Scratch build convex spot mirrors for 1/25 scale big rigs - an easy detail to add
Convex spot mirrors (sometimes called blind spot mirrors) are seen on almost every 1:1 scale big rig truck and are made in a range of sizes from 8" and up, often seen on the passenger side mirror...
0:13...and smaller ones around 5" to 6" typically on driver side.
0:27 Italeri's Peterbilt kits (instruction sheet from a 377 shown here) are one of the few truck kits that provide spot mirrors, along with some of the Revell of Germany offerings. For all the others it will be necessary to create your own...
0:45...which is actually quite easy to do. .020" styrene disks are the starting point, I used leather punches to make these. Using "scale math" and multiplying by 25, a 1/4" disk is .250" x 25 = 6.25", that will be the smaller driver side mirror. 3/8" is .375" x 25 = 9.375", a bit larger than 8" but workable especially since it will be sanded down slightly to smooth out the rough edges caused by using a leather punch.
1:06 A simple centre finder tool is invaluable for many applications. I purchased mine at a hardware store years ago, here is a similar one www.busybeetools.com/products...
1:15 3/8" disk can be held easily by hand for marking.
1:30 1/4" disk is easer to hold using piece of balsa wood and a clamp, here a binder clip.
1:46 Accurately marked centre of disk without any tedious measuring.
1:54 Drill a #67 hole in each disk for .032" brass wire. Glue wire in place leaving about 1/2" - 5/8" projecting. I also glued .010" styrene rod on the larger mirror to make reinforcing ribs that some mirrors have.
2:11 Wire stem makes it easy to hold disk in motor tool for clean up of edge.
2:23 If you are modelling a mirror with offset mounting stem, simply drill hole in appropriate location and clean up edge of disk by hand.
2:36 Consistency and working time of 5 minute epoxy makes it practical to form convex surface on face of mirror.
2:53 Italeri Peterbilt 378 kit parts shown here, 5 minute epoxy convex surface added to spot mirror on right. Beside it is stock kit part.
3:02 Making the spot mirror surfaces convex adds greatly to the realism of finished model mirrors.
3:10 Epoxy added to our scratch built mirrors. Slight projection of brass wire stem on face of mirror is covered by convex epoxy surface.
3:21 Micro-Mark O scale decal rivets, part # 84987, added to back of mirror to represent screw heads.
3:34 L shaped mounting brackets are made with .016" sheet aluminum (available from K&S). Cut a strip 1/16" wide, bend 90 degrees to suitable lengths and drill #67 hole at each end. Note that brass can also be used, I find the aluminum easier to cut and drill. Leave extra length on the brass wire stems for now so you have a way of holding the spot mirrors for painting and installation.
3:58 I use Alclad for finishing, gloss black base followed by chrome. Molotow chrome pen can also be used with good results. Install spot mirror on main mirror, and as the last step cut off excess stem length and touch up end of wire with drop of silver paint.
4:14 Finished mirrors set in place temporarily on primered cab. Mirror heads are kit parts with everything else scratch built using styrene rod and strip.
4:36 The same process for making spot mirrors is applicable to any model truck. Three were made for this cabover, one on each side mirror and a separate one on right front corner of cab.
4:51 This Mack R is based on a 1:1 scale truck I drove years ago and it had a larger spot mirror on diver side. Mirror again is a kit mirror head with scratch built styrene rod arms.
5:01 Closing with our example 6" spot mirror on driver side of another Mack R.
Convex spot mirrors are easy to make and a detail upgrade that will help make your 1/25 scale model trucks look "right".
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Пікірлер: 13
The R model series of videos your doing are epic. Thank you
Thanks for this. Mirrors have always been a difficult part of each truck build for me. Looking forward to your regular mirror how to. Will add these round mirrors to the list of things to try.
@brsnorthernhorsejourney3579
6 ай бұрын
Truck mirrors are always challenging, kit parts can often be either fairly accurate although oversize and difficult to glue together, or closer to scale size but oversimplified. (Both mirror options in the AMT Mack R kit fit this category with the standard ones being accurate/oversize and requiring multiple tiny glue joints and the deluxe ones being one dimensional with only two attachment points. In both cases the mirror heads themselves are well done). I have gone between styrene rod and brass wire on various projects over the years, styrene rod was used most recently on the current Mack R project for ease of flattening and drilling the ends then joining with solvent cement. Brass wire is much nicer to work with for making curved shapes and 90 degree bends though.
Robert, blind sport mirrors are an overlooked detail, on model truck kits! Many types of trucks use convex mirrors. Semi tractors, trash trucks, school buses, and now fire apparatus. Never knew that there were different sizes of mirrors, on the same truck! Pedestrians & bicyclists are reason for more mirrors on big trucks! If you go to NYC, all the trucks have convex mirrors on their front bumpers. Blind spots plague a big truck operator! Backup cameras are changing that!
Great idea for scratchbuilding. I've resorted in the past to trimming down the convex drive axle center caps that are in AMT kits.
@brsnorthernhorsejourney3579
6 ай бұрын
I didn't think about the drive axle caps, another very good source for convex surface.
So simple yet SO effective. Thanks for the "pro tip" :)
@brsnorthernhorsejourney3579
6 ай бұрын
You're welcome - full disclosure, the 5 minute epoxy wasn't the first method I tried! I did get acceptable results using a brass thumbtack for convex surface (mounting stem already attach although a bit on the coarse side), one drawback to that method is limited range of sizes. Styrene disks from here forward!
AWESOME!
Look,s very nice 👍🏼 ive made lot,s of fender mirror,s for on the R600 Mack,s ive made them just a little different. I took a shirt button and ground it down ½ size thickness, with a Dremel than taken styrene thin solid tube plastic rod glued it together sanding it and made bracket,s from thin styrene! For the mirror part to mount to the fender. I just used regular chrome bumper tape and trimmed the edges came out perfect ive also made made them for cabover model,s aswell for the front and top corner,s of the front cab.
@brsnorthernhorsejourney3579
4 ай бұрын
Fender mirrors brings back a memory from the time I worked for J&F Trucking and drove Mack R's, head mechanic in charge of the shop hated fender mirrors for some reason so if J&F bought a truck that had them and was going to overhaul it (at that time they were buying up a lot of 6 and 7 year old trucks for their fleet) the fender mirrors came off it it was equipped with them. Occasionally one would come into the fleet in great condition and just get relettered, those got to keep their fender mirrors! Two of the trucks I drove during my J&F days had fender mirrors: An R600 and a Superliner! Both were a different colour from J&F's dark blue as well, the R600 was black and the Superliner was white.
Great video , I’m building IH 4300 Transtar I’ve watch your 4300 build any updates on that kit ?
@brsnorthernhorsejourney3579
6 ай бұрын
It was "on hold" for a couple months as I worked on getting the Mack R600 completed, wanted to get one model ready for Fulton show in November and the Mack was closest to completion. Starting back on the Transtar now, will have a video up in the near future on air cleaner and intake piping.