Spheres and hemispheres

Dr. Yo · Post by **Dr. Yo** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 5:15 pm

I've done some searching, and couldn't find another mention, so I
thought I'd pass this on. I discovered a good source of cheap styrene
spheres and hemisperes: Fishing bobbers. I had read awhile back a
passing reference to a fishing bobber being used as the bottom of
an iconic robot, the Neuspotter. I went to a local Sports outlet, ( Academy
Surplus ) and scored a bag of fifty in various sizes ranging from
1/2 to an inch in diameter, for three bucks.

Many of these things are molded with a raised flange around the
circumference, making sawing them in two for domes a breeze.

ajmadison · Post by **ajmadison** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:16 am

My very first serious scratchbuild sported a section of a fishing bobber. I needed a large hemispherical shape for the bridge.

Though not all bobbers are the same. Some, are made of a brittle styrene, and attempts to section them destroys their structural integrity, in other words, you get a ragged edge, and efforts to smooth the edge only causes more bits and pieces to fly off.

Kolschey · Post by **Kolschey** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:58 am

Good suggestion. I've used them before combined with other elements to create fuel tanks for various vehicles. Here's one before priming and painting.

http://www.firstgearterritories.net/HTM ... F_L_3Q.jpg

Andrew Gorman · Post by **Andrew Gorman** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 9:25 am

Fishing bobbers work well! If they are brittle I've had some luck in cutting by packing them with silly putty. This works for gum machine capsules too.

Mr. Badwrench · Post by **Mr. Badwrench** » Sat Apr 03, 2010 6:54 am

The main pressure hull of this model is a fishing float. It was much easier to work with than the ping pong balls that make up the fuel tanks. The canopy and the engine bells are different types of fishing floats.