Search found 170 matches

by Tankmodeler
Wed May 06, 2015 3:08 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Silicon on silicon?
Replies: 2
Views: 8613

Just about the only thing that RTV silicone will stick to is silicone and it bonds to that like you never saw.

Get a spatula of a different material and all will be well.


Paul
by Tankmodeler
Tue Feb 24, 2015 4:31 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: help! i want to use some PE on my scratch build
Replies: 4
Views: 11322

The paragraphics things are real. There are actually small tools with little suction cups on them, but they are way larger than teh small parts we are talking abuot. I use really fine tweezers to pick up individual rivets and boltheads in 1/35. Stuff smaller than .020" on a side. Tedious but do...
by Tankmodeler
Tue Feb 24, 2015 4:26 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Ridiculously stupid question -- will glue stick to primer?
Replies: 7
Views: 15932

Like just about everything else in this hobby, the answer is "it depends". If you are glueing on a small part or something that shouldn't need to be held well, then any number of glues will work to hold the part to a painted surface. If you need to part to take some knocks or some loads, t...
by Tankmodeler
Tue Feb 24, 2015 4:21 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Drilling perfectly perpendicular holes
Replies: 6
Views: 15628

Here's a thought - drill the holes first, but oversized. Then take some styrene tube and fit it to the holes, taking time to get them aligned. Use thick CA to give you time to move them. Trim them down flush with the surface, putty as needed. Kev +1 Plus another one. ^ this is the way to do it unle...
by Tankmodeler
Tue Feb 24, 2015 4:11 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Working with clear styrene
Replies: 4
Views: 10230

Clear styrene is fundamentally more brittle than coloured stryene, the clear stuff is close to pure while the coloured stuff has numerous additives, only one of which is the colour. I'd reinforce fist and drill second. Also avoid putting too much force oni it while cutting/drilling. That said, I hav...
by Tankmodeler
Tue Feb 17, 2015 4:39 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Perfect Plastic Putty
Replies: 31
Views: 75171

Ant wrote:Being acrylic based, it tends to disintegrate if wet sanded, however dries really hard, so dry sanding can be a problem. Does dry quick though and useful for blocking in...
So. Perhaps not so perfect??
by Tankmodeler
Tue Feb 17, 2015 4:34 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Small Square Holes-How to cut
Replies: 12
Views: 23404

Plus, if you need a hole that is squarer than even the worst files, you probably aren't going to do it by hand anyway.
by Tankmodeler
Tue Feb 17, 2015 4:23 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Spart Parts Trees for open hardware racks?
Replies: 11
Views: 17957

The answer to all those questions is "it depends" and the solution is to try a bunch of stuff and get experience doing it. Seriously. Be prepared to break a few in the attempt, to use a gentle heat source or a candle or wire or sprue. All of those methods work, depending on exactly the cir...
by Tankmodeler
Tue Apr 08, 2014 4:02 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Question about best choice of material
Replies: 63
Views: 127905

Re: Sabding

Another question for down the road, any reccomedation on a substance I can use to fill in cracks of joined pieces on the final model to hide seams? There are a lot of choices from the Aves/Magicsculpt and other 2-part epoxy putties to 1-part spot and glaze putties like Squadron putty and automotive...
by Tankmodeler
Mon Apr 07, 2014 8:34 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Question about best choice of material
Replies: 63
Views: 127905

Frankly I'd start with 400 grit to get down to a basically smooth surface and then switch to 600 grit to finish it off. It will rediuce the time you are spending hugely. There is no need to polish the surface, just get rid of the sirface texture and generate a nice random pattern on the sirface by c...
by Tankmodeler
Tue Apr 01, 2014 2:28 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: 3d Printers
Replies: 35
Views: 71270

Once have 3D cameras that can take a holographic image you might be able to have the printer make a part from that. You don't need to go that far. If you can get any two views of an object, you can get enough info to at least start to independantly establish the 3D shape. The closer these views are...
by Tankmodeler
Mon Mar 31, 2014 10:17 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: 3d Printers
Replies: 35
Views: 71270

So much for a 2D image not having the info for 3D. 2D images DON'T have 3D info. That are SIMPLE objects that we know their shape (in general). The images didn't supply the info, the USER did. So... Exactly! The user is making the initial call that the shape is round or square or whatever. Once you...
by Tankmodeler
Fri Jan 10, 2014 12:58 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: How do you get that Scratched-Paint look?
Replies: 12
Views: 28216

[quote="Bellerophon"]then will the hairspray technique damage the metal finish? [\quote]
Not unless your scrubbing like some sort of demon. The hairspray (or chipping solution) acts as a layer between the undercoat and the top coat.
by Tankmodeler
Thu Jan 09, 2014 10:08 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: How do you get that Scratched-Paint look?
Replies: 12
Views: 28216

With all due respect boys what I think Adam is asking for is the effect for making scratched steel, not chipping which everyone is telling him. No, he talks about putting a colour coat over a steel basecoat. That's not a burnished steel effect, that's worn or chipped paint. At least it sounds so to...
by Tankmodeler
Wed Jan 08, 2014 2:46 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: How do you get that Scratched-Paint look?
Replies: 12
Views: 28216

Re: How do you get that Scratched-Paint look?

