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Here is a tutorial on how to scratchbuild working hinges. In this case, I will be showing you how to make the hinges for the hood but you could easily use this same style of hinge for anything else. I hope this helps you out with your hinge project. Here is what you will need in short: Brass tubing
Piano wire
Fine-toothed saw
74 Gauge drill bit
Pin-vise
A third hand is nice but not neccesary. Available from Micro-Mark



#1

First step is simple, take the brass tubing and cut a 1 & 1/2 inch length of it using a fine toothed saw. You must saw it, other wise (if cut with wire cutters) the tubing will distort at the end, and make it useless.



#2

Second step's not much harder. Insert a length of Piano wire into the brass tubing



#3

Now you want to bend the piano wire at 90 degree angles on both ends of the brass tubing



#4

Now you are going to bend the piano wire two more times both at 90 degrees. Do this on both sides of the brass tubing.



#5

Make one more 90 degree bend of the piano wire. Do this on both sides of the brass tubing and it should look like this. The piano wire should rotate freely within the brass tubing at this point.



#6

Take a little superglue and put it where the hood hinge will be located.



#7

Now stick the hood hinge on there and let the glue dry.



#8

This is what it will look like from the other side when the glue dries.



#9

The next step is to select a number 74 gauge drill bit.



#10

Now put it in your pin-vise and drill two holes in the rear of the hood where the piano wire will be inserted into it. Drilling holes instead of gluing it on will make sure that the hinge is not visible on the completed model.



#11

Next insert the hood into the piano wire hinges like I am doing here



#12

Now you are done. The hinge should open.





#13

And the hinge should close and sit flush with the body like this.




Tip#1

The hinge will open and close very freely meaning that it will not stay open when you open it, but rather fall back down. There is a simple way around this. Where the brass tubing overlaps the piano wire, put a little kink in the piano wire. This will make friction between the tubing and wire, and the hinge will stay open when you open it.You now have working hinges for doors, trunks, hoods etc. No need to buy expensive aftermarket hinges.


Written by Dan MacClymont

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