Who collects stuff for scratch building?

The place to discuss all aspects of building models from scratch.

Moderators: Joseph C. Brown, Moderators

Post Reply

Do you collect parts?

Yep, I have a big box 'o' stuff
251
77%
I have a few parts
63
19%
No, I gather parts as I need 'em
13
4%
 
Total votes: 327

Cygnus_X-1

Post by Cygnus_X-1 »

Me neither!
Sparky
Moderator
Posts: 2404
Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2003 8:28 am
Location: Are we there yet? (Chicago)
Contact:

Post by Sparky »

Then here's something to spark the imagination. . .

<A HREF="http://www.kc6sye.com/images/ares/7_gat ... rdseye.jpg" target="_blank">Disk</A>

The part these came from didn't need to be molded, just poured resin in it then tore it off (master is lost in this process). It will be a bit trickier to ID since I used some blue-faded posts cut in a circle to cover the ugly markings in the center of the main disk.
<a href="http://www.kc6sye.com/2_wheresaneatpart.jpg" target="_Sparky">Is this plastic thingy on the counter a neat part?</a> <a href="http://www.kc6sye.com/1_casting_inprogress.jpg" target="_Sparky">Let's cast it.</a>
User avatar
Ti Raven
Posts: 7354
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:00 pm
Location: Littleton, Colorado, U.S. of A.
Contact:

Post by Ti Raven »

That's some cool ribbing on those disks, Sparky.
* Joyously Celebrating the Mysteries of Chocolate
*Artistically Whimsical
User avatar
Kylwell
Moderator
Posts: 29643
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:25 pm
Location: Lakewood, CO
Contact:

Post by Kylwell »

Mmmm, ribbed for h.... never mind....
Abolish Alliteration
User avatar
Woody
Posts: 1344
Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2004 9:15 pm
Location: South East Missouri

Post by Woody »

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 wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail
fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
Sparky
Moderator
Posts: 2404
Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2003 8:28 am
Location: Are we there yet? (Chicago)
Contact:

Post by Sparky »

Here's Ti Raven's clear ring gribbly. I meant to get a pic of it stand alone, but sitting on the engine spindle is all I got for now:

http://www.kc6sye.com/images/images_01_ ... 7_0288.jpg
<a href="http://www.kc6sye.com/2_wheresaneatpart.jpg" target="_Sparky">Is this plastic thingy on the counter a neat part?</a> <a href="http://www.kc6sye.com/1_casting_inprogress.jpg" target="_Sparky">Let's cast it.</a>
User avatar
Joseph C. Brown
Moderator
Posts: 7301
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2002 6:13 pm
Location: Oak Ridge, TN, USA

Post by Joseph C. Brown »

In the course of cleaning up my work area, I stumbled across a box that Thag had brought over several years ago... loaded with that rectangular-cross-sectioned sprue that Games Workshop used. Coolness!


And an old CA glue cap that makes a potential pattern for the main engines on a Mk VII Viper. Digging through the older junk boxes can be fun!
:8)
________
Joe Brown
User avatar
sotoolslinger
Posts: 270
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:40 pm
Location: I don't know that. AAAAAHH!

Post by sotoolslinger »

Can I have that?
It hung in the sky in the same way that bricks don't.
User avatar
Ti Raven
Posts: 7354
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:00 pm
Location: Littleton, Colorado, U.S. of A.
Contact:

Post by Ti Raven »

Everything really is either a greebly, cat toy or art supply.
Or any mix of the same! :wink:
* Joyously Celebrating the Mysteries of Chocolate
*Artistically Whimsical
Tracker
Posts: 108
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2007 3:57 am
Location: East Texas

Post by Tracker »

I have boxes and boxes of various kits, all are destined to become part of something greater. There are three multi drawer units with each drawer full of all sorts of greeblies. A 3'x2'x4' storage trunk full of damaged/junk models from years past, yard sales and Ebay lots. I walk through almost any store and see things as potential projects or material for existing projects. And yes, a single part can inspire a whole new creation. I keep almost everything because it just might be that one special part that makes the overall creation complete.
There is allways something in the dark beyond the firelight.
publiusr
Posts: 18641
Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2002 1:47 pm
Location: Alabama

Post by publiusr »

I saw a shower capable CD player at a yard sale with an interesting blue plastic base...
User avatar
Scotaidh
Posts: 4113
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2004 9:55 am
Location: Moral Turpitude

Post by Scotaidh »

Shop those ethnic food markets - Chinese, Middle Eastern, what-have-you - they usually import their stock from places with different views of packaging - and that means greeblies!

On a different tack, for all of you who are planning to enter Iron Modeler at WF this year, I suggest starting your Greeblie Harvest now. I've been digging through the local Salvation Army stores and have found some interesting items - usually for 25 - 50 cents each. :)

Don't forget those Party stores! :)
"Is Russian artillery. Is mostly on target."
Dimitry
User avatar
Bar
Posts: 15149
Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2004 3:36 pm
Location: Scotland. Not part of the UK apparently...
Contact:

Post by Bar »

Holy moses!
This thread is now OVER THREE YEARS OLD!!!
Bar.
I must retire to my couch of perpetual indulgence...
Captain Jack Sparrow wrote:Guard the boat, Mind the tide... Don't touch my dirt...
vipermark7@googlemail.com
User avatar
darkwolf29a
Posts: 241
Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:26 pm
Location: Green Bay, WI

Post by darkwolf29a »

Ever since reading an article about how they did modeling in the old school, I have begun to keep my eyes out for parts and pieces that I can use.

