Stirene Plastic for Backing Plate...thickness???

[DarthVader1]

What's the recommended thickness for the Backing plate of the Jet Pack? I probably have to return a piece of .040 white expanded PVC i've got by mail (thinking that's not the right material). Please, I need this info ASAP.

 

[BobaFettish]

1/8"

 

[DarthVader1]

Thanks BF..I knew that the thickness I have so far (.040) is too flimsy for the purpose. I'll send it back Immediately!

 

[Han Hunter]

If your talking about the back plate (Armour), I'd go with 1/8". If you're talking about the front of the JP (the bit that rests on your back) I'd personally go with 1/4". It's a hefty lookin' piece of kit. I think it'd need to be 1/4". I'm scratchbuilding my JP and I'll be using 1/4" sintra for the plate.

Each to their own though. Go with what you like.

Good luck.

Si.

 

[BobaFettish]

The reason I say 1/8" thick is because it is sturdy enough not to crack, but thin enough to flex. You want the back of your jet pack to curve slightly so it will rest closer to your back. Thicker plastics have a tendency to want to 'pop' back to their original shape (flat). However, Sintra can be heated, flexed, then cooled to keep that shape at either 1/8" or 1/4" thickness. Personally, I have 1/8" styrene on my jet pack and have had no problems with it.

 

[DarthVader1]

Han Hunter wrote:
If your talking about the back plate (Armour), I'd go with 1/8". If you're talking about the front of the JP (the bit that rests on your back) I'd personally go with 1/4". It's a hefty lookin' piece of kit. I think it'd need to be 1/4". I'm scratchbuilding my JP and I'll be using 1/4" sintra for the plate.

Each to their own though. Go with what you like.

Good luck.

Si.

Yes, the topic is about the backing plate for the Jet Pack to close it. Thanks for your input though, it's really useful indeed.

 

[DarthVader1]

This is an update...I just got a sheet of .080" clear Plexi-glass for the Jet Pack's backing plate (closure). I'll try to experiment with it to see what happens. For God's sake...I WAS LOOKING FOR STYRENE OR ABS PLASTIC!!! No more traveling, no more hassles, no more "we don't sell/have that kind of plastic here", no more "what's that?"!!!!!!!

This is the last time I'm dealing with this, and I'm going nuts already, besides of wasting money and time. If it doesn't gets right...somebody sell me a piece of plastic for this @#$%&* project! Just a little piece, at least 20"x 20". I'll keep you posted of the progress.

 

[Han Hunter]

Sounds like you're having a hard time of there DV1.

Try not to blow your top. :facepalm

If it makes you feel any better, trying to get sintra (expanded PVC foam plastic?) here in the UK is a tricky task too, to say the least.

Hope it goes well. Don't forget to post your results.

Si

 

[DarthVader1]

I've got what you told me, but not the right thickness though. Hope that with the Plexiglass could work as good as I think (it's hard and steady anyways). Thanks for the reply. I just needed to relieve myself of the stress (just releasing the anger that the dark side of the force is giving me)...

Thanks for the reply. I need some backup from others still in case if my experiment fails.