Hi all,
I’m just starting to work on the Glencoe 1/74 scale Martin MB-2 biplane bomber. There’s a great build-up article on the kit at the link below (just so you all know what I’m talking about):
http://www.crossandcockade.com/WNW/MB2.htm
Anyway, the wings are slightly warped. I’ve read a procedure for unwarping wings that involved heating the wings in hot water, and then taping them flat so they cool in a new, straight, position.
That’s all well and good, but does anyone have the particulars? How hot should the water be? The wings are only a little warped, so would hot tap water be enough? I don’t want to melt the wings.
Any advice would be welcome.
Regards,
The water doesn’t need to be scalding. I’ve had success with even lukewram water. Temperatures required to melt plastic would give you a nasty burn, so no worries there. Rule of thumb, water temperature should be comparable to that of a hot shower, or what one should wash their dishes in by hand.
I actually just flattened the warped wings of my PBY Catalina in a bathtub of very warm water by placing them on a flat board in the water, then placing another flat board on top of the wings, then weighting it down flat with weights on top of that last board. After letting the plastic adjust to the warm tempereature for a few minutes I then drained the bathtub leaving the flattened wing to cool and dry under the weights. I drained the bathtub heading out the door to work, came back that evening and things were dry and ready for assembly.
Thanks! This sounds like a pretty easy opperation. I should have things…um…straightened out this evening. 
Regards,
the flattening between two boardsis an idea I got from my days of flattening my warped LPs between two plates of glass in the sun. Not the best technique, never did sound the same, but worked for the times. made a heck of a mess if i forgot about them.[:D] Vinyl everywhere. Not pretty.