Modelling materials

[The KHa Ri]

I've never built anything more complex than a plastic F-111. Can anybody recommend a good modelling material for scratch building?

[Lee Dowd]

I' haven' built much myself but have seen some great work. Based on that:

Balsa is the old standby light easy to work if a bit soft.

Epoxy putty is fairly easy to find and some like it. I think it tends to be a bit expensive but culd be wrong there.

Polymer clay can produce some really spectacular results.

There are other scultpint clays abailable some aimed at producing figures to make molds from in case you want to make multiples.

 

Hope this helps until someone more knowledgeable stpes in. You might also try asking at:

/www.activevr.com/afv/cgi_bin/web-bbs/webbbs_config.pl

[Chris]

Depends on what are you building. I find Plastic Sheet in various thicknesses very handy. I also use Balsa as a rough base for the greater shape helpful. (sample: Doing a 1:87 scale model of a landing craft LSU (Rescaled Lindberg 1:125 model) it is helpful to do some basic parts in balsa and cover with plastic sheet)

Car repair two component putty is of some help too.

OHH: AND NEVER underestimate a well filled scrapbox.

 

Cheers

 

Chris E.

[The KHa Ri]

A few modelling books i've read suggested Styrene, but i'm damned if I cab find it in Oz, same goes for Expanded(?)Styrofoam, that sheet insulating material used in USA homes...

[Chris]

Originally posted by The KHa Ri:

A few modelling books i've read suggested Styrene, but i'm damned if I cab find it in Oz, same goes for Expanded(?)Styrofoam, that sheet insulating material used in USA homes...

 

Styrene basically is what others call plastic sheet. If you couldn't find any, try to get some thicker plastic material from boxes, it works on some conversions too.

Expanded Styrofoam? I use Styrofoam, well some sort of, it is called *Styrodur* over here for modelling the basic landscape in my dioramas. Also sometimes as a balsa surrogate

Basically you can use almost everything when building scratch.

Toothpaste tubes gives you a perfect metal material, nearly as nice as lead foil.

Electric cords give you nice copper strips for making handles, hooks, brake lines and a lot more, let your imagination play. The insulation plasti make nice tubes for by example, exhausts.

Cleenex paper hankies do perfect tarpaulins.

Your Wifes/Girlfriends nylons makes perfect helmet nets

You can make your own filler putty by giving plastic sprues in some liquid thinner.

Broom hairs make perfect antennas (unbreakable) in small scale military models.

Hey, your world s FULL of useful materials to do some scratch build thingis.

 

Cheers

 

Chris Exner

[The KHa Ri]

Hmmm. OK, thanks for those suggestions.

/me raids mum's closet...