Scale Model Body Modification Without Filler or Glue

Doug demonstrates a technique to help achieve a perfect finish when doing body modification on a scale model car. A plastic welding technique that grew from a disappointing experience with a specialized tool.
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[@nathanielmoore9132]

This is like the Bob Ross of model car building... I love it!

[@TheLukaCeeChannel]

Great! Now I have ANOTHER tool I've got to buy! Great idea. Thank you Doug!

[@ModelCarMuse]

You bet!

[@LoneWolfPerception]

Modeler's corner in the hot rod magazines was how I learned tips back in the 90s, I had no clue where else to get tips. I learned how to chop top, make new windows and run fiber optics to make head lights, tail lights and the dome light inside. I just started the hobby again with my son and thank God we have a means for information to be looked up in an instant, I didn't want to just paint and assemble with my boy.

[@tomcline5631]

That is OUTSTANDING!!! I never even thought of using a wood burner! I'm gonna try this with that AMT frieghtliner that seems to give everyone fits glueing on the sleeper portion! Great idea,and thanks for sharing!

[@danbiron4719]

Plastic welding. Learned something new today!

[@tooltas]

that wagon is wild show more on it

[@redcastle12b31]

My wood burning kit just got new life! Thanks for the technique and tips!

[@kkuenzel56]

I loved those Auto World catalogs.

[@Enigma-Sapiens]

Your technique of "welding" the plastic makes me remember the "Spin Welder" plastic welding toy. You can do the same thing with a piece of polystyrene rod and a die grinder these days. It works pretty good for filling holes and welding plastics together.

[@garyslentzii2796]

I had one of those, I was really too young to use it like this but it worked

[@skipsmessyworkbench]

As kids in the 60's, we use to do this to some of our models. We used to play Joie Chitwood thrill show and also demo derby with our kits and see who's car would stay together. We would use a wood burning iron, my and my best friend next door, had cars that would never fly apart because they were melted together. Thanks for sharing this forgotten technique. And thanks for the memories.

[@TrailBound51]

I somehow have missed ever hearing or seeing this method. Excellent video as always. You are a great ambassador to the hobby.

[@ModelCarMuse]

Thanks!

[@Ricky2400]

You work on plastic....can you customize plastic seats for a model bus?@@ModelCarMuse

[@stephaniewright4336]

Genius! I’m loving your channel. Thanks!

[@immanutt4442]

This is one of the very best plastic model car fabrication tutorial videos ever - very concise and sir you are great teacher !!!

[@michaelreed9733]

Thank You Doug for the video!! Know it was a year ago but just found your channel an love the great how-to's you have . I'm new to the body modifications an chopping an changing , your videos have helped me quite a bit.

[@ModelCarMuse]

Thanks and welcome

[@MrHandyDad]

Just found this. Somebody is thinking outside the box and its a great idea...

[@RichardSmith-kf6yn]

I actually had a chance to see this wagon at NNL East a few years ago.. Absolutely amazing work! It was actually my first time being able to attend the NNL EAST Show. I've never seen so many magnificent works of art. I also have never felt so welcome to be around a bunch of highly skilled Model builders.. Everyone I had a chance to talk to was so incredibly nice and to be a part of something like that was just amazing. Half way through the show I noticed that Scale Auto Magazine left one of their cards underneath a car I was showing.. I can't even begin to explain how I felt seeing that card sitting underneath something I built. Long story short I was able to show my father the man who got me started in model building a center fold right up of something I built in amazing I've been getting since I was a kid....

[@ModelCarMuse]

Wow, thanks for remembering my Chrysler New Yorker Wagon! And yes, this community is amazing.

[@Bob0sModelFabWorx]

This reminded me of a time when I was a kid, my brother and I would do this to our models. Of course it didn't go well so we stopped. lol Your method is a great tip!

[@youknoweverything7643]

That k you for the lesson and tutorial and knowledge you have years of knowledge and so thankful for you sharing your skills you mastered over the years of building and modeling thank you. When I started modeling when I was 10 there was no KZbin it took just sitting down and looking at hot rod magazines for ideas and references and had to learn how to modify bodies , paint and anything else model car building specific you had to teach your self with trial and error I was born in 92 so I had about 4-6 good years of no KZbin for model buding

[@paulrogers8311]

Thanks for the tip Doug. I've been wanting to try something new that would eliminate the ghost channels later. I'll try this soon.

[@garyslentzii2796]

Amazing way to bodywork, I've put styrene in my Dremal to spin weld stuff but no where to this extent, very nice wagon too.

[@jamesrice6096]

That is so cool! I'd never thought of this. I have a soldering iron with a panny reshaped to a wide chisel point for a tip. It would work perfectly. As a kid I used glue and putty. The surrounding area was aways a wavy mess.

[@dalebender7726]

Enjoyed this technique in your video. Never saw it before. Best part was the temperature of the tip!

[@racer6583]

I never thought of using my wood burner I've always used my solder gun, it's a old Weller used it to heat up many of modified knives to do body mods. Now thanks for sharing your knowledge I can move on with my plastic models with ease on body mods and have a better feeling of accomplishment plus enjoy the building process through beginning to finish,thank you very much.

