Radiator Wire Figure "ART". Tutorial

[Joop]

.
Years ago I found a Radiator Wire Figure Art picture (not the license plate toppers) in one of the national Magazines.
It looked great to me and I fabricated one like that.
This week someone gave me the idea to do a Road Runner for our other car.
So like to know if there are Model A's out there that have "WIRE ART" like this on there Radiator.

Joop


Posted a tutorial below.
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[CHuDWah]

Re: Radiator Wire Figure "ART"

Those are cool! I especially like the road runner - goes great with the Phoenix topper.

 

[Gary WA]

Re: Radiator Wire Figure "ART". WANTED!

Very cool!

 

[dean from bozeman]

Re: Radiator Wire Figure "ART". WANTED!

Great idea and work, Joop!

Could you give a little insight on how you did it? Materials, set-up, tools, attachment, etc.?

I do believe that a few of us have some extra times these days and a project like this would be pretty cool.

Thanks, Joop.

 

[Roxo]

Re: Radiator Wire Figure "ART". WANTED!

Well Joop! You just opened pandora's box.
Think of this as your classroom. Enquiring minds want to know more.

 

[Joop]

.
As per request here is something on how to make Radiator Wire Figure Art:

Go to an electric store (Home Depot/Lowe's etc) and buy solid copper ground wire, I used number #6 on the Road Runner as it is easy to bend.
For the running Couple I used thicker copper wire as those figurines are larger.
Tool: needle-nose pliers, files, flame and silver soldering works great.
You'll need a live-size drawing of what you want to make and space it about 16", so it fits nicely on your radiator.
Some knowledge of soldering is helpful as I do not have that :-((
Then start bending and use the drawing as a guide.
I try to avoid many soldering connections and in this case the RR has one connection and is soldered only at the beak; then I added the two legs.
I filed the areas for the connection to make it stronger.
I used some aluminium stock to solder on as solder doesn't stick to it )
While I was doing this I realized that the RR would be lonely on the radiator so decided to give it some footing.
The cactus gave it more perspective and would avoid questions on what bird it is, it has however, 7 soldering points :-((
Attached it to the radiator with stainles steel wire that will slide thru the finned part.
So the onus is on you - have fun with it and post some photos!

Joop

 

[GerryAllen]

Pardon me, it is probably obvious to some but not me. How did you attach the RR to the rad?

 

[Joop]

.
Attached it to the radiator with stainles steel wire that will slide thru the finned part.

 

[t farr]

I been doing it now for couple of years, done some 20 for members NIMAFC and couple each for my G/kids, I try to get the essence of each one I do with some era involved. Above method is about right, I use 0.9 mm and if stiff heat the hell out of it. Bends like spaghetti. Give it a good sanding first. Shame I dont know and have'nt got photos.

 

[t farr]

Use Telecom wire, its plastic coated, make a staple, poke it through and 4 twists tight will hold it in a few places. It does vibrate and will cut the Radiator or rattle apart a dud solder.

 

[katy]

Joop, thanks a bunch, smiles, Ken