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Is there anybody on the forum who can make copy's of lexan body's or gear covers ? Or a company that does it ? I have a Hirobo Zerda primary belt cover (gear cover) new and uncut that's getting quite scarce , I was just thinking it might be worth getting copied and saved from extinction but didn't know who to contact ?

I would try contacting TeamBlueGroove, they do fairly decent repros of all kinds of stuff, including some Hirobo offerings:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HIROBO-ALIEN-MID4-MID-4-BODY-VINTAGE/112811895806

They might be interested in repopping your gear cover.

I've had a couple of bodies from them that were a little on the small size, if it were just one I'd be able to write it off but not two so I'd rather go elsewhere or not bother.

Well, that's true, everything TBG repops ends up being a tad undersized, because they use an existing body to do a repop, not a mould, and unlike a mould, repopping Lexan from an existing body results in a bit of shrinkage that would be prevented if it was done on a mould. I don't think you'll find many other options out there who would make a mould of your existing gearbox cover and pull some parts over it, and likely not cost-effectively. TBG might be the only game in town, and I bet most people would be happy with a slightly undersized gearbox cover than none at all.

Steve Haskins of Penguin bodies does a great job, I have been thoroughly happy with my bodies I have bought from them. I don’t believe he is on here, but he is on Facebook and eBay

GoMachV wrote: ↑Mon Apr 20, 2020 5:16 pm Steve Haskins of Penguin bodies does a great job, I have been thoroughly happy with my bodies I have bought from them. I don’t believe he is on here, but he is on Facebook and eBay

I might reach out to him ,see what he says , thanks .

The other one that comes to mind is Old RC but I'm not sure he makes "copies"

Worth a shot....

Coelacanth wrote: ↑Mon Apr 20, 2020 4:55 pm I would try contacting TeamBlueGroove, they do fairly decent repros of all kinds of stuff, including some Hirobo offerings:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HIROBO-ALIEN-MID4-MID-4-BODY-VINTAGE/112811895806

They might be interested in repopping your gear cover.

I sold TBG the original for the Hirobo Alien body maybe around 10 years ago on eBay. I found it out of package on the top shelf of an ancient hobby shop in Central Illinois. I knew what it was on sight, and managed to buy it for either 5 or 10 dollars...

Wonder if you've thought of making a mould of the interior of the cover and drape moulding lexan over that. I've been wondering whats the best way of taking a mould, plaster of Paris, plasticine silicon etc. Dry plaster of Paris both smooth and would take some heat.
Plastics used in food packaging seem similar to lexan ?
I don't want to bugger the belt cover either! So a good barrier releasing agent necessary. I might experiment with some other component. I'm sure you've thought of something along those lines and there are articles about it

The way most would do it is with plaster of Paris. Problem is, it shrinks. I forget the percentage amount, and I should actually know it since I use it to pop molds for lead sailboat bulbs. POP is cheap enough to make a low production count cast. Silicone is VERY expensive, and not hard enough to do a pull over.

As for pulling the mold, you don't just "drape" hot lexan over it. It requires a vacuum forming setup, and a fairly large one too. And for pulling rc bodies well, a lever type system is needed and a fairly large vacuum source. It isn't a setup you can cheaply go out and buy. And while most people build their own, it is also more complex than a standard vacuum forming setup.