[@thescalemodelcarguychannel8681]

Doug excellent video brother and that's one Hell of a great idea!

[@ModelCarMuse]

Thanks! Try it out!

[@sgtrock6213]

First time viewer...you now have my subscription.....what great content you have..I love that you can do the body work like that with the woodburning tools...amazing...makes me want to build models again....thank you for sharing your craft...

[@seanh2390]

This is a very informative video. Thanks for posting it Doug (and to your wife as well for her help).

[@kenn1mi]

I’ve never seen that technique before, what a great way to do body mods. Another great video, thank you.

[@154Colin]

Translatable to other scales, and other modeling (and non modeling) disciplines. 👍👍

[@jack002tuber]

Wow, what a cool video! I have never seen this done. What a great tool. I hope to see more about this. The Chrysler wagon is amazing. Glad to meet you. Subscribed.

[@Hondamark88]

You sir have earned a new follower!!!

[@MrModelworx]

This is amazing Doug, very relaxing to watch too! I love your videos.

[@waynes.1242]

I was going to say the same thing, that’s got to be one of the most relaxing model “how to” videos I’ve watched… like a combination of Bob Vila and Mr. Rogers!

[@greghemming4036]

Great tip Doug, very cool, thanks for sharing.

[@TheNaskr1]

Thanks for the tip -I still have my auto cutter from the 60's - like you it didn't work out as stated - now I have a use for it - thanks again

[@torstenkaus3559]

what an amazing technique 😙 that phantom wagon looks super cool !!

[@martinmicallef4847]

Fantastic Video and Demo !! Very educational !! Thank You !!

[@poppadrift3632]

Doug thanks for this great idea.

[@mikedillard835]

"OUTSTANDING" !.....I love these tip's - shoot I'll use the end of a broom handle or shovel if it get's the job done.......love it - keep'em comin' !.....

[@duckmangooo7376]

I like the bend to a round head. I have used the part skeleton as a welding rod.

[@deenjoan9938]

Excellent Idea and seam to work with little problem and the biggie no glue are filler thanks for the tip

[@stuartjakl]

I remember trying to do this as a child. But mostly I was using my dad's soldering iron to put holes in warplanes to show that they had been in battle!😂

[@brianlewis6926]

I never thought about doing it that way. Thanks for the tip

[@timemachinesscalemodels]

Genius!

[@jeffersonchocron]

Really amazing tip and I'll think usina it in the future. Thanks for sharing it!!

[@mitchgawlik1175]

Pretty darn slick.

[@redbarnmodelworks1115]

Great video and have to add another tool to the arsenal! Thx for doing this video! I have not heard of doing this! So this I will need to do! Thx again ! ~Don

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Great video Doug!! 👍👍👍

[@ModelCarMuse]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

@@ModelCarMuse 👍🙂

[@garyparker2969]

STRAIGHT-UP AMAZING 😱😱😱‼️Thank You Sir, God Bless All 👍👍, Gary.

[@johnkelley9877]

I never heard of this before but it looks like a great idea. Thank you for sharing this.

[@SuperTexasBlues]

fascinating! impeccable work, and VERY inventive! I'm subscribing!

[@Okaybob]

That's FANTASTIC! Less dust, as well as the other advantages you mentioned. I'm new at plastic model building. If I can't just "buy" a particular car, in slotcar form, I just convert a plastic model into a slotcar. Diecast is is even easier, and has better detail, without having to do ityourself..........but they weigh 5 times as much 😞 Thanks again for sharing is awesome technique.

[@ModelCarMuse]

Thank you!

[@davidjohnson8474]

OMG! Im so dumb not thinking about this! Congrats

[@duckmangooo7376]

Tape is brilliant.

[@ModelCarMuse]

There is a link in the video description to help you find a wood burning tool. If you like our videos and want to help ensure we can keep making them, please consider becoming a Patron, and enjoy exclusive content from Doug's Bench, on our Patreon at: www.patreon.com/modelcarmuse. Thanks for watching!

[@Thunder-xo1cx]

Wow amazing job 👍

[@rocketscience777999]

Great video. It's probably a lot harder than you made it look, but it's definitely worth learning how to do well.

[@rickzinck9326]

Thanks Doug. Great tutorial about this method.

[@williambarrett3538]

Another great video.

[@frankierzucekjr]

Very cool, this is a great idea

[@mvpscalemodelcar4935]

Thank you for Share does tips

[@TerryWilsonModels]

What a great video... super thankful for the tips Doug.

[@rodnokken7759]

Who remembers using a spoon heated with a candle to mushroom over the axle stub to affix the wheels to model antique cars in the mid-fifties?

[@alancyr3100]

Thanks for sharing this technique. I have a project where I can use this.

[@waynedull4639]

Thank you very much for your awesome videos and builds. I just found your channel and watched a couple of them learn a few things

[@bigeddie1231]

What a awesome method sir that’s very very cool thank you for posting

[@Mark_Hubbard]

Great video, straight forward and clear

[@JohnW1711stock]

Fascinating!

