Opening Hatches

[Tankbear]

Sorry this is probably a newbie question as my modeling skills are in there early stages.

How do you cut the (heng long in this instance) plastic body so you can make the hatches open-able. I’m thinking on my Tiger the two front circular hatches (driver and ??) and at the back the grills.

[caddyshack]

I take it you meen your hatches are guled shut. Use the good old thread method and use it like a saw, it will work its way through with quite a clean cut.

[tanks_for_the_memory]

It's not as hard as it looks!

I had to wonder long and hard before opening up the front hatches on my Heng Long Tiger 1. Should I use some of circular saw? Or a compass-like cutting tool with a blade attachment?

In the end I went for my trusty Maplins Rotary Tool (http://www.maplin.co.uk/18v-rotary-tool ... set-223458" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) - and a bit of elbow grease.

First I just drilled a hole through the centre of each hatch - then used the rotary sanding attachment to enlarge the hole gradually using the original hatch as my outer limit (the aperture should obviously be slightly smaller than the hatch circumference).

Replacement hatches are readily available - either with or without the internal levers. They actually clip on the underside of the hull roof (the HL Tiger already has two fixing studs on either side) although be warned - my first set of hinges both sheered off with minimal pressure applied (possibly a fault in the metal).

Driver's hatch opened up with Asiatam cover.jpg (15.57 KiB) Viewed 4403 times

[Tankbear]

I take it you meen your hatches are guled shut. Use the good old thread method and use it like a saw, it will work its way through with quite a clean cut.

Think shape is just molded in the plastic.

Replacement hatches are readily available - either with or without the internal levers. They actually clip on the underside of the hull roof (the HL Tiger already has two fixing studs on either side) although be warned - my first set of hinges both sheered off with minimal pressure applied (possibly a fault in the metal).

I was thinking of reusing the hatches, but suppose then have to find/figure out a hinge arrangement.

Got a rotory tool but was uncertain about using it as head it tends to melt the plastic rather than cut.

[Dietrich]

Hi Tankbear,
This is the link to my post on the ' Thread Cutting ' technique. It REALLY does work and you will be able to reuse at least some of the hatches...but Please read the link.
http://www.rctankwarfare.co.uk/forums/v ... =38&t=3601" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I hope that it helps you...
Alb

[Saxondog]

I've got a dremel rotary with many different bits, in the end the thread method works best to remove the hatches or any other sections,the rotary then is a good way to clean the surfaces. My Tiger,Jagdpanther both have working hatches,cut out with thread first.

The control is the best reason,one false move at high speed and the rotary will cause damage,with thread the process is slower yet more controlled with less risk.

That's my view,best of luck. Saxondog

http://www.rctankwarfare.co.uk/forums/v ... val#p69275" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Tankbear]

Thanks Dietrick & Saxondog i'll give it a go.

Tankbear.

[jonger]

I found all the rotary tools run too fast so start melting the plastic, even my como drill slowed right down, so I have just cut the front hatches off my tiger using the thread method with a view to re-using them, it works really well but you do need a heavy weight to make it work properly, at first I did not have enough weight and was getting nowhere, then added some fishing weights and it fairly raced through.
Once you have tried it successfully there's no stopping - I have now cut out the rear grills and the turret escape hatch to hinge them as well.

[ranman38]

I have a plastic scribing tool. It is actually just called a scribing tool, it can scribe most anything really. I scribed the tiger front hatches from underneath, and cut off the excess from above.

[streetfighterjeff]

having built models for many years, i have to ask why open hatches on a vehicle that has no interior detail. a lot of tyhe time the front hatches would be closed . BUT having seen some of the master class stuf i can see how very cool it is. So it comes down to you, either way do it right, it'll look awesome