wallfish 19,273 #101 Posted 4 hours ago 20 hours ago, ebinmaine said: I've been mulling how to create a rounded look at the rear and haven't come up with a method that's within my current skill set. So, flat backed it is. Just spit balling again Is the rest of that tank sealed except the front? As in, heat that flat piece you made and blow pressure into the tank. Maybe a damp rag /paper towel wrapped on the tank edge near it to keep that from heating and expanding too 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 77,321 #102 Posted 3 hours ago 15 minutes ago, wallfish said: Just spit balling again Is the rest of that tank sealed except the front? As in, heat that flat piece you made and blow pressure into the tank. Maybe a damp rag /paper towel wrapped on the tank edge near it to keep that from heating and expanding too Decent idea but no... the tank is far from sealed. It is, in fact, not at all joined well. To some extent that's the fault of the kit(s) but also, I'm doing a combo that the manufacturer wouldn't have planned. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 19,273 #103 Posted 2 hours ago 1 hour ago, ebinmaine said: Decent idea but no... the tank is far from sealed. It is, in fact, not at all joined well. To some extent that's the fault of the kit(s) but also, I'm doing a combo that the manufacturer wouldn't have planned. How a bout, Make a thin metal cylinder just a bit larger than what the final cut out shape is, glue a piece to it and do the heat air pressure thing. Then cut out the smaller correct size out of that? Thin aluminum flashing is pretty easy to shape. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 77,321 #104 Posted 2 hours ago 2 minutes ago, wallfish said: How a bout, Make a thin metal cylinder just a bit larger than what the final cut out shape is, glue a piece to it and do the heat air pressure thing. Then cut out the smaller correct size out of that? Thin aluminum flashing is pretty easy to shape. This may be combined with carving from wood/clay or bondo. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 19,273 #105 Posted 2 hours ago (edited) 39 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: This may be combined with carving from wood/clay or bondo. What about just making a small metal ring the shape and size it needs to be, thickness would depend how deep you want the concave to be. Lay the plastic material over it and heat the center. Push down if necessary. Or heat the material, lay it right on the actual piece and push to concave it. Once cool and hard flip it over and cut out the shape I don't know how soft that material will get Edited 2 hours ago by wallfish 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 30,976 #106 Posted 1 hour ago One idea that may be adaptable on a smaller scale. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 77,321 #107 Posted 1 hour ago 30 minutes ago, wallfish said: making a It's the crafting of the mold that's exactly the challenge for me. The tank end is wider than tall. The middle of the crown needs to be maybe a 1/4" out? I don't have the artistic skills or tools to make a concave or bowl with the two different angles - much less literal dozens of angles from top to side. That's why I like the idea of using clay or bondo. Perhaps cut out another flat oval. Lay/glue a 1/4" stub in the center. Use that to line up to the edges by molding a softer material. Sand/shape from there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 77,321 #108 Posted 1 hour ago 34 minutes ago, Achto said: idea Very cool! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 77,321 #109 Posted 1 hour ago The rear third didn't set just right yesterday so I did some readjusting to the seam. A little more grinding on the plastic at the top. Stuck it back together and let it rest for a while. When it felt strong enough I started laying down/in/on/out some filler. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
