How to make a custom grill

[Darin Bastedo]

If you've ever wanted to do a realistic grill for a car but there is no photo etch available there is an easy way to scratch-build one. First you need strip styrene (I used .010x.010 from Evergreen) scissors, tape, #11 Hobby knife, a fine sharpie, and liquid glue.

Using your tape create a template for your grill.

Cut strips at least as wide as your grill and lay them together so they are all touching.

lay your tape over the strips of plastic.

Remove every other strip.

add the cross bars and adhere with your liquid glue.

Cut your grill to fit and add to your model.

It actually took me longer to post this tutorial than it did to build the grill. I hope you guys find this helpful.

Edited June 27, 2010 by Darin Bastedo

[Len Woodruff]

Very cool stuff Darin!

[Peter Lombardo]

Darin, that is a neat little trick...very easy and elegant. That would also work with round rod and half round too. Very cool.

[Foxer]

That's a very simple method and will have to try it on a grill I have to make for a Subaru Legacy. It needs thin, horizontal flat bars, but this should work well to get everything spaced and aligned.

[pharr7226]

Great tutorial! Well demonstrated, easy to understand, effective...

[Agent G]

Very nicely done.

Now I'm going to have to try that.

G

[torinobradley]

Awesome! Thanks to you, I now know how I am going to do my Grand Sport grill after I modify the opening. The photoetched one wasn't right and was way too thin. With just some simple mods, you can make almost any grill (or vent) you want with this method. By alternating thin and thick pieces, you can modify the spacing between the bars as well.

Thanks!!!