 3, 2020 Share Posted June 3, 2020 I recall one gent that used expanding foam for determining contours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob MDC Posted June 3, 2020 Share Posted June 3, 2020 Try Chavant Clay it's a sculpting clay soft when warm, a bit of cling film on the part push the clay on let it harden "job done" I use it all the time on my "other" work Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now