Products that were not intended to be used in model making but work anyway

i love these dentist tools. Milling tools, pliers and my favorite tools are these small silicon containers. Originally, the mass for tooth fillings was mixed in them. I use them today for my 2k plastic putty. Since they are made of silicone, nothing sticks to them and you can use them over and over again


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The plastic liquid paper tape despenser tips look tailor made to go into the nose of Star Destroyer models. Two of them side by side can be thought up as reverse jaws of life. The ISD rams a ship..the piercing doors open a hole, and Stormtroopers flood in from the bow.
 
These little guys, used in concrete work to hold up the rebar before the concrete is poured. They come in all differnt kinds of styles and shapes, depending on the company that made them.....while I've not used any for a project, Ive thought how they could be used for something cool.
Back thrusters on a space ship or something like that.


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JediMichael said:
These little guys, used in concrete work to hold up the rebar before the concrete is poured. They come in all differnt kinds of styles and shapes, depending on the company that made them.....while I've not used any for a project, Ive thought how they could be used for something cool.
Back thrusters on a space ship or something like that.


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Those are lovely—caulk tips for nosecones! All at a jobsite.

The Zuru 5 surprise toys have packaging that are sphere slices…each like a TOS shuttlebay door.
zuru-toys.com

ZURU Toys | Reimagining Play. Every Day

ZURU is a disruptive and award-winning company that designs, manufactures, and markets innovative toys and consumer products such as Bunch O Balloons, X-Shot and more!
zuru-toys.com

For parts
www.thetoyinsider.com

SPACE MAXX ROCKET TRANSPORT

Get ready to launch playtime out of this world! Measuring more than 2 feet long and equipped with flashing lights and sounds, the set comes with three space exploration vehicles ready for any intergalactic adventure. Little astronauts can conquer driving the rocket forwards or backwards across...
www.thetoyinsider.com www.thetoyinsider.com
www.target.com

Space Maxx - Mini Space Vehicles - 3pk

Read reviews and buy Space Maxx - Mini Space Vehicles - 3pk at Target. Choose from contactless Same Day Delivery, Drive Up and more.
www.target.com www.target.com

The BIC INTENSITY Fineliner has caps and ends that terminate into TOS nacelles aft-caps, after a fashion:


Best for 1/2500 scale.

Candy Treasure has interesting containers
www.candydirect.com

Candy Treasure Konz Ice Cream Cone Surprise - 10ct

Candy Treasure Konz Ice Cream Cone Surprise - 10ct
www.candydirect.com www.candydirect.com
 
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Wine Bottle Leaded Foil - from around the cork and neck. Use it for thick, moldable cloth that holds its shape. I've seen AFV modelers use them for draped flags.

Foil based candy wrappers... like Mini Reese's Cups - extremely thin foil useful for cloth or heat shielding. Can also use coffee bags and snack bar wrappers, but they're thicker.

Electric Toothbrush - convert into a powered sander for tight spots.

Scientific Test Tube Centrifuge - paint mixer

Glass nail files.... the never ending sanding stick. Very fine grit though, so good for polishing.

Car Wax / Cleaner - Polish raw plastic to prep for metallic finish, or use on paint for high gloss.

Makeup Exfoliating Pads - polishing pads

Post-It-Notes and Index cards - low / no tack masking on sensitive paint layers. Can be cut in patterns for camo.

Fun Tack - the stuff you use to hang kid's posters on a wall... Can be used for another masking option. Good for curves and can do hard edge or diffused edge depending on airbrush angle. I also use it to stick small parts to toothpicks for painting.

Drafting / Architectural Templates - Various shapes and sizes to use as templates for marking out and cutting parts. Can be used for scribing, but most of them are plastic, so its not ideal. Different ones have different sizes of shapes - circles, squares, octagons, etc. They also have ones that have standard layouts for home appliances and furniture.

Food dehydrator (not the stacking tray kind) - fast cure paint at low heat.

Permanent Coffee Filters - The ones with a plastic frame and metal mesh. Use the mesh to strain acrylic paint for airbrushing. Or you can use the mesh for model details.
 
As Ive been building the Hoth scene for an upcoming trunk or treat event, which I've been posting in the Halloween 2022 thread in the off-topic section. Been going through all my random collected stuff and thought I share here. Some being from models, but plenty from other places.

Will be interesting to find a use for the big cat greeble.
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Took apart a while printer years ago, which made a mess when the ink got everywhere, but been using parts of that for a bunch of projects.
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publiusr said:
Lately you see 18 wheelers with plastic or metal 22.5 inch hubcaps or aerodynamic wheel cover kits as they are called.
bigrigchromeshop.com has RM-250S-1 for $20.69.
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I had remembered someone mentioning this. Found it.
And besides that, there are also the lugnut covers for semis.
At my work, a few years ago, one of our semi truck drivers, who last year got a dui on the weekend and now is just our loader.....yeah, but he gave me one of these covers thinking I might be able to use it for something. Today I found it way in the back of my locker.....totally had forgotten about it. But, I only have one, but it is cool looking, so who knows what use it could have someday.....and knowing me, I'll need two.

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Misc. shaped plastic Christmas light bulbs. So many uses. The tips make a good facsimile for lights or colored buttons and indicators, e.g. Star Trek TOS bridge display panels, consoles, etc.

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JediMichael said:
I had remembered someone mentioning this. Found it.
And besides that, there are also the lugnut covers for semis.
At my work, a few years ago, one of our semi truck drivers, who last year got a dui on the weekend and now is just our loader.....yeah, but he gave me one of these covers thinking I might be able to use it for something. Today I found it way in the back of my locker.....totally had forgotten about it. But, I only have one, but it is cool looking, so who knows what use it could have someday.....and knowing me, I'll need two.

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Some of those octagonal marker tops could go into that thread…and or put spheres in it…shoot is out of a tube as a proton torpedo. Sleestak base…something.

It doesn’t say “ship” to me…Cyberman missile? Starlite charge something…
 
I just remembered something:

You know about nuclear pulse Orion’s, right guys?

toughsf.blogspot.com

Fusion without Fissiles: Superbombs and Wilderness Orion

A blog dedicated to helping Science Fiction authors create and discuss worlds where a realistic setting can still serve the fiction.
toughsf.blogspot.com toughsf.blogspot.com


Just buy one of these:


For a monster Orion, glue several under a prop cover/spinner

My Dad had an old one but it’s lost now.

Cat bowl dish antenna
www.chewy.com

NECOICHI Tilted Stress Free Raised Cat Food Bowl, Large - Chewy.com

Buy Necoichi Tilted Stress Free Raised Cat Food Bowl, Large at Chewy.com. FREE shipping and the BEST customer service!
www.chewy.com www.chewy.com
 
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