Open Louvers Experiment

[Ramfins59]

I decided to try an experiment...  I wanted to see if I could put open louvers in a hood by "transplanting" them.

First I found a pair of hood sides from a 1/24 scale Monogram '36 Ford in my parts box.  The louvers in those hood sides are molded "open".  I cut out the sections with the open louvers, sanded the edges smooth and square, and then "traced" their outline onto the hood of a '50 Oldsmobile Custom that I'm working on, using the back of an XActo knife blade.  I then cut out the scribed pieces in the hood close to the scribed lines and then filed and sanded the opening to fit in the pieces of hood louvers tightly.  I ran some liquid cement around the edges of the hood louver pieces on both the top and bottom sides of the hood.  Once that fully dried overnight I also ran a bead of CA glue around the louver pieces on both sides.  The next day I carefully filed and sanded around the edges of the louver pieces to smooth them into the hood, and then primed it.

The second experiment was to use some N scale stairs by Plastruct from the Model Railroad section of my LHS (I borrowed this idea from my friend Lyle Willets in MD.)  I cut pieces of the stairs to the length I wanted and used exactly the same method as above to install them into the hood of a Galaxie '47 Chevy Coupe that I've also been working on.

Pictures follow...  The Olds hood is fully primed and the Chevy hood is the other one.  I think they came out looking pretty good and will hopefully look even better when painted.

As always all comments are welcomed.

[Jantrix]

I think the stairs would work nicely for something modern or a race car.

The transplanted hood side vents work but only in a functional way. If that car was a dry lakes racer, they'd be perfect. If that car was meant to be aesthetically pleasing, then they wouldn't because they are in a straight line while the hood is curved.

Having said that, you did a great job doing the bodywork.

[mike 51]

Nice work but niether looks "right" to me as traditional louvers....the ones on the Chevy are far too big and the layout on the Olds just looks odd.

[72 Charger]

Nice work Rich I like both but Rob and Mike are right the rounded shape of the hood does not work . If it was on a square flat hood or the side of a body it would work great

[mike 51]

unfortunately open stamped louvers are just too small  to be reproduced in 1/25-24 scale it seems.....without the raised portion they just look like slots or vents to me. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Nice clean work, and definitely a technique to keep in mind. 

[wayne swayze]

[wayne swayze]

I used a grid piece of styrene from an unknown source. The caps were on the old style louvers from long ago which I cut from the strip and glued over the holes so they appeared to be stamped. Just another approach. 

[Ramfins59]

Thank you all for your comments and critiques.  As I said, this was an experiment...... some experiments are a success and others... not so much...

I feel that the ones in the Olds hood are too narrow and flat.  The ones in the Chevy hood are a bit too wide but the "slats" actually have a very slight "rise" above the hood surface.  Yes, they both do look like open slots.

I'll make my final decision as to whether or not to use them on the models after they are painted.  Fortunately I have multiples of each kit.

[Spex84]

I think this would be a useful technique for 80s-90s rods, or more modern high-tech builds, but it would look a bit out of place on a 50s or 60s-style build. Thanks for sharing, going to remember this one.

Wayne--that's a nifty technique, if a lot of work. Getting the louvers perfectly aligned must have been a bear.

[crazyrichard]

i like it .. the h scale stuff looks great and can be bought so thats a plus

[Rider]

Great experiment, they both look to be exicuted really well. I think they would work, of course as you said the paint will tell the true story. 

 I really like the n scale stair idea, might have to borrow that some day.

Edited May 29, 2016 by Rider

[crazyjim]

I like the idea and would like to see both painted.

[rmvw guy]

I thought these ideas were really clever until I read all the criticism. Now I have mixed thoughts about this. Funny how that works.  Still I think the louvers are worth a try.  The open ones on the '36 Ford are nice, great idea using them I may have to give that a try.

I have a friend who is really into louvers.  He cuts them out individually which takes a ton of patience.  I would love to get his opinion on this.

Nice work anyway Richard, can't wait to see the finished result after paint.  If it makes you happy, that's what's important.