How to replace a floorpan with moulded in detail
by theflame

(Dec 02, 2007) -

Floorpans with moulded in detail are  common cause of frustration for anyone who enjoys detailing the underside of their models.  They can be difficult to paint, flat looking, and you can often get stuck with details that you don't want there for your build.

A case in point was an AMT 32 Ford project I was working on.  The finished project would have Zoomie style headers,  but the chassis had the stock exhaust moulded in.  I could've left it there but it bugged me.  I decided on what I thought would be dramatic plastic surgery - but what turned out to be a simple procedure which only took a couple of hours. 

For this project you will need a scribing tool (or use the back of a #11 blade), files for clean up, sheet styrene and your prefered glue. 

Here's the original chassis with the offending exhaust.  Although in this example that's the part I'm trying to replace, you can apply this technique to many other underneath type problems.

I started by scribing down the inside of the drivers side frame rail until I scribed right through the plastic:

Then, slowly but surely, I worked my way around all the other edges until I was left with this: 

Not bad, but there was still a little detail left on the frame: 

Easily removed though with a coarse sanding stick! 

The bolt detail you see on the other side can be duplicated with photetched bolt heads or Scale Hardware mini bolts, if you so wish.

Next up - time to lay down a new floorpan!  I used the chassis as a template and fabricated a new piece.

Done!  More detail can be added with ribs formed from small diamter semi-circular or square rod, PE bolt heads and anything else you see fit to add.

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