Scratchbuilding Radiators?

[coopdad]

Hey all,

I am working on a project that has many radiators/coolers (water, power steering, auto tranny, diff, oil, etc.). Rather than spend months searching for the parts I am wondering if making them is an option. All are basically boxes of fins with vertical sides that could be made of thick styrene. But what to use for the "fins"? Has anyone run across something that looks like scale radiator fins?

Here is an example of what I am looking to build:

Thanks all for the brainstorm ideas.

John

[Eshaver]

Actually , yes now that I think about it ! I was at Michiaels this Saturday buying sketch books for myself and my son . I saw some items in the craft sections that could have yielded radiator material . I cant exactly remember where but they have skads of items this time of year . For example , I saw some small sleds I can give away as diorama gifts to friends . Ed Shaver

Edited November 30, 2009 by Eshaver

[lonewolf01]

hey coop this might give you some ideas http://www.straightlinemodeler.org/tipseng.html

[george 53]

John, I'm not sure but I THINK PSF Hobbies makes some radiator face material to make your own. If not PSF then another guy out there does. I've seen it before and thought it was a GREAT idea. I'll look around for you, an when I find it, I'll post it for ya!

[Jason Vandergriff]

The radiators shown are actually plate and fin coolers. They cool better than conventional radiators by about 10%. Scratchbuilding one could be done with evergreen. Ill experiment tonight before I go to bed.

[MikeMc]

a couple of radiators from the spare parts box and your razor saw and scraps of styrene............. simple to do

[bobss396]

If I don't like what comes in the kit, I'll make one out of styrene rectangular stock for the tanks and Evergreen rail road siding for the finned area. I use either .030 or .040 stock back-to-back. It winds up looking like a Griffin aluminum radiator. Or I'll sometimes crop a NASCAR kit radiator into a smaller radiator, just add the tanks.

Bob

Edited December 1, 2009 by bobss396

[coopdad]

Thanks everyone for the help. Many great leads.

Great idea Ed. I need to do some Christmas shopping, need to stop in there anyway.

Sadly Mike, my spare parts bin is very thin. Seriously, I am pretty new to modeling (again) and have not built up a stash yet. Been trolling ebay wanting to buy someone's old parts. Hopefully soon just the right box will catch my eye and wallet.

Bob, Sounds easy. Got any photos you can post for the rectangular/Evergreen project?

John

[coopdad]

Made time this week and found a spare radiator that I could cut up to make the one I need:

I found a great big radiator in my unbuilt Revell Ford Lightning kit. I guess I will worry about finding another when I actually get around to building it.

Thanks again,

John