Vacuum Former idea

[Kazzer]

This little guy looks just the ticket for some projects.

see https://www.mayku.me/

A bit pricey at $690 but interesting concept.

[RCSubGuy]

I think I picked up a little vac former from MicroMark for something like $80, but I can't remember. Their site looks like it's down right now or I'd check. The platform was only something like 6"x6", but more than adequate for what I use it for...

[Ken_NJ]

I made my own, mostly from material I had around the shop.

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?1306908-DIY-Vacuum-forming

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Like all model making techniques, vacuforming has its applications. The trick is to employ the correct technique for the job. Here are some jobs where vacuforming or heat-forming was the right choice:

A job I did for IBM. It was on display at the air and space museum (Smithsonian) for about a year.















Improving the Trumpeter 1/144 KILO kits with a well for the messenger buoy





David

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

I enhanced the Williams 1/12 KAIRYU kit with this vacuformed deadlight 'funnel', and hatch well.

And some SF stuff just form me.

David

[bourdonnais]

Can we expect enough mechanical resistance with this technic to realise a missile deck (about 1 meter lengt) and a sail of a submarine?

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Can we expect enough mechanical resistance with this technic to realise a missile deck (about 1 meter lengt) and a sail of a submarine?

Ah …. what?

David

[Subculture]

I think he is asking if vacuum forming will be tough enough for a 3 foot long missile deck with sail for a model submarine.

[bourdonnais]

I think he is asking if vacuum forming will be tough enough for a 3 foot long missile deck with sail for a model submarine.

Yes indeed, sry for my english

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Yes indeed, sry for my english

Now I understand you. And thanks to the Boss-man for clearing that up.

To answer: Entire hulls have been vacuformed from polystyrene and ABS and have been found to be most suitable as hull and sub-structure elements. A (now defunct) French outfit once offered a big vacuformed TYPHOON. And the classic 32nd Parallel, 1/32 Type-23 kit was mostly vacuformed, as was the old SubTech 1/60 ALBACORE and 1/32(?) MARLIN. I've had practical experience with the last three and found the structures to be sound. Good stuff.





Once, I even made the entire structure of the TOS ENTERPRISE from vacuformed pieces:

As to your missile deck: Sure. Why not?

David