tamiya_1971 608 Posted August 29, 2019 My fantastic post office delivered a fresh, cracked Lunch Box shell to me last week. I'm getting refunded thankfully and was not asked for the body to be returned. It was, and is, going to be a runner body and I wasn't planning on putting in a windshield. With the crack the way it is, should I put in a windshield to keep this from further cracking or would it make any difference at all? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
topforcein 1764 Posted August 29, 2019 if you wasn't bothering to put a screen in it to start with then don't bother now if you are worried about the crack getting worse well as it's a lunchbox it will esp if youplan on bashing it. you can always strengthen behind and inbetween the crack with a epoxy glue before paint wrap a load of strong tape around the shell while the glue drys to keep the shape it dont really matter what happens to the shell seeing it was free 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Juggular 4914 Posted August 29, 2019 Yes, if it's free, why worry about it? I'd just run it and roll it around. But the screw goes on the outer side of the crack, isn't it? Structurally, windscreen would help. If you want to bother with it, glue the crack with plastic glue like Plastic weld. If there is enough room between windscreen, you can glue a thin sheet of styrene on the underside of the crack for strength. You can also glue a long styrene beam between the two ends of "C" of the wind screen. That could help it in such a way that the wind screen itself won't spread apart. I don't think it would flex that much though. (I'd do all these things only because I like needlessly tinkering with things) 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tamiya_1971 608 Posted August 29, 2019 Good suggestions. Thank you both! I'll go with the epoxy and/or plastic weld suggestions (maybe add the styrene). I'll end up slowly destroying the body anyway. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KILLorBE 23 Posted August 29, 2019 Remember to drill a hole at the end of the crack, that way it's less likely the crack will spread any further. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Juggular 4914 Posted August 29, 2019 33 minutes ago, KILLorBE said: Remember to drill a hole at the end of the crack, that way it's less likely the crack will spread any further. Oh, I remember hearing about that for the Liberty bell in Philadelphia. If you have plastic glue like "Plastruct Plastic Weld," you wouldn't want any gap. This is not sticking glue like super glue. It's a dissolver. It basically melts the plastic. So it ends up sticking together. If you are not going to glue, drilling a hole would be a good idea. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tamiya_1971 608 Posted August 29, 2019 46 minutes ago, KILLorBE said: Remember to drill a hole at the end of the crack, that way it's less likely the crack will spread any further. If you ever saw me drill a hole, you would re-think this advice. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
topforcein 1764 Posted August 29, 2019 if you have ever watched wheeler dealers ....the one where if i can remember edd has to repair the front bumper on a bmw you will know what we mean by drilling a hole at the end of the crack at around the 1 min mark you will see 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LeftyAl 164 Posted August 29, 2019 Another option can be to plastic weld it with a soldering iron and some scrap plastic as a filler. I have plastic welded a WW2 bumper and so far it is still in one piece. Haven't done to to a body yet, so may need some scrap to taste with. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites