Any tips on how to cut the cutout for the mask? (PSA: It is difficult!)

[Ambis]

Hello,

Do you guys have any tips on how to cut the cutout for the mask?

I had tremendous problems with it because there was no clear line where to cut, only a wide "cut somewhere around here", and once you cut it too small, making small incremental changes to the cutout is d*mn near impossible to do well.

What are your secrets to this?

Mine is not quite finished, but at least the work in progress pic will reveal the truth about how difficult this actually is. This is a shame, because before touching the body, I was 100% confident about recommending the SCX10 II to any newb kit builder, it was that easy.

This serves also as a public service announcement: If you are not a pro, you will probably not get as nice a cutout as the pro guys here have gotten + PR pics.

 

[txbart]

I had the same problem as you. My mistake was cutting the molded in bumper off before attempting the grill. The lower lip on mine is gone because of it. If or when I do it again I am cutting the grill opening first, & fine tuning it with a Dremel.

 

[Ambis]

I had the same problem as you. My mistake was cutting the molded in bumper off before attempting the grill. The lower lip on mine is gone because of it. If or when I do it again I am cutting the grill opening first, & fine tuning it with a Dremel.

Exactly.

To anyone who has got the new Cherokee body, first cut the cutout for the mask, THEN cut the rest of the body!

 

[jwall046]

Thank you!
I have to cut mine out soon.

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[HDMM]

On something like this, I'll use my reamer to make a hole in each of the 4 corners, then cut it out, fine tune with dremel w/ sanding drum

 

[imthatguy]

Doesn't anybody use the score and snap method?

 

[hotwheels000]

Doesn't anybody use the score and snap method?

I did once... but coach said it was inappropriate touching:mrgreen:

 

[nickz1122]

It was a pain in the... I cut it out the best i could then used sand paper to even things out. sand paper wrapped around a wooden dowel worked well for the corners. The little bit of lexan that remains beneath the grill is crazy, I wish they wouldn't of done that.

 

[Col_Sanders]

I just cut it out then fine tuned my cut with a sanding drum on my Dremel.

I like how Vaterra did the grille. It goes in from the front and the grille covers the hole you cut. Any imperfections in you cut are covered up.

 

[badhoopty]

On something like this, I'll use my reamer to make a hole in each of the 4 corners, then cut it out, fine tune with dremel w/ sanding drum

same here for things like that. ream the corners and then connect the dots. ill often use a piece of tape between each hole to give me an easy visual on where to cut. (it usually pulls the overspray film off during the process, but idgaf about that)

 

[Ambis]

I was able to get the thing quite OK with the dremel sanding drum. The narrow lower part still looks like crap but, oh well. I can always cut a nice clean strip from the other bits to replace it with.

Good tip that reaming the corners.. I just wonder how do you get the holes right in the correct places? I mean, even if you ream the corners and cut straight lines from hole to hole, how do you make it match 1:1 with the mask?

Maybe like badhoopty said, tape it to guide it, and if the mask comes off, then don't give an f-word and just tape anything back on when painting.

I'm currently painting the body (shown on the first post), I'll post a picture of how it ended up when I'm done.

 

[Waitwhatsthat?]

I used the score and snap methods. First I scored along the line, and yes there is a visible line in the mold to cut. Then I drilled a small hole in the center. I took some lexan scissors and made several relief cuts from the center out to the score lines. Then I snapped off the pieces very carefully. It takes patience and a steady hand. I'm also not a perfectionist. The grill fit in the hole, and unless someone really examines it, no one will notice the small spots where the blade got a little off line. Honestly I think the grill was less frustrating than mounting the roof rack. Those stupid backing pieces inside the body are a real PITA. I ended running the screws through them to make the threads, before actually mounting them.

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[Ambis]

Well it didn't turn out all that bad afterall! But boy did it require some fine tuning...

I painted the light buckets with Revell #90 silver. A must especially for any darker color schemed kits.

Larger size images:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/115673/rc/scx10-ii/almost_finished_front.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/115673/rc/scx10-ii/almost_finished_rear.jpg

 

[AngelowDoom]

was there a mask for the grill? if so i did not notice it. I just scored it in the mold line an snaped it off. fitted perfect right away. But had to use extra caution when cutting, since the body was so dam thin.

 

[Xtacy33]

I jacked it up because for some reason I thought it went on the front instead of from behind and figured it would hide cuts but boy was I wrong and started chopping at the sides to widen it to fit through the front before I said $%!? What did I do?!? Then tried to salvage it and from about 2.5-3ft away it's ok haha

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[SCREAMER]

Everyone will have plenty of "second chances" available in the for sale section soon, including mine.

 

[gsgraber92]

I started with the grill area. I cut along the score with a sharp xacto blade and took my time alone the bottom because it was thin. Then I gentle peeled out the middle. I used a sharpie with the grill on the inside and marked areas that needed tweaking with the dremel sanding drum. Then I score cut the rest and did a bend/peel. Using a dremel where necessary. I did use scissors along the bottom of the grill to keep from miss cutting. Mine turned out decent but not perfect. The material is super thin. I think they need to tweek their drawing buck/mold to keep the material from drawing so thin at the bottom of the body.