Starship Modeler Discussion Forums

Not only are 1/8" leds available (usually labelled 3mm), but you can get them smaller (1.5 to 2mm). And I am referring to the very bright ones. Ooooooh, SHINY! :P I've stretched some clear sprue in the meantime and while it's larger diameter with a nice "dome" all fits, I'm still not...

Exotic lighting controls based on single-chip computers is what I do. Some think that I make the best NX nacelle module around (video available). So let your imagination run wild. It is expensive only if you want exclusive use of a design. I'm cutting my teeth on lighting this project but hope to e...

HiYa'll again, Still working on my project: a kitbashed 'Bonaventure' class from the Ships of the Line hardback (compilation of calander art). My 'electronics' are mostly handled but I just hit my latest stumbling block: I originally kept the 'nav light' clear plastic pieces that come with the 1/100...

The easiest way is to get somebody familiar with writing code ... like me ... to do it. It is worth the effort to learn how to do it yourself if you want to do it more than once. That sounds like a possible offer? You may regret that when I tackle a more ambitious project! I've now built a flasher ...

Single-chip computers are nice because you don't have to change component values ... just a few lines of code. A flasher that runs on 4.5 volts would have 2 parts - The controller and 1 transistor (the battery pack, leds, and led resistors would be separate). The timing would be controlled by the p...

A 556 is just 2 555s in a single package, so there should still be no problems. I would use a single-chip computer (It actually costs less), but not everybody wants to go that way. Okay, But do I know "what that is" and is there an idiot proof schematic available? BTW: I'll hire the idiot...

This is a 556 chip, so it will probably run okay on 4.5 volts. No modifications should be necessary. On a capacitor, the side with the stripe is usually negative. They usually print the polarity on the plastic sleeve covering the capacitor. On that site she used a 556 for another project but the fl...

HiYa, Working on a lil project and I'd like to use the flasher board described at http://www.virtualight.com/index.html?/articles/electronics/PL1701TOS/1.html but I'd prefer to run it with only 4.5 volts since that's a nice size battery pack to fit in my base. Can a "knowledgable" (obvious...

Something that Steve Riojas mentioned to me at Wonderfest--most of the smokes have a bit of brown and red in them to give a bit of a variation in color, and it looks a little more realistic as soot. If you are wanting oil or soot, go with the smoke--burns and dings and such, black. Haven't looked m...

Bong water But not too stale since that stinks. But if it's not old it won't have enough tint- what to do? Let's smoke on it. :8) If for some reason you're looking for a rattle can solution Testor's makes #2949/ Transparent Black Window Tint, but it's hard to work with since it doesn't always atomi...

Besides the ones I've found at "craft" stores I just recently bought a 'nightlite' at a grocery store. It also had the bundle of fibres but this one plugs into a 120V wall outlet. It caught my eye because it described itself as having "multi-color LEDs". I brought it home and plu...

I have seen lacquer-based dullcoat from the can damage acrylic paint. I like PolyScale's acrylic dullcoat. It can be airbrushed very thin - just till you see the sheen change. Don't apply so thick you can see a layer. It's also dead flat with one or two applications. While I really like the simplic...

I find the tip or "nozzle" wears out most quickly. By basic design I've also found this to be true. The needle, since it tapers can sometimes be 'dressed' although I don't experience any appreciable wear and I've used the #$@& out of mine. But nozzles sometimes take abuse from overext...

jwrjr wrote:If you are going to use a 555, do you want help calculating the resistor and capacitor values? (There is a trick to it that they don't tell in the data sheets.)

If "Millenium" doesn't, I do!

Um, My bad!


How large a figure are you working on? While you've already been given some great advice somethings transfer better to certain scales than others.

Or emulate Capn Pickard?

The best chrome silver for brush painting is Model Master Enamel. Let it flow on, and seal it a day later with a bit of Future before the transparent Tamiya, then seal that with Future. Yup, It's the best sheen I've seen. Did you ever notice that if you lay on a really wet coat you can then blow on...

I was thinking this over some more and it still bothers me. Here's a case where you're trying to fix a 'muckup' (which doesn't always happen) and I'm recommending something that "usually" (well, always) works for me. But, sometimes bad luck keeps snowballing and even if you were to overcoa...

You don't want to spray a lacquer paint on top of an enamel or modelling acrylic. It's likely to pickle the paint and the acetone in it will likely wet the ink up and have it bleed through again. Thin quick drying coats of a water based acrylic would be best (assuming a spirit based ink) but other ...

Yup, I've seen whatever "ink" is in a marker bleed through acrylics and enamels before. Grab a lacquer based primer- like Model Master Lacquer grey primer in a rattle can, multiple light mist coats with plenty of dry time and it should 'stay down'. As long as your prior coats are good and ...

What SD said. Either Gundam Plated Silver marker (over gloss) or Alclad's chrome. Then several coats of candy. Alternatively, you can buy some damned tiny crystals. It also depends on how small the 'jewels' you're painting are? Another thing (smallish) is to drill a dimple, fill with craft store gl...

I use a base of chrome silver then after totally dry I topcoat with transparent green, red, blue- whatever?

It's a shame for us modelers that most spray cans are hard to decipher as to what kind of paint it is? A quick and dirty test for your case would be to spray out some contents and then see if enamel thinner will thin it or just clump on when stirred with a brush. If the two mix nicely you probably h...

The temperature of the can of rattle paint (well bottles too) most definately effects how it will perform and if you're like many folks maybe you leave your paint supplies wherever you shoot them? Sometimes that's wherever you have that's outside of your main living areas like a garage, basement, ca...

I needed to use gloss black enamel under my Alclad II chrome coat for my Naboo Royal Starship. Maybe I'm looking at "old" bottles of Alclad II but mine are lacquer based and the chrome is intended to be used over a black lacquer base too? You obviously know the difference between lacquers...

I should've mentioned that while the 'professional' products are usually only available through an Automotive Paint distributor/store (which I frequent) you very well might look one up in the phone book and go visit. For one thing I absolutely prefer using 3M brand tape (I like green, but some like ...

New to the board but with 30 plus years af custom auto paint I'll add FWIW: Originally folks found that by grinding up real pearls you'd get a "shimmering" effect when suspended in paint usually within a clear top coat. Long ago (and far away) you could still by 'Murano Pearl' at a custom ...