I recently bought a long sought-after Sylvan Scale Caboose kit. The floor and integracted underframe is warped. How can I straighten resin parts without breaking them?
I encountered this with a Sylvan Scale Models truck frame. I ran the frame under warm (not hot) water, then gentlly twisted it back into shape, a little at a time. I used a square block of wood as a guide. Don’t try to twist it all back in one shot. Take multiple tries. Once I got it close, I assembled the truck per instructions. Mounting the cab and body took the rest of the twist out of the frame.
You may also try rubber-banding the frame to a block of wood or some other square piece, then running that under warm water. The heat will relieve the stress in the part and it should hold it’s shape when you take the rubber bands off.
I asked this question to Claire Gilbert.I had purchased one of his building that was warped He advised to take a flat baking sheet and put it in a low oven. (200-250) to alow the resin to relax. Watch closely and remove to cool once the part had straightened itself. He also advised using an old toaster to avoid upsetting the family
Thank you all.
I finally used wy wife’s hair blower on high heat. I placed the parts on a piece of glass and exposed them to heat for a few moments, seconds not minutes. Every part straightened itself pretty easily, even the thickest one.
This might be a summertime in Florida solution… but I have used it to straighten many Funaro and Camerlengo body parts and Magnuson wall sections. I put the parts on a steel sheet and let them sit in the car with the windows rolled up. One day in the hot car and the parts are perfectly flat and ready to use. This technique has the opposite effect on plastic parts. It ruins them permanently. I guess it is similar to placing the parts in a 150 degree oven, but there is no smell in the house.