Not so much technical, but I does anyone know how I can measure the curve of the inside of the van?

Is there any kind of measurements hidden away somewhere?

Any help appreciated.

Max.

What do you want to know? The radius? I assume you want to cut something the same shape? Just use a flexible curve (is it called a french curve?) from a stationary shop.

one piece of ply to go around the edge, would it work if I held it up against the back of the van a drew around the outside edge. Then cut off the excess. ?

Max.

Yeah I guess so. or buy one of these innit.

http://www.langtoninfo.co.uk/showitem.a ... 8122840755

scribe a template.

cut some card to the rough shape then use a pencil on a block of wood and move the block round the roof curve drawing on the card.

As Sean says, Max.

Say you are trying to copy the shape of the roof. Get a long piece of thick card or thin ply at least half* the width of the roof - although full width would be safer. Sit it on the roof and either hold it in place with plasticine or similar, or get someone to hold it absolutely steady for you.

The card will be touching the roof in the middle section, and there will be gaps at both sides. Look at this gap; you'll need to make a 'spacer' (a kind of 'follower') at least this long - best to make it a couple of cm longer. This 'follower' can also be a piece of card, but it should have a pointed end to touch the roof and a small hole in the other end to take a pencil. So, we are talking about a piece of thick card around - ooh - 150mm long (a guess), by 30mm wide will do, pointy at one end and with a small hole at t'other.

Ok, this 'follower' must be kept completely vertical at all times. Touch it on the roof, place the pencil tip against your sheet, and move it sideways to follow the shape of the roof and trace the result on to the card sheet above. Keep it vertical! Especially as you go down the sides!

Next week I'll show you how to make playdough using flour and oil...



*If you make it half the width, you'll need to flop it over to double your result. But you must keep both halves in line with each other.

That's what I did - I taped some mounting board to the back and drew around it to make a template.

Don't rely on the curve being the same both sides - the wood I made for the back of Hetth would only fit one way round