How to bend planks on a model ship

I have included a reference to bending some green heart in Video 89 on the Thorn. It can be seen at time slot 5.00
• Video 89. HMS Thorn. P...
This gun can be found on amazon, Hangar 9 Heat Gun HAN100 Hand Tools for $23.00

[@ronvanderbol1319]

I admire your patience and builds. There are special pliers in hobby shops to bend the planks. Those work a lot faster.

[@kevinkenny5122]

@@ronvanderbol1319 i have purchased them along with all sort of soldering iron bending devices. Using the heat gun and a standard jig i can bend planks in seconds

[@ronvanderbol1319]

@@kevinkenny5122 I have build just one schip. A Dutch Staten jacht. I was putting the planks in water bended them and let them dry like that. Several times i wanted to throw the whole thing away but i finished it. After that i found oud about the plier. It could have made it a lot easier. You have a amazing hobby. All the best. Ron

[@christopherkingsland4604]

I use an ordinary steam iron to bend long pieces across their flat too.

[@perschiller7690]

thanks for the tip!

[@kevinkenny5122]

Hi James. The jig was made up from another project , but you can make one up based on your estimate of the bend you need. Cutting the bend into the piece was done by making a card board template off the model itself. So just to make sure i am not misunderstood. There are two bends, the first is cut into the piece using a cardboard template taken from the model itself, the second is a physical bend using a jig that mirrors the bend needed in the hull. This bend does not have to be exact but close enough to the actual bend required. The finial bend is taken when the piece is placed on the model and clamped and using a dryer/ heat gun which applies heat for no more than 10 seconds at a time. You may have to do this a few times to get the finial bend locked in place.

[@S_MannMann]

THANKS !

[@jimmd53]

I very much like your technique of bending planks. Can you guide me to where you found the plans for the jig you use for bending the planks? Thank you.

[@kevinkenny5122]

Sorry i just saw this. I make up the jigs based on the model and shape i am trying to achieve. Usually i use a cardboard template to get the shape right.

[@cajunrandy2146]

👍

[@natxosailor]

Hi Kevin, good work! What kind of dryer are you using? A regular hair dryer or a professional heater? Hair dryers have between 150 - 200 C whereas heaters reach 350 - 500 C. I wouldn’t like to burn strakes or jig! Thanks

[@kevinkenny5122]

Not sure of the heat but do not think that is a problem. Its available on amazon for $23 Hangar 9 Heat Gun HAN100 Hand Tools Misc. its used for heating Monokoto.

[@natxosailor]

@@kevinkenny5122 I checked Hangar 9 specs and its really a heat gun…. it gives 300C max heat. So, I assume a regular hair dryer (150C) wont work for this purpose. This answers my question. thanks for sharing Kevin!

[@kevinkenny5122]

I would try a hand dryer if you have one before you go buy one

[@user-pk7es6fb5h]

🖐️👍

[@concepcionrivera8532]

Does this work on any thickness on the plank

[@kevinkenny5122]

Obviously there will come a point of thickness that this will not work, but for ship models there has never been a piece of wood that it did not bend. Once the heat can penetrate the wood it will work.