body cutting

[Spiggy]

hey guys this is pretty much my first attempt cutting a body for a nitro car and i pretty much know how to cut everything except the holes in the windscreen for the air flow i was wondering if someone could give me some pointers on what size hole or what i could use to outline the hole.. aswell as how to cut it out thanks! :D

[davec-nitro-rs4]

If you rae racing in sanctioned events, be aware that they have regulations on the size and placement of the hole in the windshield.

Having said that.....

You can get a compass cutter from Olfa (search eBay) around $10. You score the circle with this, not try to cut it thru the plastic.
You can out line a touring car wheel (around 1.9" diameter).
You can use a circle template.

After you get your circle drawn:

You can use a hobby knife to "score" a line in the plastic. You don't want to try to cut the plastic, as it's too thick and you'll just end up cutting your hand and getting a sloppy edge too. After you score the circle, take a drill with a good size bit and drill a big old hole right in the center of the circle. Then, again with the hobby knife, score an arcing line from the circle over to the hole you just drilled. Now, rip the plastic, yep, rip the plastic, starting at the drilled hole....see how it follows the score line....and just lead the rip over to the circle, and keep peeling it away. If you did it right, you will only need to clean up the point where the arc met the circle.

or

Get a Dremel with a RotoZip bit and cut the circle, but I find it harder to freehand a circle with a Dremel.

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If you checked yes, send me $5 :)

Thanks

[ironoutlaw]

wow only 5 bucks

[davec-nitro-rs4]

But if everyone who finds it helpful sends $5.......I'd still have $0.

:D

[stanmondz]

this is kinda crud, but iv used big sockets, and set them on the stove element till nice and hot, grab it with pliers and set it on the window. it will melt a perfect hole through it

[davec-nitro-rs4]

stan...you're sh***n' me right!?

[zueslilbuddy]

I usse a drill hole saw for my holes they come out perfict every time.

[Spiggy]

this was very helpful but just one problem i have not been able to find a circle cutter here in australia.. and i have checked ebay for the olfa one..

[davec-nitro-rs4]

http://fastserve.horizonhobby.com/ProdInfo/OLF/450/OLF9911-450.jpg

I can ship you one from here if you'll pay the freight. It's very small and light, so a padded envelope would do the job I suspect. In the US they run about $9usd.

[ironoutlaw]

sweet i want one does it have any extra tips

[Spiggy]

do u have some sort of ebay store? and yes i was wondering does it come with spare blades? maybe can send me a private messege with the details..

[davec-nitro-rs4]

5 spare blades in the handle, but one lasts a long time.

[Hikari no Tenshi]

I've been using a circle cutter for a while and have had mixed feelings about it, I find it tends to flex and cut a hole slightly smaller than I want. One way I used to do it and may go back to is I take a piece of lexan about 1.5" long, usually from an unused wheel well piece, and drill two holes in it, one big enough to thread a 3mm screw into and one thats TINY. Then I drill a hole in the windshield at my center point, again just slightly smaller than 3mm, I screw the screw through the template into the windshield, then with a brand new blade, swing the template around 3-4 times. This should give me a deep enough score to start peeling it out. Then I have a hole the size I wanted.