Starship Modeler Discussion Forums

Actually, they do make 1" brass tubing. it isn’t cheap, tho. there are various internet metal merchants now. Speedy Metals comes to mind at the moment. But you can also get 1" weldable steel tubing at a decent hardware store in 3' lengths, and at some places, 6' lengths. For the same wall ...

Looks like the thread I started about post numbering has disappeared too.

Mark

You can also use fine magnet wire. The insulation can be scraped or sanded off where needed.

Mark

Scott Hasty wrote:Why not just buy a 5V wall wart? Otherwise 3 AA's in series is your best bet...

Most wall warts are unregulated, so there is a good chance it will output significantly more than 5V.

Mark

You might look into “investment powders” for casting metals. It is plaster-like, but made specifically for mold material to melt metal into. It is used in “investment casting”, which is also known as the “lost wax” process. Jewelers use it to make, well…jewelry. I don’t think it is very expensive, b...

Kenny, Your shape looks to have a spherical contour, and I would call it a spherical cap. Hard to tell, but it looks a little shy of a full hemisphere. Since you are using a putty, the scree or screed method would have worked nicely and accurately. Essentially, the idea of a scree is to cut out the ...

A plain "m&m" is in a shape that can be regarded as an oblate spheroid. It is NOT spherical at all. True, there are elliptical domes, but I get the idea that is not really what you are after. What you are after is sometimes called a "spherical cap", or more traditionally a &q...

True western dovetail/tenon saws are a subcategory of back saws. They are very short in length for their given heights. Although they can be used for other cutting activities, they are best suited for cutting dovetails and tenons, since the kind of cabinetry they are made for doesn't require very mu...

What is an Xacto "saw"? I work construction and I've never heard of them. Also, where do you get them? As one from the construction trade, you might know what a "back saw" looks like. Essentially it is a hand saw that often (but not always) has a rectangular blade with a thick m...

What therefit said. This stuff is awesome.

Mark

modelbaseguy wrote:…Personally, I like to use petroleum jelly thinned 1 to 4 with paint thinner (not mineral spirits).…

O.K., enlighten me. Just what IS the difference between paint thinner and mineral spirits?

Mark

No, I stand by what I said. O.K.…by all means, stand away. Perhaps the most pertinent part of your link is the sentence immediately following the section you highlighted. Most interesting since the distinction is made between two different chemistries and applying the same name of "alloying&...

Could y'all expound upon the way these methods weaken the plastic?…Will the plastic be perminantly weakend and crapulent after the process? In the use of mineral spirits, the plastic surface becomes brittle right at the glued joint, and looks like it is crystalizing(?) and slightly swelling. As a...

Might you be thinking of cold galvanizing compound in a spray can? I can't remember the brand name, but it is fine zinc particulates suspended in a liquid in a spray can. The can is very heavy. It sprays out a dull silver gray, and is typically used to protect steel from rust. Looks sort of like hot...

If ya reeeealy want to get serious about soldering/welding aluminum (or any sheet metal work), this is *THE* site to go to http://tinmantech.chainreactionweb.com/index.php This guy searches out the best products he can find and tests them personally. He offers what he KNOWS is the best stuff to perf...

I also would suggest a sewing machine foot pedal. Better/variable control, and you can rev it up between holes to keep the motor cool. I like this idea. :wink: But make sure ya get the old fashioned kind that uses a carbon pile. Many newer ones are more like potentiometers used to control a low vol...

I highly recommend using Mr. Hobby Color Thinner for removing paint from injection plastic. Simply pour a bit on a rag and start wiping back and forth over the area. I have a very old mpc Braniff SST model kit that was half-covered in brushed-on, thick old paint and it came off nicely. (Takes a wee...

There's a charger added when the battery gets low, the wiper motor draws a lot of current even in standby but it's not hooked up anymore. Say Sparky, being that the wiper motor is D.C., have ya thought about in-series resistive loads or a rheostat to control its speed? Not elegant, but Q&D to s...

I had a lengthy post about wiring a dimmer control as a device to plug into a receptacle, and then plug the dremel into that. I've used it at very crawling speeds and have had no trouble. Marco Schloeske (my sincerest apologies if i misspelled your name, Marco!) added a post beyond mine in confirmat...

If it be a wood turning lathe, I would first turn a long wood plug with two stepped shoulders, one on either end against the lathe centers. The stepped shoulders could have the exterior diameter of th pipe, and obviously the remaining turning in between would have the interior diameter of the pipe, ...

How removing paint from a vinyl model? Obviously, I don't want to damage the model in the process! I found a partially-built Horizon Catwoman. Overall, the construction was pretty good, but the paint job on the face was botched so it needs to be redone. I'm not entirely certain of what paint it is-...

Actually, I have used distilled water in the form of rainwater on my grandparents farm (my first experience with it). Sure feels like "normal" water to me. I've bathed in it. I've consumed it. I've done laundry in it. I've hand washed dishes, cars, dogs, etc. It feels like typical city wat...

Actually a water softener removes the calcium and magnesium - divalent ions - from the water. There is a resin in the softener which preferentially adsorbs these ions. On a schedule, the resin is flushed with sodium ions (salt) which displaces the divalent ions by sheer concentration. Then it's rin...

Actually, your water is "softENED" hard or well water. The softener process adds chemicals to the water, which makes it seem perpetually "soapy". It isn't really soapy though. Water that is already "soft" without having to condition it behaves the way most would expect ...

Very easy to remove. It is water soluable and is safe for drains.The Cleaner-Degreaser itself is watery so it runs off, except for the wet film which can be rinsed off with clear water. I Just rinse it off in clear water. Or, if you're concerned about trapped pockets, submerge it in a tub of clear w...

If you have a strong disposition and can take the writing style, I highly recommend the articles by David Merriman on CultTVman's site. He's the real deal.

Mark

Super Cleaner/Degreaser works well. Simple Green is similar in behavior.

Mark

Excellent Link. And yes, that is ACID flux. Rosin is too weak for anything but very fine work like electronics it was meant for. And yes, it is imperative that acid flux be cleaned from the parts after soldering. Right on target except for one minor thing. The comment, "In practice though it ta...

I have much experience with both Easy Off and the Super Cleaner Degreaser. The environmentally nicer one is almost worthless, and the standard one works fairly well, but I've found that the Super Cleaner Degreaser to be significantly superior in every way. Regarding softening of styrene, no matter h...

I know there are threads on the HobbyTalk BB regarding (formerly Castrol) Super Cleaner/Degreaser. Awesome stuff. Actually, I have a post or two on this board somewhere about it, one of which is detailed. I can't say enough good things about it.

Mark