I read about this technique where you put down a coat of steel or silver paint and then another colour paint and then scratch off the second paint to see the steel underneath. Which kinds of paints would work best for this type of thing? How do I keep the steel from scratching off at the same time?...
by Tankmodeler
Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:58 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Hot water method for straightening resin parts doesn't work
Replies: 13
Views: 31542

Sounds like it really did take a set when it was made.

If you want a straight barrel (and who doesn't!) I think scratchbuilding is probably your only hope.

If you have a lathe it's not that difficult.

Paul
by Tankmodeler
Fri Nov 29, 2013 3:02 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Babylon 5, Wing Commander Models (3D Printing)
Replies: 12
Views: 36180

Why not make one as a pattern, eliminate the build lines, cast the puppy in resin and sell them for 1/4 of the price?

Selling parts/models directly from the 3D printer is not cost effective in the least unless the parts are very, very small.

Paul
by Tankmodeler
Fri Oct 25, 2013 6:38 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Masterpeice Project. Mastering Mediums and Techniques
Replies: 22
Views: 46965

Do you think if I keep the original shape simple like a square with sloped edges it will work? The only real answer to that is "It depends". You haven't even built the vacuform machine yet, so we don't even know if it will pull .030" sheet much less .062 sheet, no matter what the sha...
by Tankmodeler
Thu Oct 24, 2013 10:24 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Masterpeice Project. Mastering Mediums and Techniques
Replies: 22
Views: 46965

4x8 sheet of poly Strene for $40 bucks. 1/16 inch thick. Sweet jesu! :) 1/16" thick sheet styrene will be a stone cold b!tch to form on much less than an industrial class vacuumm former. Vacform kits are usually made from sheet no more than .030-.040 max thick. Your sheet is .0625 and will be ...
by Tankmodeler
Sun Aug 18, 2013 9:41 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Shapeways Materials
Replies: 9
Views: 21752

nicholassagan wrote:PCS Engineering http://pcsenginc.com/
Good people! They printed the master for the Ithacus pattern I made for Fantastic Plastic
by Tankmodeler
Mon Aug 05, 2013 11:39 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Colonial viper Mk1---Monovell *WIP*
Replies: 12
Views: 26827

Not trying to be mean, but the photos are so bad that I can't even make out what's going onm much less help you. Especially the second image.

Sorry,

Paul
by Tankmodeler
Mon Aug 05, 2013 11:37 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Masterpeice Project. Mastering Mediums and Techniques
Replies: 22
Views: 46965

where would you start, what would be the seminal steps/techniques to start with or use? I don't plan to use certain techniques from the start, I plan how to break down the model into buildable sub-assemblies and then figure just what techniques to use based on the parts that need building. - Lots o...
by Tankmodeler
Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:28 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: Polar Lights TOS Enterprise 1\1000 pylon grilles
Replies: 9
Views: 22953

Like Tank said, it's not a matter of "can't", it's a matter of wanting to do it correctly for the scale. AMT didn't care about that, PL does. I took a quick look on the net for phoots from the show if the original studio model and I can't see that these panels stick up proud of the surfac...
by Tankmodeler
Sun Jul 28, 2013 10:56 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Polar Lights TOS Enterprise 1\1000 pylon grilles
Replies: 9
Views: 22953

The thickness of the decals probably isn't too out of scale. A .005" (5 thou) thick brass part equates to a deflector grill that's 4' 2" thick in real life. That feels a tad thick to me.

Paul
by Tankmodeler
Fri Jul 19, 2013 11:38 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: HELP! Material for 40" signs — styrene or ?
Replies: 10
Views: 17458

Foamcore is likely to be problematic. The combination of heat and humidity will likely cause the face-sheets to blister and over time the paper face sheets will likely mould or mildew, even if painted. There's just no way to keep it from soaking up the moisture. Any organic material isn't going to d...
by Tankmodeler
Fri Jul 12, 2013 9:02 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Masterpeice Project. Mastering Mediums and Techniques
Replies: 22
Views: 46965

but design and produce an original detailed, camera ready scaled perfect real looking thing. If you go into any project attempting to create perfection, that is with perfection as your goal, you will never complete it and you will be constantly disappointed. That's a guarantee. I don't even always ...
by Tankmodeler
Thu Jun 27, 2013 10:43 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Question about best choice of material
Replies: 63
Views: 127905

That looks pretty sweet. Do you know what layer thickness was used for printing? There will be some clean-up, to be sure, but it looks like it will come out really nice. I would recommend a couple coats of spray filling primer and then gentle sanding/scraping to get smooth surfaces. It looks like it...
by Tankmodeler
Fri May 17, 2013 8:44 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: An amature scratch builds the shuttlecraft in 1/50
Replies: 5
Views: 11466

Well done! One of the best things about scratchbuilding is the satisfaction of finding solutions to the problems that always come up in a scratchbuilding project.

Paul
by Tankmodeler
Fri May 17, 2013 8:36 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Advice needed on BARC Speeder scratchbuild
Replies: 2
Views: 8917

For the totally enclosed spaces, the rib & skinning method works really well. For shapes that you might want to be open, like the nacelles on the sides, then using the rib & skin to make the basic shape and then using is as a master or buck to create hollow vacuform nacelle parts. The ribs c...
by Tankmodeler
Tue May 07, 2013 5:19 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Guide for bases and poles?
Replies: 4
Views: 10299

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