08 July 2011

Some of the Tools I use.

This is a picture of the array of tools I keep on hand when building with Plastic Card.

It is a assortment of clippers, generally I get a new set every years or so the best one I have so far is GallForce9's Large set. But to be honest the set from Harbor Freight are almost as good and half the price. The newest one from GW is sub-par, it works well but the bevel on the cutting face is a little steep, making tight or plunge cuts difficult and they are expensive.

A leather punch for making small circles not so good for making holes as bevel on each die tends to deforme the parent sheet.

A couple of Pin-vises with a variety of bits, Dremel make a nice Index of bits, 7 bits with the largest being 1/8th inch.

A carbide tipped scribe, good for marking up and detailed scribing and cutting they are generally $5 or $6 in the hardware store, look with the rest of the marking and measuring tools.

A selection of flat faced pliers and hemostats, these are very useful for holding onto little bits when scribing a break point.

Other tools not pictured. well mostly, files and rasps, sanding blocks pre-made foam/sponge core and older "wrap sand paper around" types. these are use to.... Need I explain? Wait, the softer sponge core one are great for rounding complex curves as they tend to follow the surface better than sand paper around the finger.

Ok, these are the basics of the tools I commonly use when building with plastic card and sheet. I use a different subset when working with putty, mostly the addition of wax and dental tools generally sold as sculpting tools, a variety of wooden pottery tools and set of Clay Shapers, brush shaped tools with a number of differently shaped silicon tips.

Krash Wagon Pics

Here is the latest Vehicle build, The Krash Wagon, a converted Police heavy response vehicle. The "front" end is the the one with the turret, but there is a driving station on either end so front is relative. I am figuring the turret will have a mounted grenade launcher and a water cannon converted to a Flamethrower. I haven't modified the turret yet. The Turret is from Old Crow Models 6mm line.
Here is a size comparison with one of Proxie Model's Trencher tanks. I have to say the Trencher Platoon deal is a great one 3 tanks for $10 plus shipping.

02 July 2011

Turret-less Grav Tanks

Recently on the The Miniatures Page in the SF Discussion forum there was some talk about wether Gravity lift and drive tanks needed turrets or not. Considering this question I kludged together a couple of concept sculpts. Just to play with the Idea. Bob isn't sure, but these are only concept tanks....

Machine Coalition Cutters Build Update

Found the Hot Glue Gun, more base details added in the form of strings of Magic Sculpt and Wood shapes from Michael's. Every time I touch these a little more detail gets added.

Things I am pondering to add, Missile launchers, but I have not decided wether a box launcher or integral tubes, Beam emitters, either turrets or strip emitters (think Star Trek NG ship's phaser).