Starship Modeler Discussion Forums

A really easy way would be to hook up 3 white 3.6v LEDs in series, then hook it up. If they light up, that's the way, and positive is positive, negative is negative. If they don't, reverse it. If they still don't, then you've got either bad LEDs or a bad power supply. You can do it without soldering...

I did a search, but couldn't find any answers. I have a Tamiya 1/48 M10, and I'm to the point where I need to prime it. The thing is, the undercarriage is metal and the rest is styrene. The only hobby shop nearby is a Hobby Lobby, though I have (of course) a good variety of box stores. What sort of ...

Oh, it does? Good to know. About how hot should the water be?

I'm in the process of sanding the raised lines off of an AMT Enterprise-D, and while dry-fitting the pieces together I noticed that the main secondary hull piece is warped such that the starboard nacelle sits tilted a bit upwards and inwards, noticeable when compared to the properly aligned port nac...

200 mA is the max I'm planning on from LEDs, so I'll try the 1 amp supply when the time comes. The test rig sounds like a good, prudent idea. Thanks for the help!

I'm looking to light an AMT Enterprise-D model, and was thinking of using this CCFL set, one for the saucer, the other for the engineering hull. It states that its current draw is "5.0mAv," and I do not know what this means. I need to know how many amps it will draw, as I plan to power it ...

This is a question that'll show a fair bit of ignorance... does CA glue (Zap-a-Gap) do a good job of bonding clear resin pieces (DLM Defiant lighting set) to styrene without fogging the areas nearby? Assuming that the glue is applied around the edges where light doesn't need to shine through, of cou...

That's great. Thanks a lot for your input!

Oh, well, that's fine, then. Was it a 5 or a 10 gallon tank?

That I don't know. I'm about a thousand miles away from it right now but I wasn't planning on ordering anything until I get back. I'll check that before purchasing anything. Assuming I'm brushing at 15-20 PSI how long would a tank filled to 60-ish PSI last if I were to brush continuously until it di...

Actually, I do have a gas station just next door. I also will be without a car, and I'd rather not carry that CO2 tank several miles to get it refilled, then back again. They also seem to be about twice as expensive as an air tank. I model at a very slow pace and won't have too much time each day fo...

Thanks very much, everyone!

So if I were to get the tank Kylwell linked to I'd need a 1/2" Female NPT x 1/4" Male NPT adapter, like Part# 21247 on this page , which the regulator could connect to. From there the air brush hole could connect directly to the regulator's 1/4" male connector? I'm not experienced wit...

Oh, I hadn't thought of that. Thanks! Is the airbrush itself adequate?

I was looking for a relatively cheap airbrush to be used on propellant cans as sound is very much an issue for me. Fifty dollars is about my upper limit. I'm not looking for something to sing and dance in my hand, just a brush that will lay down an even layer of paint on Federation starship models, ...

I'm interested in applying Future without an airbrush too, because I'm at college, and a dorm room is not the best place for airbrushing.

But, just to be sure, there is usually a plastic safety cap under the metal one which can take some work to pop out. I feel foolish now. That was it. Thanks for pointing it out to me, I entirely missed it! And thanks for the advice on the other jar (which really does have that problem!). I'll give ...

A month ago I ordered two bottles of Mr. Surfacer 1200 and some Mr. Color thinner from GreatModels web store. Due to perhaps an overabundance of caution my first model (PL D7) has taken quite awhile to get anywhere, but now I'm beginning to think about primering it. The problem is that when I opened...

Though I'm no expert, mouser.com had quick shipping and the ability to order single items, as well as in bulk when I ordered from them.

Okay, thanks very much. A pin vice it is.

I have never attempted to drill windows with a Dremel tool, but I have heard of the plastic melting problem. The Dremel I use has a minimum speed of 5,000 RPM, is that slow enough to avoid the melting? I have searched through the forum and haven't found the answer. I'd be using a 1/32" bit. EDI...

Thank you very much, both of you. I've ordered a variety pack of resistors, and already have the wrist strap. I'll be working on an old wooden table and a cutting mat. I don't think that would be static generating... but I'm going off gut instinct there. Am I right? That's my last question... at lea...

Thanks for the replies, everyone. The package reads as follows: "ATTENTION OBSERVE PRECAUTIOS (sic) FOR HANDLING ELECTROSTATIC SENSITIVE DEVICES" Are the precautions as simple as a wrist strap, or do I need to do more, and, if so, what? I live in a fairly hot and dry climate, with occasion...

Hi, all. I'm very new to this hobby, and to this site. I've recently obtained some LEDs and plan to light my first model, a PL D7. I have a few questions about using them, though. I notice that they are static-sensitive. Do I need to take any sort of precautions when handling them, such as one of th...