Cutting panels tricks to lose as minimum material as possible

[Joaquin]

Hi all,

I like a lot the 1/12 Honda RA272 by Tamiya but it's very disappointing that the nose can't be disassembled.
I'm considering the possibility of cutting the nose and build the internal parts. My first doubt is how to cut the nose losing the minimum material and without damaging the external paint.
This is a metal body too, so it increases the difficulty.
The other way would be to design and print a 3D nose but I haven't acknowledgement to do

What do you think about this?

[PeteJ]

Not sure what the metal body refers to. To my knowledge the Tamiya body is plastic. It that is the case then these will do the trick. They are so thin you can actually glue the part back in with almost no filler at all when you are done. Oh, and be careful. I have cut myself more that once and it can be painful!

[Joaquin]

Not sure what the metal body refers to. To my knowledge the Tamiya body is plastic.

This is the model I'm speaking about. I think that it's metal body. Or maybe not? I am in the process of purchase so I still haven't it. May be some folk can check

[dmarek]

Definitely Metal

[Orso]

Roco rail saw? https://www.roco.cc/en/product/22399-0- ... ducts.html
It is made to cut metal tracks for model railroads. My saw from Atlas is about 0,25 mm wide.

[steinietrabi]

I used something like this for my Ferrari 158 and was very satisfied.
I masked it with tap and separated it before removing the paint.
I could see that I hadn't damaged the paintwork.
It makes a gap of about 0.7-0.8mm. But it was very easy with the Dremel!

https://www.saegeblatt-shop.de/p/30x-tr ... 2EQAvD_BwE

[CK]

Tamiya also has several photo-etched saw blades. There are different thickness. Mine is 0.15 mm thick. It cut plastics very good. The resulting gap is about 0.2 mm wide. I never try it on diecast metal but I don't think it can cut too good with diecast metal. It is about US$18.

[PeteJ]

Not sure what the metal body refers to. To my knowledge the Tamiya body is plastic.

This is the model I'm speaking about. I think that it's metal body. Or maybe not? I am in the process of purchase so I still haven't it. May be some folk can check

Yup, in big green letters - Die cast metal body. I was unaware of this model. Forget my suggestion. The Hasegawa saws would be worthless on this. They are strictly for plastic. By the way, I've had mine for 20 years and just ordered two more sets. Over time, I have bent them but they are still usable for rough cutting. Decide I needed to treat myself to a new set.

[Joaquin]

Found this. Anybody know? Blade is about 0,15mm thick
Razor saw has two edges - with 20 and 34 teeth per cm.
Razor saw cut plastic and resin easily. Can be use for soft metal (white metal, pewter and lead/tin alloys)

[PeteJ]

Found this. Anybody know? Blade is about 0,15mm thick
Razor saw has two edges - with 20 and 34 teeth per cm.
Razor saw cut plastic and resin easily. Can be use for soft metal (white metal, pewter and lead/tin alloys)

Too be honest, the only thing you can do is try it. I don't believe that most model saws are meant for metal. I have worked on die cast models before, but only to strip paint, clean them up and repaint them. I have a plethora for small files for that purpose but was never called on to open one up. Sorry I can't be of more help.