Make a Perfectly Spaced Custom Grille for a Scale Model

Doug shows us how he makes perfectly parallel, evenly spaced custom bar grilles for scale model cars.
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aluminum metal sheet: amzn.to/4eepsvT
Music:
Dan Lebowitz - Satisfaction Guaranteed, KZbin Audio Library, Standard
Dan Lebowitz - Simon's Song, KZbin Audio Library, Standard
'Subscribe' clip by Imotivation, from Pixabay, CC0 1.0
© 2023 by Model Car Muse. All rights reserved.
Thanks for watching!

[@ModelCarMuse]

A helpful affiliate link for metal sheet is in the video description. Thank you to our Tier 5 Patron, Mark S. Gustavson, Esq.

[@Big-Doggus]

Thanks

[@normsmith1302]

Wowser! That would work with plastic sheets, too!

[@MasteringTheModel]

It would be easier with plastic. I just don't think you will get a beautiful end result from it like Doug did.

[@moparnut6286]

Love this channel.

[@maksoncustommodels780]

it's nice to see some old school techiques from back in the day when there were far less pre-made things to customize your model and you had to invent stuff by yourself

[@AAWOLFE-zc6ly]

necessity, the mother of invention...

[@CycolacFan]

Can’t help feeling us scratchbuilders are going to lose a lot of our… appreciation, now anything and everything is getting 3D printed. I know we build for personal satisfaction rather than likes but it’s a bit galling to spend months on a project then see I could have bought one for $100 printed. But maybe they said the same thing when airbrushes and decals replaced hand painting…

[@maksoncustommodels780]

@@CycolacFan Yes! I feel the same way. I just don't know am i just old fashioned and have a hard time accepting new things or this is the right way bc of feeling that *you made smth* yes it might be less realistic, less detailed but its hand made which means more value

[@oneteamgarage]

Absolutely incredible work Doug! Phenomenal job 💯🔥🙌🏾

[@ronalddrain8033]

Thank you for sharing these techniques. It is a joy to something other than 3D printed parts.

[@theintake8961]

Incredible work Doug! Maybe some day I'll become as patient as you. Thanks for sharing 😎👍

[@cruzer2123]

That was awesome Doug!!!!!

[@jean-guylebreton5332]

Excellent job and lots of patience

[@kenmorris2858]

Brilliant workmanship. Many thanks from Halifax, Nova Scotia....

[@BillyStrangeAutoModels]

Nicely done, as always!

[@theblaposphere3155]

That's a beautiful technique. Nothing looks like aluminum like aluminum does. :)

[@johnwolkiewicz7498]

super cool technique, I am John we met at NNL East I was the guy with the crazy displays that were hand pinstriped, I still would love to talk to you about some of my ideas reach out any time John

[@ModelCarMuse]

Hi John, I enjoyed meeting you at NNL East! Your hand painted pinstripe displays reflecting the artwork on the cars are so creative! I’m especially looking forward to seeing what you do with the car you had on the primer table.

[@19chinaman62]

What a great way to make grilles WAUW, thanks for teaching us how to do this 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@artyfarty87]

WOAH!!!! That s sooooo cooollll!!! Thanks for sharing your tricks of the trade.

[@lemmy3264]

Tres beau travail et très bon tuto. Bravo l artiste👏👏👏👍👍👍

[@michaelcooke2559]

Very nice technique. Thanks for sharing.

[@williambarrett3538]

Genius. I love it!

[@modelcar1589]

Awesome job your amazing model car builder 👍🏿 thank you

[@KitbashedKustoms]

Yeah!!! This is just what i need!! Great how to video! I have a build that has got stuck cause i didnt know how i should do the grill! Now i know! Thank you so much for this!

[@KarlScaleModeling]

That's awesome, thanks for sharing this tutorial with us all 👍🏼👍🏼

[@billmcevoy241]

Thank you so much for this tutorial, I have long wondered how to accomplish a realistic grille. It know it possible!

[@jackoszuscik6669]

EXCRUCIATINGLY AWE YO! THANKS FOR THE KNOWLEDGE! KUDOS ON THE BUILD 💯😀

[@danteogilery7948]

Nicely done 👍

[@NitroModelsAndComics]

I have a hobby room, Doug you have a hobby center.

[@buddywhatshisfacescalemode7314]

That was great!

[@Memorylanemodelcars2]

Thank You Doug I use Old School technique because I My Budget is tight also DIY stuff involves Craftsmanship giving Pride of Work

[@ericverpeten8503]

Awesome video !

[@tonyz766]

Insane good stuff!

