cutting out the engine hatch

[streetfighterjeff]

guys going to cut out the engine hatch on my HL KT so i can move the switches. only thing is how the hell do i cut out the hinges? going to use thread so do i cut off the hinges with the thread first? i want to use the plastic hinges again. the rest of the hatch should be a doddle. ( famous last words).
jeff

[caddyshack]

I don't real under stand what you are needing help with in that question.
It could be answered like..knife, file, power file..
May be if you were to elaborate a little more (just for us thick ones )

[mustclime]

most guys use strong sowing thread.....I use a dremmel with a micro bit running at full speed...

[streetfighterjeff]

i need to keep the hinges fairly complete as i am going to use them. only thing is if you look at the engine deck of a KT the lid edge doesnt follow the hinge or hinge line. the hinge pin sit on the edge line, but its a three part hinge.

[mustclime]

I was just cutting here, I was not interested in keepng the hings as I am going to need 3 of them in different locations....



use a small enough drill and you could save the hinges...

[jukebox]

Plan B could be to buy the metal hatch upgrade set from Tankzone or RCTank.de, this comes with metal hinges.

[streetfighterjeff]

cheers juke and mustclime. that is exactly what i meant about the edge line. being cheap and not having any money, would love the metal hatches but have to make do with trying to keep the plastic stuff at the mo. think i'm going to have to cut the hinges off with thread then cut out the hatch. then i can reuse the hinges. until i get back to work, then its metal hatches all round.
jeff

[mustclime]

That pic is from my e50 build....I am going for a july 45 kt rear deck with the larger access 3 peace hatch....that was the first cut, the edges have since been cleaned up...if you look at my build thread, I do a step by step on opening up the hatches....



then you do not have to worry about savng the hinges....

[streetfighterjeff]

cheers bud, not going to do the front hatches at the minute, but the engine hatch is a must. going to move all the switches into there so i can seal up most of the bottom hull. not sure what i could use opening front hatches for, unless i buy some new radio gear. lol
jeff

[caddyshack]

Ok ..i see where you are going with it know. what you could do is this..use the thread method around the out side of the hatch. When it comes to the hinged section.
Get a knife and make some scores around the hinged sction you want to keep. Scoring into and around the hing as well. You don't have to go too deep but a good line to snap to is what you are looking for.
Just bend the pastic down and it will snap clean to the score lines saving most if not all of what you want to keep.
Hope this helps a little.