Search found 81 matches

by AbsoluteSciFi
Wed Jun 01, 2011 7:02 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: Making Clear Windows
Replies: 62
Views: 219621

@seam-filler: I am sure that tiny windows are not easy, that is why I don't bother. I side step the problem, and make it a masking problem rather than a gluing problem. If I take a row of tiny windows out, then replace everything in that area with a strip of hard acrylic, then I can put a dot of El...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Tue May 31, 2011 9:27 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Deconstruction
Replies: 21
Views: 79599

Normally, I use a Dremel Tool to get things apart, but most of my "kits" are never put together, so there is no problem there...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Tue May 31, 2011 9:21 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Making Clear Windows
Replies: 62
Views: 219621

Has anyone tried to use a clear piece of plastic? Why "fill" an area when you can "replace" and area with acrylic?

Just paint over the clear with paint, then you are left with... clear windows?
by AbsoluteSciFi
Tue May 31, 2011 9:05 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Sanding clear parts
Replies: 7
Views: 8103

Only sand the part you need to. Start with 600 grit and work up to 2000, get the sandpaper from an auto-shop, wet sand the whole thing. The whole thing will go white, but do not worry, the white is coming off from the removed material. As you get down to the true surface, begin to feather the area, ...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Sun May 15, 2011 9:37 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Cheap Styrene
Replies: 65
Views: 102000

Thanks for this thread. The local hobby shop is really eating through my wallet. Now that I have a source for scratch building material I can eat and enjoy the hobby. Perhaps this thread should be a sticky. That is exactly why I went to plywood for things that are over 1/8th inch in thickness, wood...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Sun May 15, 2011 6:29 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Help with foam
Replies: 6
Views: 10335

A layer of general epoxy, or West Systems epoxy and fiberglass. http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=937715 5-45 minute epoxy is a bit fast... :wink: Depending on the foam... is this foam insulation pink foam? If so- the epoxy will melt it down, just like spray paint would. Th...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Sun May 15, 2011 6:16 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Making Staright/Neat Panel lines?
Replies: 20
Views: 32687

I actually use a dull eXacto knife. I practised pulling it straight in a line, and I've gotten good enough to not need a straightedge unless it's a particularly long line and I'm not feeling particularly patient. :wink: After I'm done, I sand the line flat and drag a dental pick gently along the li...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Sun May 15, 2011 6:08 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Looking for How to scratchbuild Moveable Joints
Replies: 17
Views: 29476

Unfortunately the only thing I can recommend is to take up metal working, of a limited sort, tooling aluminum in order to tool your own armatures. Easiest way I can think of is to drill an aluminum block so that you can work a hinge and screw, giving you versatile and pose-able joints. I would start...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Mon May 09, 2011 7:07 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: Scribing - my way...
Replies: 29
Views: 102073

OK, So do you scribe everything at the beginning or closer to the end? I am building a model of the Trek Defiant and there are a ton of raised detail that I am attempting to convert to engraved detail. It's the first time I've ever done any kind of scribing so this has been a great help for fixing....
by AbsoluteSciFi
Mon May 09, 2011 7:00 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: I Hate F*&%!# Super Glue!!!!
Replies: 33
Views: 45465

I favor the Walmart four-pack of black tubed CA. It is cheap and has nice hold. I've been scratchbuilding a Tholian cruiser and it's held very well. It does need a bit of drying time, but what glue doesn't? They used to sell those in a six pack... but- something about their packaging was low qualit...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Sun May 08, 2011 8:57 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Styrene cements and construction
Replies: 125
Views: 520052

Very true, I was thinking more of Rapidograph pens, which are not easy to clean, but come in many sizes...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Sun May 08, 2011 8:52 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Scribing - my way...
Replies: 29
Views: 102073

Blessed be the fan, for it clearith the air... I am an artist. Magic markers are worse than the spotlight finishing putty! And the thinners in oil paint, and the dust from sanding...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Mon May 02, 2011 3:59 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Source for hypodermic tubing (more questions sorry!)...
Replies: 14
Views: 16562

The first link on the first search for "hypodermic tubing" that you asked for...

http://componentsupplycompany.com/hypod ... 5QodQDsupQ
by AbsoluteSciFi
Mon May 02, 2011 3:55 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Who collects stuff for scratch building?
Replies: 400
Views: 930632

Just checking in to see how this thread has grown... and it occurred to me that ANY scratchbuilder of spaceships collects something! It happens to be a prerequisite of being that kind of modeler...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Fri Apr 29, 2011 8:18 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Alternative glues/solvents
Replies: 15
Views: 14905

Glad I read this, I bought a quart of MEK about a month ago- never got around to experimenting with it, but this sounds like hardcore stuff.
by AbsoluteSciFi
Fri Apr 29, 2011 8:11 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: How best to clean parts.
Replies: 14
Views: 16841

I run the entire spru tree under warm water and Dawn. It takes grease out of your way. After that, let dry or towel off. To keep your hands dry and or free from oiling the surface of your model, dust them often with talc or baking soda. This will help to keep them from sticking when you use CA too. ...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:44 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Foam?
Replies: 36
Views: 69892

I found some of the green foam at the Dollar Store once, it is so sandy that it is not only useless, but I could almost blow the grit off of it. My project is made of construction grade polypropylene foam. While the detail is good, I felt that this foam was far harder to use than I wanted for. http:...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Thu Apr 28, 2011 7:03 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: Modelling 101, a beginner's guide to model building
Replies: 14
Views: 10143

Great Idea!

