Search found 215 matches

by Ziz
Fri Apr 03, 2015 1:27 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Nacells and pylons
Replies: 8
Views: 15025

Use Legos or corrugated cardboard to build a jig to hold things at the proper angle until the glue dries.
by Ziz
Mon Nov 24, 2014 11:51 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Cutting 15mm dia Clear Acrylic tubing - help!
Replies: 4
Views: 10030

Regardless of what tools you use, put masking tape around the tube to protect it. The tape will also help you keep your saw or knife from straying off target.
by Ziz
Wed Oct 08, 2014 11:28 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Building my own paint booth
Replies: 7
Views: 13066

As long as it has enough "pull", it doesn't really matter where it is. Put it wherever is convenient for your work area layout.
by Ziz
Sat Sep 13, 2014 11:21 am
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: 2 part mold help (probably a really simple answer)
Replies: 7
Views: 17099

Pour your first half, let cure. Take a cheap disposable paint brush and paint the exposed surface of the mold where it will mate to the second mold half with vaseline. DON'T make it thick or goopy - it should just be a thin film kind of coating, and don't get any on the exposed surface area of the p...
by Ziz
Sat Aug 23, 2014 11:55 am
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Spay paint and Weather
Replies: 4
Views: 9083

Humidity depends more on how much it rained and how recently. If you've had a few dry days in a row, humidity isn't an issue.
by Ziz
Sat Aug 23, 2014 2:45 am
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Spay paint and Weather
Replies: 4
Views: 9083

97 is really hot for spray painting. Generally, you want something in the mid 70's, low 80's tops. Do your painting earlier in the mornings or later in the evenings instead of high noon.
by Ziz
Sat Aug 23, 2014 2:43 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: Straightening Resin
Replies: 4
Views: 14063

It was fairly thin and flat - I managed to use just Tap hot water and it straightened right out! Problem solved! For now. I'm guessing that if it's a thicker piece, then hotter water? I'm afraid to use a hair dryer on these things, as I've actually ruined a piece that way once before. Hair dryer is...
by Ziz
Sat Aug 02, 2014 11:30 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Straightening Resin
Replies: 4
Views: 14063

What piece is it and how much does it need to flex? Dimensions, thickness? You might be able to just warm it with a hair dryer to get it back into shape.
by Ziz
Mon Jun 09, 2014 10:17 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: To build or to buy a vacuum former which is best?
Replies: 24
Views: 43631

That's almost exactly the size I made mine. My shop vac is 3HP and does fine for making my container top halves - 1" high, 2" wide, 9" long - using .040 thick sheet.
by Ziz
Mon Jun 09, 2014 4:07 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: To build or to buy a vacuum former which is best?
Replies: 24
Views: 43631

How big is the vac surface area? How big are the parts you're trying to make? What thickness plastic are you using? It all figures in. There's no definitive answer. Start as small as possible and do tests. Keep the receipt so you can return it for a bigger one until you get to one that works for you.
by Ziz
Sun May 04, 2014 12:15 am
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Assemble first or decal first?
Replies: 2
Views: 7180

It also depends on how accessible a given spot is after the related parts are assembled. Everything is a judgment call.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8481/819 ... 5d48_o.jpg
by Ziz
Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:03 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Bussard light kit failure
Replies: 5
Views: 11518

Battery or power supply? If battery, it's possible the two circuits together are at their upper limit of the battery's V and mA capacity and now that you've been testing it for a bit, the battery is starting to die and the circuits are sensitive to the slight drop in battery strength and can't pull ...
by Ziz
Thu Mar 20, 2014 11:38 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: 9 or 12 volts
Replies: 8
Views: 14545

You always want to use as little voltage as possible, for safety more than any other reason, but there's no minimum or maximum - it depends on the lighting you're doing for that individual build. Just approach it logically. Work out the different kinds of lighting you're installing and what each nee...
by Ziz
Mon Feb 24, 2014 2:27 am
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Dollar Tree has plastic cutting boards
Replies: 5
Views: 11339

Kitchen cutting boards like that are made of HDPE - high density polyethylene - which is that shiny kind of plastic that some kids toys are made out of. As such, it has a heavier "oil" element to it that doesn't play well with glues, not even CA. You need to treat it with a cleaner of some...
by Ziz
Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:01 am
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Post Your Spraybooths
Replies: 6
Views: 10906

by Ziz
Mon Dec 23, 2013 10:22 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Bundling fiber optic
Replies: 4
Views: 11086