[@glb5053]

You need some of Stevens swizzle stick sanders, and their sanding needles. Very cool technique though!

[@diecastmental]

super informative, thanks that was awesome!

[@MODELMIND72]

Awesome!

[@MR.B00_]

Very cool.

[@keithmcauslan943]

I have tried the old sprue and acetone to create a plastic body putty, but never felt quite right too clumpy in the end. I think this would work much better, thank you.

[@janholm9238]

Nice work, and a great tip. Thanks :-)

[@Leadfootkurtis]

Awesome sir, thank you.

[@loraphillips8588]

i have a few kits that i am going to try this with

[@sledge57a]

Too cool....

[@scottwebster7613]

Thank you for sharing. What method did you use to cut so precisely?

[@ModelCarMuse]

I use a razor saw to make the straight cuts. I think this cutting method would be a good subject for a future episode. Thanks Scott!

[@scottwebster7613]

@@ModelCarMuse Thank you very much. I have a concept in mind to try on a model. I want to cut it straight down the middle to widen it. I have a hard time picturing what it would look like.

[@nemmrrc]

Groovy

[@deanlewis8083]

Thank you for another awesome video. One question, what are you using to control the temperature of your soldering iron?

[@ModelCarMuse]

I don't use anything to change the temperature. I just plug it in and use it at the manufacturers setting. Thanks!

[@kennethpeterson6413]

How did you cut plastic first thanks

[@ModelCarMuse]

For the straight cuts I use a razor saw - the type sold by hobby suppliers. I think cutting plastic might make for a good topic for an upcoming episode. Thanks for your question!

[@varzilla1513]

Would this procedure work with resin too?

[@ModelCarMuse]

Thanks for this very good question. I tested this out on different resins and as I suspected, the resin did not melt. So at least this technique works well with kit plastic.

[@HighhScore]

But how did you cut it?

[@ModelCarMuse]

I used a very thin razor saw for the vertical cuts. For the horizontal cut I first scored the line with a scriber (a hobby knife would also work) until I could get a razor saw blade into the slot to complete the cut.

[@modelcars2978]

Great information, thank you for sharing this method.

[@markholroyde9412]

I came for the Chrysler 300 wagon..........

[@earthlingjohn]

Imagine seeing it full scale ... WOW !!

[@johnabbott1787]

Knife info please where from and type or model thx

[@ModelCarMuse]

Mine is a wood burning tool from the 1960s. There is a link in the description to help you find one available today. Many have interchangeable tips. Just look for one that has tips you think would work for you.

[@hottoddy6757]

How did you cut the panel of Fender out? I have so much trouble cutting the inside when a corner is not open to cut. I tried drilling a small hole as a start & end of the cut.

[@ModelCarMuse]

For the car in this video I used a razor saw for the two vertical cuts, because they started from the edge. For the horizontal, like for any cut that starts mid panel, I used a scriber blade or an X-Acto to get it started; just start scribing in the same direction, over and over until it goes through. Then I use a razor saw to do the rest. You can see me using scriber blades in our recent video: How to Perfectly Align, Hinge, & Scale Trunk Lids & Doors, kzbin.info/www/bejne/pafaaaKke92CpLs .

[@twistedplasticfanatic9534]

Done this year's ago and it works great 👍🏻 Great tips Doug Love the content!! 😎

[@kevinsmith7697]

Great video! Ghost lines are maddening, would probably work for those ridiculous hood scoop half cut outs ( like we need that for a guide) , to know where to cut, always hated those!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😎🇺🇸

[@oldschooltamiya]

Good tip, thax for the video..

[@PhiddyPford]

Oscar K and Auto World! Now I know I’m old!

[@bigcharliesmodelgarage296]

Awesome tip. Thanks for sharing.

[@jimmycheesegrits9201]

SUPER…!!!👀💪👍👍

[@ToddHLHG]

Awesome...I really enjoy your videos...you are an amazing model car builder

[@michaelcooke2559]

Excellent tutorial. This is a wonderful technique. Now, I have to get a wood burner. Thanks for sharing.

[@IzzySpeaks]

Nice presentation. I've been using the soldering/woodburner trick since 75'. Not sure if someone showed me or I just came up with it for myself organically.

[@plasticbuzzardmodelshop9715]

Interesting.

[@williamwagaman9538]

You can always Teach an old dog a new trick Doug you are marvelous thank you

[@ModelCarMuse]

You're welcome!

[@wisner6]

Great video and tip. I personally do a lot of body mods on my builds and look forward to perfecting this method. Thank you.

[@SPMech1]

👍👍👍👍👍👍💥💥💥💥💥💥👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@johnclark6582]

We're was this info 35 years ago , man the things I could have messed up . Lol

[@REKlaus]

I think his 97 degrees are probably Celsius which would be 206 Fahrenheit. I've used this technique for non-modeling plastic repairs, i add a small piece of wire (like a piece of a staple) melted in to add extra strength.

[@paintnamer6403]

I agree, otherwise I could weld with my fingers being that they are about 98.6 Fahrenheit body temperature. Good video I must say.