joberg
Legendary Member
Any pencil/pen is a great way to acquire greeblies...same with your electrical toothbrush: lot's of details in there!
Products that were not intended to be used in model making but work anyway
- Thread starter joberg
- Start date
TheBeast
Active Member
Sorry. Tried to see if the OP, from 2018, got a reply for first part, but ARE available at Lowe's US, still, are PVC ceiling tiles, and in the barbaric USA, " means inches, while the tiles are 2 by 4 feet...
If I may fall back on gamer (non-vid) background, Future/acrylic floor polish is long known, but even more as part of 'magic wash', mix of Future, water, and acrylic paint, for figs painted but not shadowed, using 'dip and flick' to lose excess.
If mentioned in ten pages above, I plead TLDR.
Now, in the tradition of the Sulaco, has anyone tried using toy guns, even water pistols and rifles, as hulls for spaceships?
If I may fall back on gamer (non-vid) background, Future/acrylic floor polish is long known, but even more as part of 'magic wash', mix of Future, water, and acrylic paint, for figs painted but not shadowed, using 'dip and flick' to lose excess.
If mentioned in ten pages above, I plead TLDR.
Now, in the tradition of the Sulaco, has anyone tried using toy guns, even water pistols and rifles, as hulls for spaceships?
We moved my grandpa out of his house 4 year ago and there were a lot of pens and mechanical pencils. I took all the ones that either didn't work or were broke and took all the parts. I got a ton of silver plastic pen tips and various other parts. I kept going through "trash" as my uncle was putting it out and he'd be like "That's trash!" and I said "There's good stuff in there!"
He's of the mind that if it's not immediately useful, you get rid of it, whereas my grandpa (Mom's dad) and my dad and his side kept everything that might be useful.
They were called Pop-a-Point pencils - and yes, still do seem to be available in one form or another...
joberg
Legendary Member
There's no such a thing as "trash" for us model/prop makersWe moved my grandpa out of his house 4 year ago and there were a lot of pens and mechanical pencils. I took all the ones that either didn't work or were broke and took all the parts. I got a ton of silver plastic pen tips and various other parts. I kept going through "trash" as my uncle was putting it out and he'd be like "That's trash!" and I said "There's good stuff in there!"
I went to Costco yesterday and got the plastic inserts that hold their AA batterie packs! The wife was livid
Iskelderon
Sr Member
...which reminds me again that BIC pens and their cheap knockoffs are always a good source for hexagonal connection struts.
TheBeast
Active Member
The computer center I worked in burnt through them prodigiously, yet few made it to the dumpster.
I could cut the barrels into short lengths, glue en masse to make a honeycomb game board.
I assumed the paperless office made 'em obsolete .
Iskelderon
Sr Member
The paperless office is one of those myths people somehow still believe in, like honest politicians.
JimmyB
Active Member
There's no such a thing as "trash" for us model/prop makers
I get some curious looks in poundshops when I dump a dozen miniature LED string lights, a packet of nail files, a few toothbrush holders, clear nail varnish*, copper slug tape and a couple of toy fire engines on the counter at checkout... for the second time that month.
* good for insulating LED wiring
TheBeast
Active Member
In the US we had dollar stores, past tense, as even Dollar Tree went to $1.25, unless 3 or 5 or...
Along with nail files AND polish blocks to smooth scratches from files, vaguely boat hull shaped serving platters, disposable wine glasses as flyer stands, tiny baby shower prams, which may become hot air balloon baskets, tiny ship spinnakers, tiny paragliders, Tesla toruses, MU-HA-HA-HA...
*ahem*
Sorry...
But they ARE three for a buck and a quarter...
I can't find things in my bedroom.
Along with nail files AND polish blocks to smooth scratches from files, vaguely boat hull shaped serving platters, disposable wine glasses as flyer stands, tiny baby shower prams, which may become hot air balloon baskets, tiny ship spinnakers, tiny paragliders, Tesla toruses, MU-HA-HA-HA...
*ahem*
Sorry...
But they ARE three for a buck and a quarter...
I can't find things in my bedroom.
There's no such a thing as "trash" for us model/prop makers
No wife yet, but my mom, niece, and nephew will save things for when I come over and say "I found this, can you use it?!" all excited.
JNordgren42
Sr Member
I just found out about metallic fingernail powders. You rub it over a high gloss base (usually black, but you can use other colors to affect the tone) and burnish it. I've seen great results using it for car bumpers and trim. I would probably look awesome on a Naboo ship.
Amazon Link
Amazon Link
Yep, that was me: Mando Armorer Helmet refinished using Nail Polish Powder!
JNordgren42
Sr Member
Fantastic job on the Armorer helmet!
I got the chrome powder from Amazon today and did a VERY quick and dirty test using glass finish clear UV nail polish over black Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500 out of a spray can, and as a proof of concept, I'm extremely happy. The UV clear is very thick, so even after cutting it with some lacquer thinner it obscures detail. After reading your thread, I'm going to try it over fresh gloss black paint and see how it goes. I have some Alclad II gloss black base coat and some MRP Ultra Gloss Black. The main problem I can see with those is that they're very quick drying, but I've got lots of extra wheels and can print more at will, so I can experiment.
Just remembered about this.
I think most everyone knows about yard/garage sale signs are good for the really thin styrene...but, probably back in 2016, I was at Home Depot looking for something else, and saw they had thrown a bunch of signs they made away. Like poster size of the thin styrene. I asked the guy if I could have it, since it was trash, and he's like, sure.
I think I took at least 5 of them.
Gotten plenty use over the years. Quick Pic of mostleft over, but I probably still have more.
So, if anyone is at a store like that and see a sign made from styrene, and especially if it has a date for a sale to end, after that, they are probably getting thrown out anyways.
Always worth asking about it.
I think most everyone knows about yard/garage sale signs are good for the really thin styrene...but, probably back in 2016, I was at Home Depot looking for something else, and saw they had thrown a bunch of signs they made away. Like poster size of the thin styrene. I asked the guy if I could have it, since it was trash, and he's like, sure.
I think I took at least 5 of them.
Gotten plenty use over the years. Quick Pic of mostleft over, but I probably still have more.
So, if anyone is at a store like that and see a sign made from styrene, and especially if it has a date for a sale to end, after that, they are probably getting thrown out anyways.
Always worth asking about it.
Iskelderon
Sr Member
Same with the foamboard type, two layers on eiher side of some medium foam, great starter for structural stuff like dioramas.
Just noticed your comment here, having this same metal ruler, I actually traced the rounded end and worked perfect for the front of the battlecruiser I made years ago. The hole was even perfect to add two more smaller guns.
This thing has SO many random household items. The main gun here, the big hole, around it is the vent to an air freshener used in a car, where it can close to tone the smell down, or open up for more.