Keep the stuff rolling!

This is good for the hobby!

Sweetarts Kill! Wait, that cry was for my Yoga forum...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Thu Apr 28, 2011 4:46 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: The Abbey of Aves
Replies: 337
Views: 899888

For lubrication, water is best, hands down, and by a long measure. For blending and thinning, Safety Solvent beats out alcohol by virtue of both performance, and alcohol's negative side effects. For anything involving sculpting the difference is significant, and IMO more than enough to justify the ...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Thu Apr 28, 2011 4:03 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: Scribing - my way...
Replies: 29
Views: 102073

A true believer shall use Aves for all! 'cept what Black CA takes care of. And Mr Surfacer 500. and... wait, that's about it. This is the best scriber I've ever used: http://www.starshipmodeler.com/cfstore/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=146 Hasegawa's nice steel scriber. Very n...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Thu Apr 28, 2011 3:19 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: I Hate F*&%!# Super Glue!!!!
Replies: 33
Views: 45465

Re: I Hate F*&%!# Super Glue!!!!

Anyone else ever have this problem? I sit down to work tonight and my thick super glue has thinned to the consistency of water. It will not adhere to anything. I can't even glue my fingers together!! :evil: Zip kicker has no effect on it. Tried shaking it, no dice. Does this sound like a bad batch?...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Thu Apr 28, 2011 3:02 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: Styrene cements and construction
Replies: 125
Views: 520052

Re: I use

As far as cleanup of the ruling pen. Really I seldom ever get any glop on them. when I do get a little dried melted styrene on them I simply open the apature a little wider and run my #11 blade through it and it pops right off. As far as how it works. I think it works great. I load up the pen and p...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Thu Apr 28, 2011 2:38 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: TOPIC: Fillers and surface corrections.
Replies: 51
Views: 170988

Ok, here it is, right from the can's mouth---err---label: Marble dust, and Acrylic Polymer Emulsion. Dang, that was a mouthful----how do you chemists remember all them fancy names? (Ter) :shock: :D OK. Marble dust and acrylic polymer emulsion can be found at Sally's Beauty Salons, (Sally's) or any ...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:44 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Greebilizing...
Replies: 47
Views: 113375

I'm sure it's the engineer in me, but when scratchbuilding S.F. subjects I always (I mean always) try to think through what it is that the "greeblie" is supposed to do and how it is supposed to work. If it doesn't have a purpose, it doesn't get added. Nothing looks more fake (to me) than ...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:50 am
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Making clear plastic frosted
Replies: 9
Views: 6950

just add super glue :D :D :D (please don't try just being smart *ss) Actually, that is not a bad idea, but here is how the police do it to get finger prints off of a surface when they don't know where it is... cover the item in a plastic tent place a tray of superglue in bottom of tent add tin foil...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Sun Apr 24, 2011 12:40 am
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Advanced. Decals
Replies: 210
Views: 668584

Detergents Detergents are bipolar in nature! Each detergent Diode has a hydrophobic end, and a water loving end. The part that wants to stay in water is like a barb that sticks into the water, and the part that hates water is like a barb that tries to escape the water. If you could look at the top ...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Sat Apr 23, 2011 11:45 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Advanced. Decals
Replies: 210
Views: 668584

The milder ones seem to be a wetting agent (detergent) and a mild acid like vinegar. The more aggressive ones are branched alcohols which are nice solvents for the decal film material. I am not sure if you realized what you said, but it goes something like this: "The milder ones seem to be a w...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Sat Apr 23, 2011 11:17 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Advanced. Decals
Replies: 210
Views: 668584

Does any of the greatest modelers on earth know how I can get those brown moisture fungus out from an old decal sheet? The fungus is eating at the backing of the decal sheet, which can hold the decal to the sheet, if the fungus is ingrained into the decal itself the decal will not pull. The best th...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Tue Sep 07, 2010 10:57 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: A little X wing inspiration
Replies: 17
Views: 34725

Is that a pick ax and sledge hammer on the right wing? YES. In case the 105mm cannons on the overly-piped wings fail, the pilot can jump out there and throw heavy objects at the enemy! So cool! Seriously, The only thing I don't like is the front end where I can see the base styrene plastic showing u...
by AbsoluteSciFi
Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:18 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Millenium Falcon weathering technique, how to guide
Replies: 13
Views: 20296

Very Informative- great tutorial in fact!!!

I see how I can apply this technique for future projects!