bending resin

[Viesturs]

I am abut to start on a figure with an ammo belt that needs to be bent so it hangs around shoulder. Whats the best method for bending the belt , was going to try the hot water but thought I would ask for some advice for best results. Thx in advance.

 

[m@rp]

If I have well understood I think you have to remove the existant belt and remake a new one with lead foil or maybe with putty.
Hope this will help you
regards
Pascal

 

[kagemusha]

Hi Viesturs, yes, hot water will work. Be patient with it. It will be fragile at best. Once you have it bent around the shoulder, run it under cold water to lock the shape.

Regards

Ron

 

[Viesturs]

thx guys ..yes its an ammo belt full of rounds for an mg42

 

[Paul Kernan]

As Ron said, the best way is to submerse the piece in very warm water (I had a piece shrivel up in hot water once.......probably left it in too long), gently shape it into the desired shape or around the area (in this case the shoulder and chest) and then apply cold water to 'harden' it again. Be patient as this may take a couple of attempts to get the final shape you want.

 

[tonydawe]

I would use a hair dryer and set it on medium heat.

A steady gentle apllication of heat will allow the resin to sag into place and hang naturally. You can then run it under cold water to lock in the changed shape.

 

[Viesturs]

thanks all

 

[Ferris]

Be careful with a hairdrier, it's easy to go too far. I melted the tips of a plastic belt once; they soften before the bulk of the belt. Indeed use medium heat from a distance and go slowly and in steps.
And practice on a scrap part first.

Good luck,
Adrian

 

[Mark S]

Long time since I bent any resin..........long time ,..too long.
ahhh... I miss it dearly.

 

[Tonton]

I seem to remember crumbling resin in my day… or am I thinking of something else?

Jeff

 

[Don]

I seem to remember crumbling resin in my day… or am I thinking of something else?

Jeff

Same words Jeff, different resin, although sometimes the each resin smelled just as bad.
Enjoy

Don

 

[Don]

Should have read "although sometimes each resin smelled just as bad as the other.

Don

 

[smudger1960]

Hi,I did a Young MG42 bust sometime ago and I cut all the rounds off the resin belt and made a new one out of lead foil,I didn't have any of the hassle trying to bend the resin either,the lead foil can be shaped into the figure to get a real natural looking hang to the belt.

Brian

 

[Jeff T]

Hi,I did a Young MG42 bust sometime ago and I cut all the rounds off the resin belt and made a new one out of lead foil,I didn't have any of the hassle trying to bend the resin either,the lead foil can be shaped into the figure to get a real natural looking hang to the belt.

Brian

Good idea Brian, I might try that method with Young's Soviet Naval Infantryman bust I have just started.

Thanks for the tip.

Cheer's,
Jeff.

 

[housecarl]

I seem to remember crumbling resin in my day… or am I thinking of something else?

Jeff

That was before the green revolution.

 

[smudger1960]

Good idea Brian, I might try that method with Young's Soviet Naval Infantryman bust I have just started.

Thanks for the tip.

Cheer's,
Jeff.

Ok Jeff,good luck with this latest project

 

[Viesturs]

Thx Brian that's the belt and figure im gonna be dealing with, see what happens.
John

 

[Dan Morton]

Don't do that hot air dryer and resin trick every day, OK? The stuff that comes off plastics and resins when you do that does not play nice with lungs. I would say use a fan, but that kinda defeats the purpose of warming up the material, don't it?

All the best,
Dan