Starship Modeler Discussion Forums

Plexiglass laminates nicely. I laminate 1/8th strips together to turn on my lathe. I use acetone as my solvent to weld them together.

This thread has some pictures of the secondary hull for my Baton Rouge class being scratchbuilt from 1/8 inch styrene sheet.

http://cs.finescale.com/forums/270069/ShowPost.aspx

I was thinking maybe it could be put in a mold like a gel coat followed by some silk span for hollow model parts.

And how hard does it get?

Sounds like good stuff. Is it a 50/50 mix?

I was looking for a good deal on my favorite putty, 3M Acrylic Blue Putty, when I came across this product. http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/3m-piranha-advanced-finishing-putty-05821-p-10961.aspx?s_kwcid=TC-1510-69993838522-S-43313638022&OVRAW=3M+Flowable+PIRANHA+Putty&OVKEY=3m+piranha+advanc...

I think I'll start with a pair of 2.5 gal pots. On a similar note my vacuum pump arrived yesterday. Any brand preferences on pressure pots?

Thanks for the reply. I want to mount two pots to a casting bench so I want to be sure I chose the right size. I'm thinking 5 or 10 gal might be best.

A set of commercial plastic gate cutters works great. the blades are like hobby sprue cutters only thinner, harder, and oh so sharp. I got mine years ago when my wife worked for an injection moulding company.

What size do most people use? I'm going to start casting quite a bit next year and would like to get a nice pot but I'm wondering if 2.5 gal is big enough. Source suggestions?

Not sure if this has been covered but the mould trays for candy making can yeild some interesting shapes. The wedding cake section is loaded with cool styrene shapes too. I recently bought a whole bag of clear fluted columns. I also scored some bags of mini wine glasses and champaign flutes.

I've never used it to mask but you can tint it with food color (or not) to make tinted and clear windows or marker lights, etc. I don't think it would make a good masking agent.

I've had good luck with the MicroMark kit and I second what Joseph said about epoxy for the clear casting. . . .If you want to make clear parts at some point, you'll almost have to use pressure to get good results. A cheap way to experiment with clear is to get some of the Castin' Craft clear epoxy ...

Kylwell wrote:Aves is also machineable. I've chucked rolled cylinders into my lathe and turned them. They shape very nicely.

Interesting. Does turning reveal any pockets or bubbles?

The best putty I ever used was Dr.Micro Tool but it's not available anymore.

Kylwell wrote:The Alsa is beautiful stuff, just hard to find. . .snippy

Hmmmm...I wonder if SSM could stock it?

I've always wanted to try this after somebody pointed it out to me.
http://www.alsacorp.com/products/mirrac ... chrome.htm

Kylwell wrote:Or...you could do what I do and use quality paints with a quaility airbrush and fahgettaboutit.

Not saying that you do but....

I don't filter anything.

Bingo

If I were going to filter paint I would just go to an automotive paint store and buy some paint filters.

I was at Rider's Hobby shop in Flint, Mi. and ran across these.
http://www.ksmetals.com/SpecialShapes/d ... oduct2.asp

I ran across this on one of my groups.
http://www.instructables.com/id/EG9RXG6F54HJ7SL/
Looks very do-able.

I'd stick with a spiral action pin vise.

red5angel wrote:I'd thought about creating the templates in styrene, I have a template with all the circles I need on it now made of styrene, problem is in my experience it always tends to shave off styrene as you go.

Notice the tool I'm using? It is round so it doesn't cut into the template.

Templates made from scrap styrene are great for small holes.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/ ... 10d1b2.jpg
Note the smaller locating holes.

I buy them off ebay. I bid on drafting kits and get them for cheap. Drafting is mostly done on computers now days so there are tons of old drafting sets out there. I have also seen them for sale at places like Hobby Lobby.

red5angel wrote:what's a drafting divider?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/ ... d86172.jpg
second one from bottom.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/ ... re2006.jpg
In action.

I like to use a pair of drafting dividers for circle scribing.

Try looking in the Health and Beauty section of stores like Walmart, Target, K-Mart. Look at the tooth brush holders, pill boxes, and bar soap containers. I've had good luck finding neat styrene shapes there.

I'm glad to be of some small use.

Not titanium but how about stainless steel.
http://www.garrettwade.com/shopping/pro ... tID=107021