And, yes...this thread is old, and still useful, IMO. ;)
User avatar
Chacal
Posts: 3654
Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2002 3:09 pm
Location: Rio. Always unseasonably warm, even in the Winter, when we'll host the Summer Olympic Games of 2016

Post by Chacal »

Bar wrote:Holy moses!
This thread is now OVER THREE YEARS OLD!!!
Bar.
Had to go back and check. By my Liege's many-tentacled visage! It's true!!!
Sheer elegance in its simplicity.

Political unrest in dictatorships is rather like a round of rock-paper-scissors: The oposition goes on denouncing the regime on the papers, the regime censors the papers, rock-throwing ensues.
mrwoolery
Posts: 728
Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2002 1:27 pm
Location: Whittier, CA
Contact:

Post by mrwoolery »

I had the coolest "found item" experience today. I work in IT, and someone requested that I change out a color toner cartridges in one of our color laser printers.

OMG!

The toner cartridge looks like an Eartforce ship from B5! Just add a few greeblies here and there, paint it up, and it'd pass as an Earthforce ship. :shock: :D
It has some of the EA styling cues already built into it...the vertical ribbing of the main body, the "hammerhead" at the front (with docking bay), side docking bays, and two "main thruster" nozzles at the rear. I can't help but wonder if the guy who orginally designed the cartridge was a B5 fan and put a little B5 nerdiness into the design. Needless to say, I'm taking home the empty cartridge and doing some bashing on it. Maybe I'll make a carrier, hospital ship, or tender out of it. BTW, it's also about the same size as the Warp Omega kit, so it'll be near to scale. :wink:
User avatar
Bar
Posts: 15149
Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2004 3:36 pm
Location: Scotland. Not part of the UK apparently...
Contact:

Post by Bar »

Got any pics, dude?
I must retire to my couch of perpetual indulgence...
Captain Jack Sparrow wrote:Guard the boat, Mind the tide... Don't touch my dirt...
vipermark7@googlemail.com
Cygnus_X-1

Post by Cygnus_X-1 »

I've thought this for a long time. (about the cartridge) But the Leonov was one of the inspirations for the Earth Force ships and it came before laser printer cartridges.

I've always stopped short of doing this because of the hazardous and messy toner that would still possibly come out of a cartridge. They do look perfect for making rotating sections on Earth Force Omegas and such though. Does anyone think it would be feasible to stabilize a cartridge enough to do this, and then have the finished model displayed in a human living area? I don't want to breath or clean up toner, basically ever, except maybe after an initial stabilization procedure wearing a mask and gloves.

I finally decided that ink jet cartridges would be ok to use on models because I figure you can drill em, drain em, and dry em, so that they would be inert.
mrwoolery
Posts: 728
Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2002 1:27 pm
Location: Whittier, CA
Contact:

Post by mrwoolery »

Bar wrote:Got any pics, dude?
Here's one I found on the intardnet:

http://www.printergalaxy.com/images/bigimages/14402.jpg

There's lots of detail lost in this pic due to it's low resolution...and it's a wee bit distorted, making it look shorter in length...but you get the idea.
User avatar
Bar
Posts: 15149
Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2004 3:36 pm
Location: Scotland. Not part of the UK apparently...
Contact:

Post by Bar »

Wow! That is SWEET!
It could even be a starship from HALO!
Good find, dude!
Bar.
I must retire to my couch of perpetual indulgence...
Captain Jack Sparrow wrote:Guard the boat, Mind the tide... Don't touch my dirt...
vipermark7@googlemail.com
en'til Zog
Posts: 2405
Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2002 3:03 pm
Location: The Wilds of Northwoods Wisconsin

Post by en'til Zog »

It also has the look of (most of) a Sci-Fi weapon. Just add grips and trigger mod.
User avatar
Ti Raven
Posts: 7354
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:00 pm
Location: Littleton, Colorado, U.S. of A.
Contact:

Post by Ti Raven »

There is much modeling goodness, manifesting right there!
* Joyously Celebrating the Mysteries of Chocolate
*Artistically Whimsical
User avatar
Bar
Posts: 15149
Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2004 3:36 pm
Location: Scotland. Not part of the UK apparently...
Contact:

Post by Bar »

Indeed!
What model of printer did this cartridge come out of?
Bar.
I must retire to my couch of perpetual indulgence...
Captain Jack Sparrow wrote:Guard the boat, Mind the tide... Don't touch my dirt...
vipermark7@googlemail.com
mrwoolery
Posts: 728
Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2002 1:27 pm
Location: Whittier, CA
Contact:

Post by mrwoolery »

Bar wrote:Indeed!
What model of printer did this cartridge come out of?
Bar.
It's a Canon C4580 printer. The toner cartridge is part# GPR20


