Scratch Building

Kampfer · Mon Jun 25, 2007 7:36 pm

I am working on a model and I need to make some parts from scratch. How would I do that?

I was looking at something called Mr. Clay. It was under the scratch building list at HLJ so I thought that colud work, but its clay and from what I remember from art class that clay cracks and breaks when dryed dried out. But I don't know if Mr. Clay does that or not.

Please help.
-K

Derringer · Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:09 pm

Uh...depends on what you want to make. If they're going to be angular or flat, you can just use sheet styrene. However, if they're shaped like say the Zaku spikes, you'll need epoxy putty.

Kampfer · Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:54 pm

Epoxy putty huh? So this would be the best bet to make a Rifle and a Saber which is what I need to make, as well as some armour parts?

ulnhyrr · Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:03 pm

Rifles can be made from styrene or aluminum rods and cylinders. You can cut up parts of other guns to use as a base frame. Glue things together and use epoxy putty to make transitional areas or to sculpt details and such.

A saber should be as easy as a piece of strip styrene just sanded to an edge on one of both sides. additional contours can be carved out or using epoxy putty you can create more depth. The hilt can be done with styrene rod and epoxy for a specific hilt shape.

I did a good amount of scratch building to create the shoulder cannons and other things for this Kampfer: http://www.gamerabaenre.com/0080_desert_dio_prog.htm

An example of a rifle I built can be seen here:
http://www.gamerabaenre.com/pgm_sniper_custom_prog.htm

Granted it's not too good a job, but it should help illustrate and give you ideas of what you can use to scratch build your own stuff.

Kampfer · Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:30 pm

Do you know were I can get some aluminum rods? Because I check HLJ I did not see any and I don't know of anyother place to get them. And what is sheet styrene? is like cardbored or something?

A little info on what I doing. The kit is a 1/144 HG Ginn and I am trying to make it look like this

http://www.gundamofficial.com/worlds/ce ... onial.html

And ulnhyrr I LOVE THAT KAMPFER! You've Combined two of my favorite things a Kampfer and Gatling guns.

ulnhyrr · Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:45 pm

Grab your local phone book, find the "hobby" section and call up your local hobby shops. Styrene is plastic. Very similar to the material that your gundams are made from. Your local hobby shops should carry the stuff. They should also carry aluminum rods and cylinders. Best thing to do is call these places up.

Such basic model building materials should not be purchased from overseas or online shops. You should have a local hobby shop that can help you out with this.

Kampfer · Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:51 pm

All right thanks for all the help.

BlackOpsElf · Wed Jun 27, 2007 8:52 pm

When I was converting my HG GM Sniper from 08MST to the Blue Destiny Unit One, I used sheet plastic to make the shoulders, backpack, and various other sundries. Took a while, but totally worth it.

When I convert miniatures for RPGs and tabletop games, I usually use Green Stuff, which is a 2-part compound that you mix together and can mold pretty effortlessly.