Bending PE to a clean arc (not sharp angle)

[Engine95]

Hi'ya gents,

The Voyager PE set for my Willys MB (PE35194) finally arrived from China. I'd planned on starting on it this past weekend but spreading about 2 yd³ of mulch took precedent. Anyway, while tending to my sore muscles with a liquid analgesic (bourbon) I started looking through the Voyager instruction manual. Most of the bends are going to be simple, hard angle bends. But the hood is a different story. The instructions show to bend it twice to get the 90° turn where the hood (I think you guys call it a bonnet across The Pond?) meets the fender. But an actual Willys hood is a clean arc to get that turn:



I was thinking of finding a cylinder of some type of the correct diameter to get the angle. My initial thought would be a nail or maybe a drill bit to use as a form. But I'm kind of at a loss on how to affix it to the PE so I can gently make that bend. Do you gents have any suggestions or tips on how to go about this? I really don't want to ruin that one PE part during my attempt.

[barrythornton]

I think most would bend around a tube / rod .... start larger than you need. Exacto handle / bolt ?
Hold the shortest side to the handle and bend the longer side over the curve. Progress to smaller and smaller tubes.

[Nev]

You can get curve roller sets but expensive. I’d use a metal tubing of some sort.

[chief5437]

^^ what those guys said. Sometimes helps to use a load of blue tack or similar as a backing support.

[digger303]

Do it on a softish mat and press down and the mat will push it around the rod former.

[Engine95]

Thank you Barry, Nev, Chief, and Digger.

I'm going with a combination of all your suggestions in conjunction with using the original hood as the starting form. Then move to varying sizes of metal dowels I picked up at the hardware store to finish off the bends. I did look at some of the Small Shop roller tools Nev but they are way kinds of expensive.