Good morning, a problem I have always had is bending plastic rod to tightly follow contours of building when installing drain downpipes. Could anyone please help with suggestions, Thanks David

David

The slaters plasticard rod is quite pliable fine for downpipes  in differant sizes plus an assorted pack.

buy direct or search on google.

Slater's Plastikard - Plastic Rod


Brian

Thanks for getting back Brian, could you advice what to use to bend it. When I do it I always get a crease or it " squares of", I can't get small tight curves in it. Thanks David

Hi David,

Sounds like the styrene rod is too big. Use styrene tube (comes in various sizes), not rod. Insert a length of soft metal rod inside, bend to S-shape. Jewellery or craft metal rod is soft enough to bend easily and keeps its shape, although you can use brass or even phosphor bronze rod. The metal rod inside stops kinking. Tube looks more realistic at the spout end. That said, you can just use the metal rod! I use round tapered ended smooth blade pliers to bend rod to shape.

Other way is to place styrene rod in hot water for a few minutes (80-90°C) and bend to shape using a bending jig.  Hair dryer on hot or a heat gun works as well. Allow to cool and set. Keep away from naked flames as the fumes are quite  noxious.

Nigel

Thanks Nigel for all your suggestions. If none of those work for me, nothing will, once again thanks and to all who looked, David

another cheap way of doing it for downpipes is get some old twin and earth wire strip it and the solid copper wire is easy to manipulate.

Brian

Great idea. All the years I have been modelling, you learn things all the time. Thanks again Brian

You beat me to it Brian - lots of modellers use solid core electric cable for these things - stranded wires won't work !!

Why don't you use brass rod instead of styrene, 3d printed downpipe brackets are available from modelu Round Cast Iron Holderbat – Modelu

Some great suggestions there. Which i will immediately purloin :-)

Cheers
Evan

Thanks David, I knew Modelu did figures, but not all the other stuff, Thanks 

I did the 3D artwork for Modelu and he added them to his range there are 3 and 4 inch versions in both round and square versions.

I now have my own 3D printer so can do my own now.

David

We might have to start asking you 

To make my curved downpipes I held the styrene rod over a lit candle for a nano second and pushed the end in on its self making a nice "S" bend.
A bit of trial and error but you soon get the hang of how long to hold it, how far from the flame and how much pressure to make the bend.

Obviously, safety first - don't do this next to all the lovely solvents and flammable materials we modellers tend to store in and around the modelling bench!!!!

Ian

Thanks Ian, will try that. I make Metcalfe kits and super detail them, but I can never seem to get the downpipes right. I will give it a go and let you know how I get on. Have a good Christmas, David

A lot of larger buildings had square section cast iron down pipes, easily modelled in square strip of the appropriate size, yet they are not very often modelled. By nicking the rod at the right place at right angles it will bend and partly snap to shape. A drop of paint usually fills the nick although acrylic seems to shrink back after a couple of years.



Poop-poop

Douglas

And I used rectangular styrene

Thanks to you both. Something else to think about. David