Convex spot mirrors (sometimes called blind spot mirrors) are seen on almost every 1:1 scale big rig truck and are made in a range of sizes from 8" and up, often seen on the passenger side mirror...

0:13...and smaller ones around 5" to 6" typically on driver side.

0:27 Italeri's Peterbilt kits (instruction sheet from a 377 shown here) are one of the few truck kits that provide spot mirrors, along with some of the Revell of Germany offerings. For all the others it will be necessary to create your own...

0:45...which is actually quite easy to do. .020" styrene disks are the starting point, I used leather punches to make these. Using "scale math" and multiplying by 25, a 1/4" disk is .250" x 25 = 6.25", that will be the smaller driver side mirror. 3/8" is .375" x 25 = 9.375", a bit larger than 8" but workable especially since it will be sanded down slightly to smooth out the rough edges caused by using a leather punch.

1:06 A simple centre finder tool is invaluable for many applications. I purchased mine at a hardware store years ago, here is a similar one https://www.busybeetools.com/products...

1:15 3/8" disk can be held easily by hand for marking.

1:30 1/4" disk is easer to hold using piece of balsa wood and a clamp, here a binder clip.

1:46 Accurately marked centre of disk without any tedious measuring.

1:54 Drill a #67 hole in each disk for .032" brass wire. Glue wire in place leaving about 1/2" - 5/8" projecting. I also glued .010" styrene rod on the larger mirror to make reinforcing ribs that some mirrors have.

2:11 Wire stem makes it easy to hold disk in motor tool for clean up of edge.

2:23 If you are modelling a mirror with offset mounting stem, simply drill hole in appropriate location and clean up edge of disk by hand.

2:36 Consistency and working time of 5 minute epoxy makes it practical to form convex surface on face of mirror.

2:53 Italeri Peterbilt 378 kit parts shown here, 5 minute epoxy convex surface added to spot mirror on right. Beside it is stock kit part.

3:02 Making the spot mirror surfaces convex adds greatly to the realism of finished model mirrors.

3:10 Epoxy added to our scratch built mirrors. Slight projection of brass wire stem on face of mirror is covered by convex epoxy surface.

3:21 Micro-Mark O scale decal rivets, part # 84987, added to back of mirror to represent screw heads.

3:34 L shaped mounting brackets are made with .016" sheet aluminum (available from K&S). Cut a strip 1/16" wide, bend 90 degrees to suitable lengths and drill #67 hole at each end. Note that brass can also be used, I find the aluminum easier to cut and drill. Leave extra length on the brass wire stems for now so you have a way of holding the spot mirrors for painting and installation.

3:58 I use Alclad for finishing, gloss black base followed by chrome. Molotow chrome pen can also be used with good results. Install spot mirror on main mirror, and as the last step cut off excess stem length and touch up end of wire with drop of silver paint.

4:14 Finished mirrors set in place temporarily on primered cab. Mirror heads are kit parts with everything else scratch built using styrene rod and strip.

4:36 The same process for making spot mirrors is applicable to any model truck. Three were made for this cabover, one on each side mirror and a separate one on right front corner of cab.

4:51 This Mack R is based on a 1:1 scale truck I drove years ago and it had a larger spot mirror on diver side. Mirror again is a kit mirror head with scratch built styrene rod arms.

5:01 Closing with our example 6" spot mirror on driver side of another Mack R.

Convex spot mirrors are easy to make and a detail upgrade that will help make your 1/25 scale model trucks look "right".

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