How to cut open panels on an aircraft model

[Wolfman_63]

I made a video (with the assistance of my talented son) of a tutorial on how to cut open panels on model aircraft. You can do this if you plan on opening panels on a model to detail the interior of an aircraft panel. I made this while opening the wing panels on my P-47D build to show the ammunition bays in the wing. Check out the video in the Tips and Tricks section. Cutting open panels on aircraft models.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Builder 2010]

While I've done it with the multiple Xacto cuts, I also like to use a micro-razor saw. The kerf is only 0.005" so it's just a tiny bit of clearance to make the part removable. It takes less strokes and less effort.

 

[MIflyer]

You did not find it necessary to thin out the plastic adjacent to the hole to get the proper scale effect? I plan to convert a drop tank to a cannon pod with an access door open and I am pretty sure I'll have to thin out the plastic.

 

[Wolfman_63]

You did not find it necessary to thin out the plastic adjacent to the hole to get the proper scale effect? I plan to convert a drop tank to a cannon pod with an access door open and I am pretty sure I'll have to thin out the plastic.

In this case no, The photo etch bay fits inside the cutout so the thickness is utilized to hold the bay in place. If the bay was larger than the panel I would have thinned it out to the wall of the bay.

 

[mikewint]

Beautiful work but a very steady hand required and it's much more difficult on curved surfaces. On my 1/48 B-29 I used a "razor" saw blade. The kerf was thin enough so that the cutout sections fit back into the aircraft with no problems. With all that interior detail I just could not see closing it all up and hiding it by putting the two fuselage sections together