Soda/Beer Can Models

[JohnGay]

I suppose this is one solution to the quest "How to get that brushed aluminum look for my model aircraft" 0-8

[Texman]

The last page of the latest Fine Scale Modeler mag has a beer can plane. They mention how he used the paper templates to work it.

[papermate]

Hi, Ray, can it be copied or quoted here?

Papermate

[Gil]

FSM Article on beer can plane.

-Gil

[gotham]

This is stunning art, and environmentally friendly to boot. This is the best type of recycling.

[Texman]

Thanks Gil!

[papermate]

Thanks, Gil. It seems that I'm using somewhat the same method for the internal structure. What makes it different is that I'm building 1/72 and 1/144 but then I'll be building 1/33 as well when I have more experience and a stronger passion for this kind of modelling.

Papermate

[Gil]

This might be of interest to those who desire a more pure form of natural aluminum finish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHWNqxCYMtA

It requires boiling the cans in a pressure cooker for 20 minutes before using acetone to easily wipe the print off. I haven't tried this yet but it does look inviting but be careful, pressure cookers can be dangerous.

The next site is good on aluminum can detail. Enough so that you can find out what the annealing temperature is for alloys 3104-H19 or 3004-H19 is 775 degrees Fahrenheit (413 degrees Centigrade):

Beverage can - New World Encyclopedia

Recycling is a good thing but returning an aluminum can to a raw material suitable for forming compound curved surfaces for modeling at scale has convinced me that it is cheaper and easier to order rolls of it from Dick Blick:

Pure Metal Tooling Foil - BLICK art materials

-Gil

[Kugelfang]

This is one technique I'll leave to the experts. "Here lies Jeff who died the death of a thousand cuts after attempting to model with aluminum cans. No ARTIST was he."

[murphyaa]

When I tried my foray into soda can modelling back in 2000, the book I read from recommended using brake cleaner spray to remove the labels and paint from beverage cans. While effective, it is not a recommended indoor activity.