Making plastic look like bent metal

[Big10]

So I would like to try and replicate this photo with the beat up drop tank. Any ideas on making plastic look beat up? I tried submerging the drop tank in boiling water to push the front in but all it did was warp the whole tank.

 

[moon puppy]

Burr tips on the dremal? Chisel? I don't think hot water will get the dented look.

 

[jeaton01]

Thinning from the inside and then a little heat? I've bent up barrels just with grinding but to get dents as deep as on the drop tank you'd have to build up the inside with epoxy first. It seems odd that you can't see the flange as you can on the right side tank.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

From experience I can state that you never should use "boiling" water to adjust plastic. It will FUBAR every time. In this case in 1/48th you would have to use a dremel and a small cutter to grind the dents. Then smooth them and give a wash of solvent.

 

[Sharkmouth]

Then smooth them and give a wash of solvent.

Several washes and sanding film cycles.

 

[Big10]

Thank all for the suggestions.

Thinning from the inside and then a little heat? I've bent up barrels just with grinding but to get dents as deep as on the drop tank you'd have to build up the inside with epoxy first. It seems odd that you can't see the flange as you can on the right side tank.

I thought the same thing as well about the flange when I first saw the picture. What do you make of that?

 

[jeaton01]

It's possible the tank was local modification/manufacture, as with the Misawa tanks on F-80's, but that's pure conjecture.

 

[paddy]

Looks to me like they are completely different tanks not just in shape but in construction.

 

[moon puppy]

Can't remember which but I did one with dissimilar tanks per the photo I based it on. Too bad there's not another shot of this AC.

 

[paddy]

Funny how you get side tracked with something like this. I spent a couple of hours last night reading about drop tanks both alloy and paper.
strangely the shiny alloy tanks are actually paper and the dull grey tanks are Alloy basically because the paper ones were painted with alloy coloured dope.

Paper tanks do dent just like the tank in the picture above but they were use once so its unlikely to be paper in the picture.
A paper tank would not be brought back empty and even if full would be jettisoned as it wouldn't survive the shock of landing.

Anyway i doubt paper tanks were used in Korea.

The shiny tanks are paper..