I recently came across Wings Models, LLC on the net and according to their website, they use vacuum-formed white styrene plastic for their models. I think I know what this means but if anyone can clarify this for me I would much appreciate it. How do these models compare with injection molding or other types? Anyone with experience and/or comments on Wings models, please let me know .
Tanner-
This simply means that the kit is all styrene, and not the typical injection-molded kit like you would find on the shelves in your hobby shop.
I don’t know much about Wings Models, but vacuum formed kits (IMO) have a tendancy to have a little bit better quality to them overall, but may be lacking in some of the normal details common to most kits.
Sheet styreen (PVC more or less) is heated until it is soft and then “drawn” by vacuum over a mold to form the various pieces of the model, wings, fuselage, etc. Then the moldeded parts are allowed to cool .
The modeler is usually left the task of cutting away the excess plastic. The molds are much less expensive to make than injection molds, and do not requir the injection equipment necessary to “inject” the liquid plastic into the molds.
Vacuum formed kits are usually of subjects not available in injection molded kits. They do not have as much detail, and are time consuming.
The finished product, if done well, is very satisfying because of the effort it took to get there, IMHO.
If you are going to try a vacuum formed kit start out with one that is relatively inexpensive. You could try a “conversion” made from vacuum formed molds, rather than a whole kit, to see if you like it. They are a bit of a challenge but can produce an end product as good as any injection molded kit, if you are willing to do the work.
rangerj
Thanks Hooker06 and rangerj for the insight. I think I’ll try one and see if I like it. They do make several models no one else does.
Rangerj is right. They are time consuming but oh so satisfying when done! YOu might want to bulk up your arms because not only will you be cutting away excess plastic, you’ll be sanding it away as well, especially on the flying surfaces. The work though really is worth it!
Not going to add much but would like to see a vacuform GB sometime after the first of the year. You vacuform vets could help us first timers out. [:)]
Good idea, Dan…!
There are two basic types of vacuforming, male molds which has the softened plastic pulled over a protruding form to make the piece. This does not tend to give a lot of fine detail. Recessed or female vacuforming uses a recessed mold and the plastic is drawn into the mold giving a better level of detail. Most vacuform companies are small or even cottage industries and quality varies greatly from one to the next. Some, like Sanger, ID Models and Combat require a lot of work while others like MPM are mid grade. Koster Aero Enterprises or Dynavector are very well done with tons of detail. I have not done a WIngs Vac yet so cannot comment on their products. Do not be afraid to try these forms of modeling, they will test your skills but this is what makes us better modelers. I would suggest starting with a vacuform conversion first then move into a full vac build. Here are some links to a few vacuform projects I have done, they may provide some useful information to you.
http://www.swannysmodels.com/Tupolev.html an MPM kit review/build
http://www.swannysmodels.com/Ki67.html a Sanger kit review
http://www.swannysmodels.com/Do217KM.html a Koster conversion review
http://www.swannysmodels.com/CondorPage1.html a Koster kit build
http://www.swannysmodels.com/PB4Y.html a Koster conversion build
Seems like there is some interest in doing a vacuform GB so I’ll post one in November for an 2005 winter/spring build time frame, unless someone beats me too it. I will probably throw out a resin GB sometime after that.
Go for it!