Starship Modeler Discussion Forums

Have a casting that is a year or two old that warped on me. Any way to prevent this on future projects? Is it a matter of the resin not being thick enough?

Of the resins out there, preferably Smooth-on, any more durable than others? Am envisioning making refrigerator magnets and kids dropping them.

Not a modeling issue but related... I build insignias for plaques, military subjects, and have issues with them breaking. Was originally using fiberglass resin, no glass, to save on cost. Haven't had problems with the Smooth-on resin I've tried lately. That said, is there a preferred way to reinforc...

Problem is I need a thin cut-out star, like used on a MiG. Am using a Cameo Silhouette to cut them but as thin as they are I haven't gotten one cut yet that I didn't cut through. Have to laminate two or three to get the thickness I need. I have some of the confetti stars and that may be the solution...

Looking for some tiny photoetched stars for a project. Need a couple of sized but they're about 1/4" tall. Any suggestions?

Have seen Sketchup mentioned. Would think there has to be something simpler

Trying to develop the plans in the first place. Have 2D drawings, trying to create the bullkhead drawings

I have a set of three view drawings and want to turn them into bulkheads to use in building a physical model.

Any inexpensive and easy to use computer programs or services that do this?

Got a non-modeling project where I need something along the lines of Evergreen strip but molded in a dark blue. It will be subject to some wear so I don't want to paint strips and have the white show through later. Suggestions?

I actually need the whole engine, not just tbe nozzles. Trumpeter's RA-5C has them but I cannot justify spending tbat kind of money on that kit. Have been watching ebay hoping to find a built example cheap but no luck so far. May end up buying the kit, making a mold of the engine and reselling tbe k...

Looking for a source for a 1/48 scale J79 engine. Anyone know of any besides the one in the Trumpeter RA-5C?

I never seen to have the exact Evergreen I need at 3 am when I'm building.

I'd been eyeing that cutter and it's been getting good reviews. I don't need something to slice all the way through, just something to score it squarely and preferably able to repeat the same cuts

On a similar not, anyone have a too for making long strips? I've got a balsa cutter I've used for longer than I care to remember, but there's gotta be something better out there.

I've got some money to burn and it's about time I added a new tool or two to my modeling arsenal. What cutters are you guys using for sheet styrene? Been using squares and X-Acto knife blades for decades but would like something more precise. I've seen the Chop III. Anything better? Looking to be ab...

I've soaked balsa in Super Glue, then cleaned up wherever needed. Normally though I just use either a spray primer or brush-on Mr Surfacer to seal it, sand as needed and make a mold

Thanks!

I've got a project where I'm in need of a tinted canopy of sorts. I'm planning to thermoform it but am concerned trying to paint or tint it won't work well as it'll be lit from the inside and would likely show imperfections in the tinting process. Any suggestions?

In 1/72 an inch on the model represents 72 inches on the prototype. Divide the length of the prototype by 72 and that will tell you how many inches the model should be

They came in ziploc bags. I've sent an e-mail out to the guy I got them from to see what he recommends

I have no idea who manufactured them

The LED's I'm using have built in resisters

I've got like eight 5mm LED's i need to power in a model. I was told I can use a 9v battery but I'm reading the LED's won't last long. What battery combination would be best? Or should I go to hard power instead of batteries?

Anyone been messing with this stuff and gotten it to work yet? Anything you'd recommend instead?

I always just drill a hole in an extra bottle lid

I have to be able to route fiber optics through its length, round, square, etc

If someone made plastic tubing that tiny, hypodermic needle sized, it might work if I couldn't find metal. I don't need it to be any scale wall thickness, only a very small diameter yet enough space to pass fiber optics through.

Anyone make square tubing sized like hypo needles? I need small tubing, but squared

They look to me an equalateral triangle, equal sizes and the same angle. That's what I kept finding anywhere I looked between Plastruct and Evergreen.

Midwest has some that should do the trick. Thanks for the help guys!

A gusset... at least I have a term to search with. I'm looking for 1mm size, maybe a bit more or less, but that's a start. thanks!