Search found 299 matches
- Sun Nov 05, 2023 11:24 pm
- Forum: Construction
- Topic: Quick question re: plastic yard-sale signs
- Replies: 5
- Views: 25425
Re: Quick question re: plastic yard-sale signs
I just ignore any printing. It usually doesn't telegraph through to the next layer, and if that becomes a problem a coat of scratch filling primer will take care of that. I pull styrene sheet out of dumpsters all the time- any vacuformed packaging is probably styrene if it isn't clear PETE, so many ...
- Sun Oct 15, 2023 7:27 pm
- Forum: Scratchbuilding
- Topic: Laser cutting service
- Replies: 33
- Views: 150110
Re: Laser cutting service
Place down the street from me can handle 100"X52" which should work for most scale models:
http://www.pagodaarts.com/info
Just look up laser cutting + your nearest city and see what comes up
http://www.pagodaarts.com/info
Just look up laser cutting + your nearest city and see what comes up
- Wed Aug 23, 2023 10:29 pm
- Forum: Scratchbuilding
- Topic: Styrene Rod with Wire Core?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 23623
Re: Styrene Rod with Wire Core?
Butyrate is a little more flexible than styrene. Still will glue with a hot acrylic glue with methylene chloride in the mix.
- Wed Aug 23, 2023 5:14 pm
- Forum: Scratchbuilding
- Topic: Styrene Rod with Wire Core?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 23623
- Sat Aug 12, 2023 11:41 pm
- Forum: Scratchbuilding
- Topic: Fixing scratches in clear plastic
- Replies: 7
- Views: 38956
Re: Fixing scratches in clear plastic
Surface preparation counts! The better you buff it out, the better the clear coat will work. A model canopy or most clear model parts are not big and doesn't take a lot of time to do right. If you can more or less see through the part it's ready for a clear coat. If there is a scratch, you are still...
- Mon Jul 17, 2023 11:27 pm
- Forum: Scratchbuilding
- Topic: What's a dental vacuum former?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 113824
Re: What's a dental vacuum former?
A full size vacuform set up IS a lot of work. A good intro is this book: https://www.amazon.com/Vacuum-Forming-Hobbyist-Douglas-Walsh/dp/0998932701/ref=asc_df_0998932701/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=316862106435&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7641524108661398430&hvpone=&hvp...
- Sun Jul 16, 2023 8:16 pm
- Forum: Scratchbuilding
- Topic: What's a dental vacuum former?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 113824
Re: What's a dental vacuum former?
it's limited, but doesn't take up a lot of space. Mattel platform is 2/12 X 3". I'm using some 1/32 inch thick PVC which is sturdy enough for my purposes. It seems about as thick as most vacuform kits I've built. Thinner plastic would give you better detail if that's what you need. If the part ...
- Sun Jul 16, 2023 1:04 pm
- Forum: Scratchbuilding
- Topic: What's a dental vacuum former?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 113824
Re: What's a dental vacuum former?
I just fired up my upgraded Mattel for the first time this year and it worked fine pulling a form off of a resin master- the power bay boiler doors on a Revell XSL-01- a pretty simple section of a cone. First sheet of plastic drooped to far and contacted the heating element, so I had to use another ...
- Thu May 25, 2023 5:35 pm
- Forum: Scratchbuilding
- Topic: What's a dental vacuum former?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 113824
Re: What's a dental vacuum former?
The usual modifications to a Mattel are pretty simple- a new perforated platform to hold your masters, a metal cover to help the heating element heat up faster, a little rubber one way valve, new rubber feet and some silicone grease for the vacuum pump. Some have bypassed the pump to connect a shop ...
- Thu May 25, 2023 3:53 pm
- Forum: Scratchbuilding
- Topic: What's a dental vacuum former?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 113824
Re: What's a dental vacuum former?
I just checked eBay and original Mattel machines are even cheaper than the Michaels product! (May 25, 2023)Repair and upgrade methods are all over the web, and upgrade parts are available. I really like my seldom used machine and it doesn't take up a lot of space.
- Tue May 23, 2023 9:47 pm
- Forum: Scratchbuilding
- Topic: What's a dental vacuum former?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 113824
Re: What's a dental vacuum former?
The transparencies for overhead projectors are very thin. Someone, maybe gaugepods, used to sell clear PVC punched for the Mattel machine but it looks like they no longer sell hose or the upgrade parts. the PETE used for blister packaging obviously works well for vacuforming and blank sheets and she...
- Sun Oct 16, 2022 5:11 pm
- Forum: Construction
- Topic: Styrene cements and construction
- Replies: 126
- Views: 908573
Re: Styrene cements and construction
MEK has it's uses, but it is nasty stuff and stinks. Clear PVC primer is about 70% MEK and is available all over.
- Sat Oct 15, 2022 10:47 pm
- Forum: Scratchbuilding
- Topic: What's a dental vacuum former?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 113824
Re: What's a dental vacuum former?
They are about the size of the old Mattel Vac-U-Form, which are not expensive now because of the interwebs. The Mattel I have works great the one or two times a year I use it and does not take up a lot of space. The upgrades from: https://gaugepods.com/products/mattel-vac-u-form-rebuild-kit?_pos=1&a...
- Sat Oct 15, 2022 10:38 pm
- Forum: Construction
- Topic: Styrene cements and construction
- Replies: 126
- Views: 908573
Re: Styrene cements and construction
Plexiglas or Acrylic cement is about the same thing. My West Coast source is TAP Plastics. https://www.tapplastics.com/product/repair_products/plastic_adhesives/tap_acrylic_cement/130/945?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=&scid=scplp10717&sc_intid=10717&gclid=CjwKCAjwtKmaBhB...
