Starship Modeler Discussion Forums

Availability only. I believe that Future is known in the US as something different - if it's available t all. First it was "Future." Then it was "Pledge with Future Shine." Then it was "Pledge Floor Care Multi-Surface Finish." Now it's "Pledge revive it": htt...

I've found regular flickering LEDs at Dollar General in the form of faux "tea candles." Take 'em out of their faux candle holder and remove the faux silicone rubber "flame" and you've got 'em. For a buck each you can't go wrong. Like I said, these are SMDs. Flickering LEDs are n...

I've found regular flickering LEDs at Dollar General in the form of faux "tea candles." Take 'em out of their faux candle holder and remove the faux silicone rubber "flame" and you've got 'em. For a buck each you can't go wrong.

See here for a very thorough discussion:

http://scifimodelaction.com/sfmaforum/i ... pic=6508.0

And here for the original Air & Space Museum article;

https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/edit ... enterprise

Here are formulas for mixing Tamiya Flat Base with "Future"* to create different effects: 1 part flat base to 3 parts Future = very flat 1 part flat base to 10 parts Future = flat 1 part flat base to 15 parts Future = satin *"Future" has been re-branded yet again. See my post her...

First it was "Future." Then it was "Pledge with Future Shine." Then it was "Pledge Floor Care Multi-Surface Finish." Now it's "Pledge revive it": http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h407/PaulBoyer/Models/Future_zpsk0z0xwib.jpg (Thanks to Paul Boyer for origina...

That's the one. The thing to remember is to spray it on the PAPER template, not the sheet plastic. The paper will absorb the volatile compounds that could potentially damage the plastic. That being said, I've never experienced any damage to sheet styrene using this technique. It's also important to ...

I've used 3M Spray Mount spray adhesive to attach laser-printed paper templates to styrene sheet for years without any problem. Spray adhesive on paper, stick to plastic, trim to outline of part with scalpel/X-acto knife, clean up edges with a sanding block, and peel off paper. The plastic is not af...

Years ago I picked up a bunch of solid plastic doll eyes at a fabric store- styrene hemispheres 2, 3 4 5 and 6mm across. Cheap and useful for all kinds of things, especially covering up ejector pin marks. I haven't run out or seen any more since. NOPE- I checked AliExpress: https://www.aliexpress.c...

HO-scale model railroad detail parts, especially steam and diesel locomotive details. Also 1/72 armor photoetch,

Here's some advice from the "Model Monkey" website ( https://modelmonkey.wixsite.com/modelmonkey ; Model Monkey designs and sells Shapeways 3D printed parts for model warships): 2. What kind of glue should I use? Choose a glue that is specifically intended for the material your model is pr...

I understand you can't use enamels, lacquers, oils, or even alcohol thinned paints on the Bandai Star Wars kits. What does that leave me - water-based acrylics? Bandai's tips say these paints "may" damage ABS plastic. With a suitable primer, you can use any kind of paint. You can probably...

Thanks to both! Now for the killer: whatever "sticky" mask is used, can it be peeled without first "outlining" its shape (on the overpainted kit) with an X-acto? It depends on (1) how long you let the paint dry before removing the mask, and (2) how tacky your masking medium is. ...

If decals are not sealed in place with a clear coat, they can usually be removed with sticky tape. Other ideas: 1. Scan the decal sheet, print it, and use the prints as masks. If you have an image editing program such as Photoshop, you may be able to adjust the brightness/contrast so that the white ...

I know of nothing that will permanently bond vinyl to styrene. Contact cement, epoxy, and white glue (PVA) might temporarily bond them, but the bond will be very weak. You could try splicing the two together by means of a wood dowel, then camouflaging the joint somehow. Silicone adhesive might work,...

Best decal tutorial ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chCLz7xnnZQ

And be sure to check out Paul's other videos as well.

My doctor tells me how much fiber I need.

For an excellent decal tutorial, see here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chCLz7xnnZQ

And be sure to check out Paul's other videos as well.

holt35 wrote:I'm reading online that it's now called Pledge floor care multi-surface finish. Can anyone confirm this.

Confirmed.

I bought one bottle. The only place I could find that still had any was on Amazon Japan, and there were only 2 left. So it arrived Saturday morning, but nowhere on the bottle does this say that it is acrylic. It does not list the ingredients. It does say "Alclad II Lacquer" on the bottle,...

I've considered using them but have no practical experience as yet. One thing I've thought about is to make an entire hull section removable by cutting along an existing panel/contour line so as to expose the interior. I was thinking more of airplanes in this context but it should also work for star...

I tried it as an experiment years ago. MEK is nasty stuff and won't touch it again. It took a while for it to make a goop, but then used it to make my Kestrel master. In my opinion it wasn't worth the time and effort. Epoxy putty would have been less sloppy and less toxic. I even developed some cra...

It actually works quite well. It dries faster when MEK is used instead of liquid cement, because the commercially available liquid cements have additives which slow the drying time. This "plastic plastic" was proposed back in the "dark ages" of plastic modeling long before any of...

Most brands of CA glue also have a compatible debonder. Do a Google search for "superglue debonder" (without the quotation marks) and you'll find several.

Plastic from milk jugs.

I don't think there is an exact match in their bottle paints. The only Tamiya IJN Grays I am familiar with are:

Tamiya Mini XF-77 IJN Gray (Sasebo Arsenal) - 10ml Bottle

or

Tamiya Mini XF-75 IJN Gray - 10ml Bottle

Spies-Hecker Permacron.Fine Putty 7715. Available wherever auto paint and body supplies are found.

http://m.products.axaltacs.com/mcat/us/ ... obile=true

So, I just received my 1:1400 Enterprise E kit and am studying how to prepare it for lighting. The main issue I am facing at the moment is how to cut the micro-windows that may have roughly 0.5 x 3mm. Ideas? Tips? Some have used a small screwdriver as a punch. If I were to do this, I'd thin the pla...

Hello Folks Okay I was searching for a color in the paint racks of my LHS and well surprisingly Citadel has the color I'm looking for "BUT"it is in their "DRY" line of game (Miniature RPG I assume) colors!!! Since I was hoping to airbrush on the color I want for this "Anime...

naoto wrote:Oh darn... So paints aren't like fine wines that get better with age?

No, but Humbrol enamels seem not to age. I've got some 50+ year-old Humbrol tins, and the paint in them is as good as the day it left the factory.