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Mirrors

altrac

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altrac

altrac

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Right, here's one for you.  What would you normally use to make mirrors for a machine?  

 

When I was a bit younger I used bent round paper clips, put a sticker to cover the gap where the mirror would be, and stuck them to the cab with blue tack.  However, being a bit older now, and therefore wanting to be a bit more accurate with things I was wondering the best way to go about making mirrors.  Plastistruct?  Same old method but just paint it all black?

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altrac

altrac

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Isn't it just far easier to buy a pair of ready made mirrors and stick them on? Back in the days I used to make them myself as well but with all the stuff that is available today you can't be really bothered? have a look here: http://www.farmmodels.nl/website/index.php?Show=Search&KeyWord=spigels

 

It possibly is easier and thanks for the link, but being a student and being scottish I don't have much spare money to spend on any old thing so I'd rather try and make them myself with what I've got lying around

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altrac

altrac

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Sorry I posted the wrong link, this is better: http://www.farmmodels.nl/website/index.php?Show=Search&KeyWord=spiegels

 

I agree on the money spending front but for £2 you can't really go wrong.

 

No problem I had a look round the site and saw it spelt spiegels somewhere and realised you'd just missed an e in the search!  Â£2 isn't much, but if I want to buy 5 sets say and then postage on top of that it soon adds up.  

 

I was wondering about using metal from paper clips and then small pieces of plastic for the mirror parts.  The only cost then would be glue and a sheet of flat plastic.

 

So, my next question is what kind of glue would glue metal to plastic without danger of deforming the plastic?

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chris.watson

chris.watson

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i am with niels on this one, its easier to buy them and you can get the right style for the machine. if you want to make some, try keeping the metal tie wires that come in most model tractor boxes or indeed paper clips. when fixing to the machine, i think it is best to drill a small hole into the cab roof with a 1mm drill bit and set the mirror arm into it with some glue. use a smaller or larger drill bit as neccessary.

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malcy_p

malcy_p

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Ok thanks for the thoughts, what kind of glue would you use to glue the plasticard to the metal?

 

I use chunky paper clips straightened out and then bent to the correct shape, then use a Plastruct strip cut to size. For glue I use something called Zap-a-Gap - it's a superglue type product that also fills in gaps - the clue is in the name! :)

 

All the hand rails and mirrors etc on this were made and attached that way.

 

/malc.

 

post-1591-0-04866200-1361398066_thumb.jp

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altrac

altrac

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I would use Araldite,but drill a couple of small holes through the plastic first to give the glue something to "grip",

Regards

Joe.

 

Thanks Joe

 

I use chunky paper clips straightened out and then bent to the correct shape, then use a Plastruct strip cut to size. For glue I use something called Zap-a-Gap - it's a superglue type product that also fills in gaps - the clue is in the name! :)

 

All the hand rails and mirrors etc on this were made and attached that way.

 

/malc.

 

Thanks Malc, that looks a pretty good model, built from scratch i presume?

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