Does anyone out there know how to make a German bucket? I'm talking about the buckets that were hung on the German tanks. I'm making a diorama of a German tank crew cleaning a Elfant tank barrell out in the field. I thought a bucket sitting next the crew would set it off nice. Thanks, Tim

Im not sure what kind of bucket you mean but I can describe what I would try. First off I would check hobby stores in the dollhouse miniatures isle. If that fails then construction could be the next step.

You could use some kind of shape such as a thimble and grind down the dimples or perhaps sand it smooth.

You could cover a solid desired shape with aluminum foil, then coat it with some kind of epoxy or construction adhesive, followed by another layer of foil, and so on till it is thick enough. Since their is no adhesive before the first layer and if it is tapered it should slide right off when its all done!

You could also form the shape from styrene by laminating several pieces and drilling a hole in the middle. Now chuck it on a mandrill and shape the outside as you would on a lathe. Then drill out the inside with a larger drill bit. The inside will be tough to work but it can be done. In the end slap on another layer of thin styrene for the bottom and trim clean.

Another way would also require a mould of some sort. Lay a piece of tin over the hole and tap a large nail set to slowly form the bucket. Im not sure about this one though. The metal is likely to tear rather than form if not all the conditions are correct ie type of metal, mould, tool, pressure.

Another way would be to just sculpt them over a wood shape with super sculpy. Cook , cool, sand, and pop it off the mould.

What ever you do, dont bother looking for shrink rays, its just not possible yet! Hehe. Good luck! -D

Tamiya's older Jerry Can set comes with a few good looking buckets, a bunch of jerry cans, and some 55 gal drums. The whole set can be had for about $5.

If I remember correctly there used to be a how to artcle about this on missing lynx.

Sean

Here you go
http://missing-lynx.com/articles/other/makebuckets_ahall.html

thanks pat, i just went to go paste it, but you got it first!

sean

Thanks for all the info you fellow modlers. I'm going to try them all and see which one looks the best. Thanks!!! T. Skaz

If my memory serves me right, I saw a set of PE Plus Models buckets that build into various types suitable for adorning AFV's in a Hobby Shop that I visited.

John

Skaz, small flat candles used to heat scented oil are contained in a can of thin soft (bucket-colored) metal. They are cheap too. I havent done a bucket but its good sheetmetal and brackets. muffler and cable clamps too.

The Dragon Tiger I kit #6252 has a real nice bucket. All you have to do is glue the bottom in.