Starship Modeler Discussion Forums

Is the plastic clean? Skin oil or mold release might be the problem.

How big do they need to be? Have you thought about cutting the ends from droptanks, bombs or plastic craft beads? Instead of sprue, you could use appropriately sized tubing as a core. Cut a form of the profile of the engine from sheet plastic. Build a simple jig to hold the form against the tube. Co...

Save yourself a lot of grief. Build it fixed-pose.

Hi kugar13, Animation armatures are a whole new world of hurt. As en'til Zog points out, animation joints require a new level of strength, durability, dependability, control and repeatability. Steel on steel joints are the norm. This is the first link google returned for "animation armature&quo...

Hi kugar13, You'll have a simpler and happier life if you build the model fixed pose. If you want to see it in robot mode and airplane mode, it will be faster, easier and less heartbreaking to build two models. If that didn't change your mind, my advice is to build strong. You want your model to sup...

Woops

Wrong Thread

Model contests are a good place to buy donor kits. Bag kits and older kits frequently sell for $5.00 or less. For the price of a new model you can buy about four old ones. Unlike ebay, you don't pay postage and you can examine the parts in person to see if anything looks useful. Should you buy plane...

Thanks everyone

Mike

For a long time I've wanted to strain paint before airbrushing. Micromark and other online retailers sell paint strainers but I'd like to buy locally to avoid the shipping and handling on an inexpensive item. Where can I buy paint strainers locally? Both local Michaels never heard of them. Can anyon...

Thanks Everyone,

The local Michaels had a single type (I can't remember the name) of Sakura sets in art supplies and Micron Pigmas in stationary/scrap booking.

Thanks,

Mike

Hi Kylwell,

Can I buy these locally? Yesterday I tried Michaels with no luck.

Thanks,

Mike

Thanks

Hi, I'm looking for fine point and medium point markers to mark bare plastic and primed plastic. I don't want a marker that will bleed through primer or paint. I thought I used black Sharpies in the past. However, the last time I used one it bled through multiple coats of Mr. Surfacer. Maybe I spoog...

Hi Big Hank, Can you substitute aluminum tubing? I find it much easier to flare. Brass is a fairly hard and might need to be annealed for serious flaring. Thin the inside of the tube with a hobby knife. Nesting a soft small diameter tube inside a larger diameter tube can prevent bending. Work the in...

A hyperrealist airbrush artist who supported himself painting surfboards offered some airbrush maintenance advice that runs counter to the usual practice. He had a bunch of university level art classes under his belt and he studied under professional airbrush artists. Plus, what he said made sense. ...

Thanks,

That's remarkable.

Some solvent based cements might be able to melt through a layer of paint. Still, you'll probably end up with a compromised join. If you use a CA or epoxy, the join will be no stronger than the bond between the paint and the part. This might be OK for small detail parts. For structural bonds remove ...

Hi TazMan2000,

What are the diameters of the tubing you want to bend? For small diameters use copper wire or solder. They're easy to bend and conduct electricity. If you're lighting with florescents or lightsheet, no one will ever touch your model twice.

Mike

Hi Johnnycrash, Two or three computers ago I downloaded a program from an armor modeling site that claimed to accomplish exactly what you want to do. I never installed the program and can't find it on this HD. The program might still be available. If no one here can find it, ask around on armor mode...

I have a couple of questions about Tamiya's bottle primer too.

Does it have a paint-well cap like the old square Mr. Surfacer bottles had? Those were great and I miss them so much.

Can you remove dried Tamiya bottle primer 99% isopropyl alcohol?

Mike

Hi Mike,

If you live in the US, you can probably buy Novus plastic polish locally.

Mike

Hi NathanJ,

Maybe one of the Weld-On cements. I've seen it in needle applicators but the website only shows cans.

http://www.ipscorp.com/

Mike

Hi Butters,

Any good internal mix airbrush should work at around 15 psi. I usually use 13-15 psi with my Iwata Eclipse. Generally, thicker paint and longer distances between the airbrush and the model require higher pressure.

Mike

Thanks Rogviler,

I'll keep an eye out for Mighty Putty

Mike

Thanks Kylwell, I don't think texturing the beads will be a problem. The difficulty is making straight lines. I'd like to use Dymo tape but everything that will stick to the model will stick to it. I'll try masking with rubber bands. Thanks Rogviler, Are those the putties used by gaming sculptors? T...

Thanks Everybody, kenlilly106 I'll test the stretched sprue. Johnnycrash Fifteen bucks a sheet and shipping? seam-filler The modeler on Armorama used Milliput. My last package of Milliput dried out years ago. Kylwell How do you form beads of Squadron that thin? Making 1.5 mm Aves beads seems possibl...

Hi, I'd like to create 1/48th scale weld beads around half a millimeter across. I intended to use Aves in this technique. http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=220&page=1 A test on scrap plastic revealed the difficulty of ro...

Hi Callandor, I have a dust problem too. Ever notice married modelers don’t have dust problems? Apparently, the presence of a wman in the house keeps dust and lint from landing on scale models. Here are a few things that help. A while before you paint, spray the room with a plant mister filled with ...

If you're not doing big pieces, You can use a toaster oven.

If you don't need one immediately, check yard sales. I think I paid four bucks for mine.

Mike

You might be able to buy it locally. Auto parts stores sold conductive glue for repairing rear window defrosters. I'm not sure if they still sell it.

Mike