...oh, and yes I DID think it'd make a good gun, too. :D
It even has a sliding portion to it that you can "pump" like a shotgun.
User avatar
Ti Raven
Posts: 7354
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:00 pm
Location: Littleton, Colorado, U.S. of A.
Contact:

Post by Ti Raven »

Does it make a cool sound when you pump it? :wink:
* Joyously Celebrating the Mysteries of Chocolate
*Artistically Whimsical
en'til Zog
Posts: 2405
Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2002 3:03 pm
Location: The Wilds of Northwoods Wisconsin

Post by en'til Zog »

Boy... the number of quips that brought to mind, Ti.... :twisted: :shock: :D :D :) :D :oops:
User avatar
Ti Raven
Posts: 7354
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:00 pm
Location: Littleton, Colorado, U.S. of A.
Contact:

Post by Ti Raven »

Silver platters, dear, silver platters... :D
* Joyously Celebrating the Mysteries of Chocolate
*Artistically Whimsical
Scratchawan Learner
Posts: 1034
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: Grapevine, Texas

Post by Scratchawan Learner »

Have literally boxes upon boxes filled with things I've "found" at the petfood stores, at Wally World, and at other odd intervals along my way. Driving a truck affords me the odd opportunity on layover, to scout for new Scratchbashing inspirations. I've walked out of a store with a likely looking artifact, simply because I KNEW I could work it into a ship design.
I have all the small stuff in clear plastic organizer drawers.... Big stuff is in plastic tubs. Then there are all the kits I've bought for no other reason, than to bash them into details for various ships.Hasegawa's "Karl" railroad mortar comes immediately to mind. I agree with Dave, when he was talking about "seeing something for it might become" rather than what it was, in the manufacturer's packaging. This hobby requires the use of a VERY healthy imagination. Go big, or go home.[/code]
"Take away money...privelage,power, and position from an honorable man...and he's still got his honor. For an honorable man, that's enough."
Scratchawan Learner
Posts: 1034
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: Grapevine, Texas

Post by Scratchawan Learner »

Have literally boxes upon boxes filled with things I've "found" at the petfood stores, at Wally World, and at other odd intervals along my way. Driving a truck affords me the odd opportunity on layover, to scout for new Scratchbashing inspirations. I've walked out of a store with a likely looking artifact, simply because I KNEW I could work it into a ship design.
I have all the small stuff in clear plastic organizer drawers.... Big stuff is in plastic tubs. Then there are all the kits I've bought for no other reason, than to bash them into details for various ships.Hasegawa's "Karl" railroad mortar comes immediately to mind. I agree with Dave, when he was talking about "seeing something for it might become" rather than what it was, in the manufacturer's packaging. This hobby requires the use of a VERY healthy imagination. Go big, or go home.
"Take away money...privelage,power, and position from an honorable man...and he's still got his honor. For an honorable man, that's enough."
Scratchawan Learner
Posts: 1034
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: Grapevine, Texas

Post by Scratchawan Learner »

A word on Merriman's views on scratchbuilding... Dave is a very capable scratchbuilder. Dave is a very skillful scratchbuilder. However. Dave is an enormously opinionated and narrowminded scratchbuilder as well.
I've learned an enormous amount about the "art" of scratchbuilding, from David Merriman. Dave is very generous about sharing his knowledge of building this or that... from the most basic materials. For his knowledge...and his ability to communicate the said same... I admire Dave. HOWEVER. I also pity Dave Merriman, because he can't see the same things that the rest of us see. Dave lacks the artistic capacity for "imagineering" that so many on here have. I can look at a model part that is a round ring, in just such a size, and SEE that it's a Lifepod ejection port... but Dave? Nope. David Merriman suffers from a condition that I'll refer to as ALOI syndrome. Acute Lack Of Imagination. Did I also mention that David rather lacks certain social skills? I'm wondering at how Dave manages to build models with only one arm... he crippled the other one long ago, whilst patting himself on the back a tad too hard and repetitively... Love Dave, or hate Dave... the man DOES build good models. He researches his subjects in the most anal retentive fashion you could imagine, and then makes accurate patterns, and builds an accurate model of a real subject. However, I can't condone ANYone looking down their nose, at anyone else's "idea" of what a model is or isn't. I'm a kit assembler AND a scratcher. A good replica of a ship, is a good replica... whether I paid good cash for it, or whether I scratched it. Dave, if you read this forum... (and I doubt that you do) respect is not a given, to anyone. I generally tend to give my respect to everyone, the first rattle out of the box... and then let them hang themselves, or prove themselves afterwards. Dave thinks himself worthy of our respect, based on his perceived prowess as a "professional" in the model building industry. My problem is... that professionalism alone isn't enough, to garner respect. Not with me. If you want MY respect... first treat OTHERS with respect.
I can't countenence someone's behavior, when they try to enhance their own reputation, by treading upon someone else's. Shame on you Dave.
"Take away money...privelage,power, and position from an honorable man...and he's still got his honor. For an honorable man, that's enough."
Post Reply