All of the above. It depends how much space you have inside a given kit, what kind of lighting you're using, length of fibers, etc.
by Ziz
Tue Dec 17, 2013 9:53 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: Hot water method for straightening resin parts doesn't work
Replies: 13
Views: 31562

You're on your own. Depends on the size of the part, amount of flex you're trying to correct, how hot you get it to un-flex it to start with, what kind of resin was used, how old or new the part is (how long it's been cured in the distorted state) - too many variables to even guess at something like...
by Ziz
Tue Dec 17, 2013 9:33 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: Hot water method for straightening resin parts doesn't work
Replies: 13
Views: 31562

Can you build a jig to hold the part after you flex it back into shape? What's probably happening is that it's not flexing/stretching enough to counteract the way it's molded so as it cools, it shrinks/flexes back to its original state. Making a jig will force it not to flex as it cools.
by Ziz
Fri Oct 25, 2013 7:52 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Masterpeice Project. Mastering Mediums and Techniques
Replies: 22
Views: 47001

Vac success also depends how hot you can get the plastic, which in turn dictates how fast it will soften, how strong your vac source is, the size and shape of the master form, how tightly you can fit the vac sheet over the form and onto the table, how fast can you get the plastic from heat source to...
by Ziz
Sat Sep 21, 2013 11:36 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Best LaserJet Decal Paper?
Replies: 7
Views: 7764

I use Krylon Clear Gloss. Use clothes pins to clip the sheet to a piece of cardboard and spray from about half an arm's length. Just mist it over the sheet. Let sit for a few minutes and go a second or third time if necessary. Don't worry if it's not totally smooth because you're going to be dullcot...
by Ziz
Sat Sep 21, 2013 4:08 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Best LaserJet Decal Paper?
Replies: 7
Views: 7764

And you do still need to use a clear coat. The problem you had with clear coat with ink jet wasn't the clear coat, it was the ink. What probably happened was that you put the clear on too thick, or too soon after printing, or maybe both, and it softened the ink, right? Go with a few lighter coats on...
by Ziz
Sat Sep 21, 2013 4:07 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Best LaserJet Decal Paper?
Replies: 7
Views: 7764

And you do still need to use a clear coat. The problem you had with clear coat with ink jet wasn't the clear coat, it was the ink. What probably happened was that you put the clear on too thick, or too soon after printing, or maybe both, and it softened the ink, right? Go with a few lighter coats on...
by Ziz
Sat Sep 21, 2013 2:32 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Best LaserJet Decal Paper?
Replies: 7
Views: 7764

I've been ordering from decalpaper.com and haven't had a problem. Their laser decal paper have tissue on each sheet to keep them separate. Tear off the tissue sheet before you put it in the printer.
by Ziz
Sat Sep 07, 2013 5:17 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: Using RTV as weight
Replies: 7
Views: 14378

What kit is it and how much do you need? If you send me the parts, I could pour some resin into them. That might be enough to do it.
by Ziz
Sat Aug 17, 2013 5:14 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: Gooey-glue gurus needed within ...
Replies: 11
Views: 23952

Why are you using two 1/4" sheets instead of one 1/2" sheet? Seems like creating work for no reason.
by Ziz
Mon Jul 29, 2013 1:51 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: Polar Lights TOS Enterprise 1\1000 pylon grilles
Replies: 9
Views: 22961

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.
by Ziz
Mon Jul 22, 2013 12:23 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Where Can I Buy Lamp Oil Locally?
Replies: 9
Views: 17752

If you're careful, you don't even need solvent. Depending on how thick the plastic is, you can warm up the sticker with a hair dryer. The heat softens the glue just enough to be able to slowly peel the sticker off.
by Ziz
Fri Jul 12, 2013 5:06 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Masterpeice Project. Mastering Mediums and Techniques
Replies: 22
Views: 47001

We all build for the fun of building. but I want to build something that I know I built the best, in the best way and from the bottom up. not a kit or a scratch of something there is no kit for. something original. See, that's all relative. My "best" 10 years ago is only average by what I...
by Ziz
Mon Jun 17, 2013 6:08 pm
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Clyde "En'til'Zog" Jones has passed away
Replies: 28
Views: 82760

For those who weren't there, 1-0 paid tribute to Zog at Iron Modeler at WF. Anyone happen to have video of it?