Revell Kit instruction question: Melt

[ccsteak]

I just started working on my very first model car and I'm building the Revell Audi R8. The instruction says to "melt" the piece when connecting the wheel well to the front axle but also states not to cement. What tool do I need to melt? I before I saw do not cement I was going to use cement to melt the plastic. I'm not too sure what to do here.

Thanks

[george 53]

CC, I've never seen the kit in question, but if I have any idea of what your talkin about, it THINK it means to "Heat swag" (another,fancier term for Melt) the little retainer washer to a pin or stub that extends from the axle thru the retainer hub.

Ya just take an old Exacto knife, heat it up, an touch it to the nub that extends THRU the hole in the retainer,So that it just melts the nub enough to hold the retainer down/on. DON'T make it TOO hot, or press TOO HARD, cas it'll melt thru MORE than just the parts, if your not careful! Try it on some scrap peices till ya get the hang of it.

[mageckman]

CC, I agree with George, that is heat swaging. It is usually used to make moving parts like poseable steering. Usually you heat up an old exacto blade for this, though you can use a woodburning tool or solder gun. If you are not comfortable using heat, one thing I have done is make small nuts for the top of the piece, instead of swaging. But you have to be very careful so you don't glue everything together. Of course though if you don't want it to move, you can just glue it in the position you want it in. Hope this helps. Mageck

[carchub]

I hope it went well CC! I have learned something here too I am a new modeler too, just finishing up my 2nd model.

[Chuck Most]

Some guys (as they've already pointed out) like a soldering gun or a heated exacto. I've always used the tip of a heated flathead screwdriver. A small one, maybe 1/8" wide or so. Or, as someone else pointed out, you can just glue the steering in any ol' postition you like!