- Thu Oct 13, 2022 9:59 am
- Forum: Scratchbuilding
- Topic: Looking for BLACK Styrene Rods
- Replies: 3
- Views: 13080
Re: Looking for BLACK Styrene Rods
How long do you need them to be? For those diameters you could stretch some black sprue. Black seems to be more available in ABS or acrylic. Just use a hotter solvent and those could work.
- Fri Aug 19, 2022 10:05 pm
- Forum: Scratchbuilding
- Topic: DSEV Chesley Bonestell
- Replies: 14
- Views: 60259
Re: DSEV Chesley Bonestell
Very nice! And big!
- Sun Aug 07, 2022 6:26 pm
- Forum: Finishing
- Topic: What is the oldest paint you have that is still good?
- Replies: 25
- Views: 192512
Re: What is the oldest paint you have that is still good?
I have some Pactra enamel in the square teardrop bottle that is still fine after a couple of drops of thinner. I'm guessing those are from the 1970's. Almost all of the acrylics I've picked up over the past 20 or so years have turned into marshmallow like blobs that respond to nothing except being t...
- Sat Jun 25, 2022 8:20 pm
- Forum: Scratchbuilding
- Topic: Best online source for hemispheres?
- Replies: 35
- Views: 360666
Re: Best online source for hemispheres?
I picked up some ChiCom dollar store ping pong balls today- still unglueable with methylene chloride laced acrylic cement... I'll have to try the official variety.
- Sat May 28, 2022 6:28 pm
- Forum: Scratchbuilding
- Topic: Best online source for hemispheres?
- Replies: 35
- Views: 360666
Re: Best online source for hemispheres?
I tried acrylic cement with methylene chloride on them a long time ago, without success. Materials change- I should try again!
- Fri May 27, 2022 7:43 pm
- Forum: Scratchbuilding
- Topic: Best online source for hemispheres?
- Replies: 35
- Views: 360666
Re: Best online source for hemispheres?
A lot of fishing bobbers are styrene. Ping Pong balls are some un-glueable plastic, unfortunately.
- Mon May 23, 2022 11:26 am
- Forum: Scratchbuilding
- Topic: Best online source for hemispheres?
- Replies: 35
- Views: 360666
Re: Best online source for hemispheres?
These are solid, but inexpensive:
https://www.tapplastics.com/product/pla ... ochons/139
https://www.tapplastics.com/product/pla ... ochons/139
- Sun Mar 20, 2022 5:26 pm
- Forum: Construction
- Topic: Working with old second hand kits
- Replies: 6
- Views: 28243
Re: Working with old second hand kits
I use ancient decals all the time. The window trick works 9 times out of 10. I spray a light coat of clear lacquer over them if a test decal breaks up or just to be cautious. Then trim them closely if they are still yellowed. I have not had a problem with clear parts, but worse case scenario, glue t...
- Thu Feb 24, 2022 6:36 pm
- Forum: Construction
- Topic: best way to join 2 VERY similar parts with different curves
- Replies: 5
- Views: 17541
Re: best way to join 2 VERY similar parts with different curves
Can you splice just the sub bay into the 8 window bottom? or just trim down the 4 window bottom where it starts to diverge from the 8 window fins? Dry fit both of the bottoms and take a good hard look at how they go together. My first impulse would be to use as much of the 8 window fins as possible,...
- Mon Jan 17, 2022 6:45 pm
- Forum: Construction
- Topic: Which glue for old Lindberg kit "Visible Human Body"
- Replies: 8
- Views: 33052
Re: Which glue for old Lindberg kit "Visible Human Body"
Look for the cement used for acrylic/plexiglas/perspex. Make sure methylene chloride is one of the ingredients. It's a fun kit to build and paint.
- Fri Jan 14, 2022 11:36 pm
- Forum: Construction
- Topic: working with ABS
- Replies: 19
- Views: 88249
Re: working with ABS
It's not PVC Cement you want- it is the PVC Primer that you smear on the pipe before you use the cement. It's the runny stuff in the can with a pompom applicator attached to the cap. It's a witches brew of solvents, cheap and available at any hardware store. Stinks to high heaven! It flashes off slo...
- Fri Jan 14, 2022 12:30 pm
- Forum: Construction
- Topic: working with ABS
- Replies: 19
- Views: 88249
Re: working with ABS
If you're dead set on MEK, PVC primer is about 30% MEK. I've used it as a model solvent cement is a pinch. There is a clear primer now so you are not stuck with the purple.
- Tue Jan 11, 2022 12:39 pm
- Forum: Construction
- Topic: working with ABS
- Replies: 19
- Views: 88249
Re: working with ABS
MEK is Methyl Ethyl Ketone- what you need to look for is methylene chloride somewhere in the ingredients. In California I use TAP plastics acrylic cement- https://www.tapplastics.com/product/repair_products/plastic_adhesives/tap_acrylic_cement/130/296?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=&...
- Mon Jan 10, 2022 11:34 am
- Forum: Construction
- Topic: working with ABS
- Replies: 19
- Views: 88249
Re: working with ABS
For glue, make sure it contains methylene chloride! ABS can be resistant to normal styrene liquid cements. Any cement for acrylics or plexiglas will work well.
- Fri Dec 10, 2021 8:42 pm
- Forum: Finishing
- Topic: Very thin laser-printed decals
- Replies: 5
- Views: 30873
Re: Very thin laser-printed decals
Excellent tip, seamfiller!
- Tue Nov 23, 2021 7:50 pm
- Forum: Construction
- Topic: Looking for a super quiet airbrush compressor
- Replies: 4
- Views: 16475
Re: Looking for a super quiet airbrush compressor
When I was looking into a very quiet compressor a CO2 tank seemed like the best idea. Tank rental and filling it were super cheap compared to a compressor. Did not do it- moved instead- but call up your local airgas or air liquide for a price.