De Nada! Well... today I had a rare Sunday work session. I was champing at the bit wanting to try the radiator fin idea. I had a partial package of the 0.080" Evergreen Styrene angle. I first scribed the center-line and then an offset line 1/2 the width of the angle's flange. I used the surface gauge to ensure it was parallel to the edge. I then clamped a steel rule to the offset line and glued the first angle to the radiator.
(Can someone please explain why this web site sometimes turns pics 90º on its own.
To make the fins symmetrical I then glued a piece of 0.020" strip stock to the other side of the angle forming a 0.080" channel forming the center rib.
I added angles each facing the center ribs so the spacing would remain consistent. I continued adding angles on both sides until I reached the edges and then trimmed them flush with the angled ends. Here's the finished product. If you're clever, you'll see that something is just not quite right here...
It really looks great! Unfortunately, IT IS ENTIRELY WRONG!!!!!
I glued all these pieces on the wrong face! Doh!
In my haste to get started, I never actually checked to see which face was getting the fins. So much for my "awesome" scratch-building skills.
Luckily, the liquid cement had not completely fused and with the judicious use of a razor blade I was able to slice/pry them all off without wrecking them. I followed the same process as on the WRONG SIDE and reattached them correctly this time.
For the edges I added some 0.040" X 0.080" stock which will serve as a secure mounting for the fans to come.
So here's the first finned unit sitting on the transformer. I added the trim pieces to the inner facing surfaces too so the units will look symmetrical. You won't be able to see the fins on the inside faces so I only have to fin the exposed surfaces.
Tomorrow I'll go to the hobby shop and get more angle and some 0.020 X 0.080" strip too. I had to double the pieces that I used to make the inside channel since it was 0.010" stock and the angles have 0.020" thick flanges. The fins will be painted dark gray first and then I'll dry brush aluminum onto the exposed edges of the fins to highlight them. It should stand out nicely.
With the fins well in hand, I'm going to build the fans and then construct the radiator hangers, the oil manifolds and machine some flanges for mounting it to the transformer body.