[@crazypainter56]

Great video--

[@torstenkaus3559]

That is so neat 😘 - thanks for showing the "magic" behind it 😎

[@TJsModelBench-jb4xt]

Excellent tutorial! I built R/C airplanes for many years, so I’m more versed in working in wood than metal. Thanks for this. Peace and love.

[@daviddale3747]

Very, very nice!

[@alancyr3100]

Very cool tutorial. Thanks for sharing.

[@ITman3Dmain]

Super

[@MasteringTheModel]

Beautifully done Doug.

[@modernpatriot8342]

This tutorial is probably the best I've ever seen. The finished product looks absolutely amazing. Thank you very much for sharing Doug!

[@BluestreekCustoms]

Awesome work sir, Thank you very much for sharing.

[@clutchkicker392ison5]

Nice .

[@AAWOLFE-zc6ly]

well done sir, well done...

[@michaelbaykara2322]

Excellent technique Doug, definitely will try this one- thanks for sharing.

[@marcosfernandeznanita7150]

This was amazing, thanks for sharing, this is what i was talking about couple years ago with you, this never cross my mind to go to

[@ModelCarMuse]

Hi Marcos! Let me know how it works out if you try this.

[@davevan8864]

Above my pay grade....but funny I am building a grille tonight too!!!! Thanks

[@normrussell4346]

Cool

[@johnnymayo8534]

The midget is looking great!! Great idea for the BMF! Once you get the engine wired, people will not notice the slightly off-centered plug holes! I like your idea about the bolts around the seat....should look good! I follow Doug Whyte's 'Model Car Muse' YT channel. He just posted a video about how to make grills....it's a pretty cool process!

[@sydneymartin952]

What a great video, was wondering do you cut the metal once it's in the ring or did you leave it long and fill the front under the hood?

[@ModelCarMuse]

Thanks! I always cut the “handle” off so I can make room for the engine and radiator. I have not gone farther on this model yet, but when I do the grille will look like the finished grille I popped out of the Dodge in the video.

[@ScaleDreamsStudio]

very cool! lots of work that paid off. About how far apart were those from each other?

[@ModelCarMuse]

The width of the bars and the width of the spacing in between them is determined by the thickness of the metal sheet used. Here bars and spaces are the same size, but I suppose you could use one size for the bars and a different thickness for the spacers between them if you wanted to. As long as they are consistent you will get a uniform look. The sheet I used here was .016” (.406 MM) thick; I show a clip of the package label in the video. Just subbed to your channel! Loved your paint decanter video.

[@ScaleDreamsStudio]

@@ModelCarMuse Thanks for the Sub! I have the STL files for anyone that wants to print those out. I can Email them

[@Jurvaa]

I don't think there's photoetch way to make grill of this style. Simple and clever technique.

[@Builtbyronny]

👍

[@c.d.scalemodels9198]

Doug, Chris here........excellent work......how did U cut the rest of the excess off? Just curious tool & yechniques used...I'm sure it's not difficult since aluminum is soft generally......but if I wanted to try this I want to know how U did it......thanks!!!!!!

[@ModelCarMuse]

Thank Chris. Secure the tail in a vice and then gently use a hack saw. Or, use a bandsaw with a metal blade if you have one.

[@c.d.scalemodels9198]

@@ModelCarMuse terrific…… I have that tool…… thanks so much!!!!

[@CycolacFan]

This technique would also work for vents and maybe some louvres too. Any reason you would not use plastic sheet rather than metal?

[@ModelCarMuse]

Yes, this should work for vents and louvers. The basic concept of the uniform spacing and uniformly straight bars would certainly work with plastic sheet. The consideration would be what kind of finish you want after. For a metal grille, using metal and just polishing it is easy. If you wanted a metal finish on the plastic “bars” you would have to plan for using chrome foils or paint. Similarly for louvers or vents you would have to plan for the paint application and thickness. Plastic is a little more difficult to form to get the overall curve shape, because it is generally softer than metal. The edges of each piece might be problematic when sanding the shape.

[@CycolacFan]

@@ModelCarMuse makes sense, thanks for the video and the reply 👍

[@J2ROOSTER]

I can appreciate the time and technique to make the grill. But what if your model has an engine in it?

[@ModelCarMuse]

I didn’t get to doing it in this video but eventually the “handle” part gets cut off. The track nose I made in the tutorial will eventually look like the one in the primered Dodge I popped out at the beginning of the video to show the ring surround. I am planning to put an engine in the Dodge. The grille on the C2 Corvette Custom was made the same way, and still has the bolts in it, and is in front of the engine. You can see how it was made in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/raqXk3asotOhiq8.

[@adrianbekerian4518]

Muchas gracias es la quinta ves que mas o menos veo sus vídeos, me encanto esto que publico.