I am going to start my next project in a little under a month and I want to make some additions to the project that make my model unique, so what better than to scratchbuild! However, I have never done it, and hobby shops that carry plastic are a decent trip away so I am better ordering it online.

I have never done it before, but for 1/35 scale could someone possibly list some tools. This would help me as well as others. If something like this exists already then point me in the right direction.

From what I think I will need for any general scratch building would be:
T beams
H beams
Thin Rod
Possible a punch die (had one and lost it)

lets go from there

THanks

I do alot of scratchbuilding, and my tool list is pretty basic.

1. Reference photos and books
2. Thin super glue and Ten-X
3. Sanding sticks
4. Metal 6'' ruler in MM's
5. Plenty of sharp hobby blades
6. Metal files
7. Sharp pencils
8. Circle / square templetes

That's pretty much it for me.

Good luck with your Project,
Joe

well,

some card would be a good idea. The Evergreen stuff is quite expensive. My LHS has plastic card which is from an unknown supplier and costs 10% of the evergreen stuff. You can use thick card for supporting structure sor large surfaces. The thin card can be used for curved areas. Some square rod is also useful if you want make boxed structures from card.

What I found out in the past is that good equiment is a must. Since I bought a small steel ruler, many measuring and cutting problems were solved. I have a Tamiya ruler with a scale up to 0,5 mm. But any brand will do. A pen with a very fine tip (we call them "fineliners" here) is also very useful and cost about a euro here.

oh I forgot, those thin flat strips from evergreen are also handy. I use them a lot.

What are you building? I'm curious

I am planning on a doing a challenger 2 diorama, with a possible burnt out iraqi BMP and building. Not really sure I am finally starting to plan things out, but I wanted to add a lot of details. I am currently at school so I am slowly but surely gathering all my resources.

Hello, word of advice about evergeen plastic. After few projects involving scratchbuilding in last few years and trying different materials i would highly recomend evergreen. I know that maybe is a bit expensive, but it is worth it, so much easier to work with.
For my project of M88 on which i have to do a lot of modifications i have spend so far 15 pounds and there will be some plastic left.

polyfila or ready mixed filla

[quote]I do alot of scratchbuilding, and my tool list is pretty basic.

1. Reference photos and books
2. Thin super glue and Ten-X
3. Sanding sticks
4. Metal 6'' ruler in MM's
5. Plenty of sharp hobby blades
6. Metal files
7. Sharp pencils
8. Circle / square templetes

That's pretty much it for me.

Good luck with your Project,
Joe[/quote

This is a pretty sound list of the basic requirements, I would only add a decent set of dividers or compass for transfering measurements. Which brings me to, in my opinion, the main requirement for any scratchbuilder, a drawing. It can be a full scale 3/5 view plan or a sheet of paper with the basic shapes and dimensions drawn on it but it keeps you litterally straight and proportional.
Good luck with the project and if you do get the scratchbuilding bug, Evergreen will become your God!!!
Paddy

... with a possible burnt out iraqi BMP and building ...
That sounds interesting! I wait for the first pictures.

greetings...
Soeren

Sean, For ground work I'll add my 1/2 cents worth. I keep on hand the following;
plaster of paris/tackey white glue/liquid dish soap/baby sand/cat litter(not the grey, it's clay b ased and will desolve)/ small gravel and coal/cheap water based paint (browns)/ static grasses/twine/styrofoam and pastel's.
I paint the base to water proof it and build up the height with foam. Mix plaster with glue/water and paint and dish soap and apply to base. Contour to desired likes and add baby sand for ground texture and some cat litter. Add building, stones, walls ect. Next dry brush ground and add f oliage. Don' forget to press figures and vehcicals and such into moist ground work so they sit right. Hope this helps.

Sean, just because I haven't seen it on the list yet I have to reccomend Aves Apoxie sculpt. Its a 2 part putty that is a dream to work with, great for sculpting and such. Good luck!

I bought these plastic sheets two years ago:



The metal ruler is 60 cm. They're 0.35 mm, 0.60 mm and 1.00 mm thickness and they used to be bigger, but since I bougt them, I've been using them, specially the 1.00 mm thickness. The price? S/. 5.00 for the 0.35 and 0.60 and S/. 10.00 for the 1.00 (S/. = Nuevos Soles, Perú currency), that's about USD 1.70 and USD 3.50 respectively! I purchased them in a serigraphy supplies shop. Best regards.

José.

In addition to Joe's list, I would add this:

Mini Square

and this:
2x2 Angle Plate

and this:
Drill Bit set

I mentioned it in your SB Forum post and I'll repeat it here.

All of the above recommendations (Especially Mother's list) and one more thing.

A self-healing cutting mat or just an old, flat piece of wood to cut on. Tabletops take damage pretty easily.

Cuhail

I will add (in addition to Graeme's suggestion of a small square), NWSL Chopper or Chopper 2 and True Sander. I pretty much have the entire Evergreen stock in a drawer, I had a list and every visit to a hobby shop I would get a pack, for eg .020 x .030" one day, .020 x .040" the next time. Sheets of .005 through .080", a punch and die set, cordless drill or Dremel Mini-mite, sanding block, and a good set of needle files.

Jim

These suggestions are all very helpful. Thank you every one!

I would like to add a scribbler! You know, a knife with a curved beak or what they call a P-cutter. I find those very useful for cutting plasticcard. I have both the Tamiya and the Trumpeter one:
http://www.1999.co.jp/itbig09/10096107.jpg
http://www.ask-models.com/shop/images/uploads/trumpeter/TM09912.jpg

cheers,

John