scratchbuilt radiators

[retroguy]

are there any tutorials out there on building radiators from scratch...thanks

[Draggon]

Someone on the forum used zip ties for the finned sections. It's been awhile and I cannot remember who it was. 

[afx]

I use Evergreen v-grove siding to build this radiator.  Add angle, c-channel or flat strips around the perimeter to finish.  Thicker square rod can be added at the top for the header tank.

https://evergreenscalemodels.com/collections/020-50mm-opaque-white-v-groove-siding/products/2025-030-opaque-white-v-groove-siding

 

[afx]

[NOBLNG]

15 hours ago, retroguy said:

are there any tutorials out there on building radiators from scratch...thanks

You could possibly get one from a Big Rig and cut it down to size and add the tanks? Building a realistic looking one from scratch would be tough. That said, there are a number of builders on here that I am sure have the skills to do it.

Edited February 2, 2021 by NOBLNG

[stitchdup]

There was someone on here that built rads using section of fly screen layered with the up/down in line with each other but the horizontals were staggered. It looked pretty convincing. It was a while back but i think it might have been a user by the name of hemi426 or similar

[Claude Thibodeau]

HI Michael!

Can be done, with the appropriate Evergreen or Plastruct materials available at your LHS. Mostly C-channels or H-beams that you refinish for your needs. The grille itself can be made of plastic coffee filter mesh, cooking spalsh covers from the Dollar store (the ultra=fine one), or in a pinch, some car speaker expanded mesh covers that you cut to fit. 

See two examples of scratchbuilt units below. 

Good luck!

CT 

[PHPaul]

If you have access to a 3d printer, there are some on Thingiverse that look pretty good, tho I haven't actually printed one.

Also, the open-mesh sandpaper used for sanding drywall joints might make a convincing radiator, depending on the scale.

[MeatMan]

I believe this was posted on this forum many years ago. The process mostly shows an intercooler being fabricated but covers radiator at the end. I hope it helps.

My apologies to the original poster for not being able to give them credit.

Edited February 3, 2021 by MeatMan

[Chariots of Fire]

Here's one I did for a 1928 Pierce Arrow dump truck.  The fins are made from threaded brass #90 rods.  I ran out of them at first and so I made additional ones using a #90 die but the threads were not as prominent so I alternated them with the finer threaded ones.  The effect turned out ok I think.

[Scott Colmer]

Wow, there are some great tutorials here. This is the 1/25 scale solution I came up with. The tanks are stryrene strip notched with a file. The side are styrene channel. The radiator face is from Model Car garage part number MCG-2302.

Under the the PE face is a flat piece of styrene that I scored with an exacto razor saw that I drug evenly across the surface until I got the depth I was looking for. The idea is to give the illusion of depth beneath the PE face.

[Chariots of Fire]

Some pretty ingenious solutions to the radiator problem!  Great how the mind works, eh?

[Painted Black]

Cool, just waiting on the scale anti-freeze..

[retroguy]

thanks guys for all the advice I will definitly use the ideas...thanks again

[MeatMan]

On 2/3/2021 at 12:03 AM, Scott Colmer said:

Wow, there are some great tutorials here. This is the 1/25 scale solution I came up with. The tanks are stryrene strip notched with a file. The side are styrene channel. The radiator face is from Model Car garage part number MCG-2302.

Under the the PE face is a flat piece of styrene that I scored with an exacto razor saw that I drug evenly across the surface until I got the depth I was looking for. The idea is to give the illusion of depth beneath the PE face.

 

Nicely done Scott!

[NOBLNG]

On 2/2/2021 at 11:03 PM, Scott Colmer said:

The radiator face is from Model Car garage part number MCG-2302.

Nice one! What size is that screen from MCG? It does not list any details on their site. Can you get more than one radiator out of it?

Edited February 8, 2021 by NOBLNG

[Scott Colmer]

On 1/21/2021 at 10:36 PM, ybsluos said:

 

 

 

On 2/8/2021 at 7:30 AM, NOBLNG said:

Nice one! What size is that screen from MCG? It does not list any details on their site. Can you get more than one radiator out of it?

THANKS Gregg and Dennis. You get two screens that are 2" x 1 7/8". Hopes this helps.

[Modelbuilder Mark]

There are several really nice "how to's" described here, and if you couple those with either MCG radiator face, or the one from KA Models 1/24 Photo-etched Radiator Face, you have a real winner.