Thanks for the nice comments Bruce. I have included a few pics of how this is done. I have done tutorials on vac-forming and making wire wheels that I have posted on this websight. Not many modelers are interested in this kind of stuff. At least not enough to get my tutorials on the "sticky" list. I learned most of it through trial and error. Also, have several scratchbuilding books that are well worth the money if you're interested in this stuff:
The Master Scratbuilders - Alcorn - Schiffer Books - 1990
Scratch Built - Alcorn, Lee Cooke - Schiffer - 1993
Building Model Airplanes From Scratch - Jackson - TAB - 1979
The last one is probably the most useful, lots of "old school" techniques well explained and illustrated.
Also the books from Seperd Paine on building dioramas have lots of good scratchbuiding info.
I used to be afraid of doing stuff like this but have gradually gotten better at it by jumping in and having fun trying new things. My shop (and trash can) are full of the "misses". Most of the materials are not that expensive, especially compared to the price of kits now days and if you goof something up you just make a new one, or make several copies originally and use the best ones (see my floats above).
Have Fun and give it a try !!!
Andy