Wire-ring Bezels - making and using them

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denis
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Wire-ring Bezels - making and using them

Post by denis »

HOW TO MAKE and USE WIRE-RING BEZELS
The model parts are from a Kyosho BMW LMR 1999 LeMans 1/18 scale diecast (gasp) model.

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Making your own bezels is easy, and they are very useful. You can actually use them as instrument bezels, but I do not like the cut mark, for that use. I use photoetched bezels when they will be viewed straight on, as for instruments.

But for other uses, wire-ring bezels are much better. They are used here to simulate the flat-metal mounting flange for the electrical wiring connector. A hose flange looks similar. Of course, real flanges would be mounted to carbon fiber parts with screws or bolts or epoxy, and would probably be black. But black would not be visible on a small model. So with a bit of artistic license, we use tin-plated wire to make the bezels. Any color of wire can be used to make wire-ring bezels, for other applications.

We use silver wire to make the bezels, because it makes a bezel that can be viewed from the side. A photoetched bezel is so thin, that when viewed from the side, is practically invisible. Since the wire-bezel will be viewed mostly from the side, position the cut so that it will be least visible.

These pictures show 4 sizes of bezel, next to a brass colored ferrule that has an ID of 1/32 inch. The top row of bezels in the detail picture, are the bezels as made. The bottom row is shows the bezels after they have been flattened. Since the wire is soft copper, use smooth jawed pliers to squeeze the rings flat. This makes them appear more like a real bezel when viewed straight-on, and does not thin the wire much when viewed from the side. Side cutting craft pliers were used to cut the wire roll, rather than an X-acto knife as shown in the instructions.

The number (4) bezels are ready-made, and purchased from a local craft shop. There were about 200 circles, for $1.50 That was the smallest size available, but several larger sizes were available, up to 9/32 inch (7mm).

(1) ID of 1/16 inch (1.6mm), wire of 0.010 inch diameter
(2) ID of 1/16 inch (1.6mm), wire of 0.018 inch diameter
(3) ID of 3/32 inch (2.4mm), wire of 0.018 inch diameter
(4) ID of 3/32 inch (2.4mm), wire of 0.021 inch diameter

The last picture shows some photoetched bezels for comparison.

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