Scrathbuilding starships

[Mage]

If you look at the OT section and check a thread I started on forum names buships posted up some nice pictures of some scratchbuilt starships.

So I am thinkin, purely to start this as a 'sub hobby' what can I scratchbuild my own stuff from, what type of parts can you suggest?

I am going for relatively big and aboslutely cheap bits and bobs, trying ti make them from stuff not out of model kits

Any suggestions?

 

[I was... Mongoose Adrian]

You could always do what I do when mastering a small to medium size ACTA ship and that's to build it from Plasticard. A tenner should buy you enough of various thicknesses to make many ships. A good tip to keep costs down, is to laminate thicker sheets together to get blocks of plastic to work on too; good when making main hull sections. It's best to cut out the size needed then glue and leave to cure overnight under a weight preferably. If inadequate drying time is given for the plastic to fully reset from the glue it will tend to tear when filed and leave ugly seams.
It's up to your own ingenuity using scalpels, files and drills to make good use of the Plasticard and any putty's .
You can create things that don't have to be cast so you can go wild !

 

[BuShips]

Well, let me suggest a few things to start you off.

For one thing, you can use various fishing lures and lead weights as bits for making ships out of. The plastic squids and such can be used for organic ship types, assuming that maybe they were "grown" in vacuum or hollowed out asteroids.

I'll post my pic again here for ease of reference, but the majority of this home-built design was made using plastic sheeting, built up in layers over an initial box shape. There is some similarity in my design to the carrier Saratoga from Space: Above and Beyond as well as the ships from The 5th Element.

I used wire connectors as turrets, both for the primary turrets and smaller secondary "energy" weapons. I liked using these because they give the unmistakable impression of a gun turret, but without looking like a projectile tube.

I'd recommend looking for styrene sheeting at just about any game or hobby store and especially at a model railroad store. Visiting electonic surplus stores has provided various control buttons and other bits that are usable.

 

[BuShips]

Ah, Adrian. Good! Didn't see your post until I'd finished with my thoughts. Good ideas there but then I'd think so since my ships were made from plasticard, heh. :lol:

My favorite material to work with is the 1mm thick scribed "sidewalk" from Evergreen Scale Models, in the U.S. It should be easy for Mage to find a similar material over on your side of the pond.

I made my ships for a game I wrote up for convention play about ten years back. I may have built maybe a hundred of them, in two scales.

 

[Mage]

I'm gonna search all over my home town and the city where I work for cheap bits and pieces in various places to work off.

I have, however, never used plasticard before. What types of shop can I get it in?

 

[BuShips]

I have, however, never used plasticard before. What types of shop can I get it in?

Read my first post above, but below the photo.

For gluing of the styrene, I suggest either model kit glue or my own favorite 30-year favorite of liquid acrylic cement for like fishtanks, etc. The brand where I live is called IPS Weld-on (#3 or #4). Good luck on your quest.

 

[I was... Mongoose Adrian]

You'll get Plasticard in any decent model shop (one's that keep model kits and railways), I can't think that Ireland would be any different to get the stuff.
It's not anything groundbreaking as a product, just sheets of plastic in various thinknesses. I just use plain sheets many textures are available too. Also look out for Plastruct products, they make extrusions, so rods, angle pieces etc etc.
It's quite tricky to easily pick up clean unworked plastic in any other form suitable for modelling. As I say though it's how you use it.
I've always used the liquid cement that comes in the dumpy glass bottles with an applicator brush; it melts the plastic well and gives a good bond. It's readily available and it's also handy for making this:
Another tip is is for making 'liquid plastic'. Using plastic dust and little offcuts from previous projects (I save the sanded and filed plastic dust in a little bag) add liquid cement to make a runny plastic paste. This can be used to fill gaps etc or even to create raised areas that can be filed and worked on later. It takes a while to dry but gives excellent results.

 

[Rob_A]

You can get plastruct stuff from hobbycraft, not sure if they have those in Ireland?

I know the Reading one had some! Didn't check Swindon. I get my art supplies from there.

I use the dumpy little glass bottles, had one for years. But really good stuff. Works on the Mongoose plastics as well! (well the one I have).

The liquid plastic idea is a good one! Never thought about that, I always resort to green stuff!

 

[Mage]

I will have to look around. I'm sure guys at my lgs will know, but dont think we have those hobbycraft stores you guys mention.

Well, thanks for the feedback so far guys, much appreciated.

 

[Rob_A]

I will have to look around. I'm sure guys at my lgs will know, but dont think we have those hobbycraft stores you guys mention.

Shame really. It's a good shop for general naff.

 

[Mage]

If its nearby Ill find it!

 

[I was... Mongoose Adrian]

Umm don't you guys have a nearby model shop? You know, sells Airfix and Tamiya model kits, train sets, radio control cars etc? I know since Beatties went there isn't a chain of these type shops but the small independents are still there. I imagine the Irish have time for some modelling too so there must be some shops LOL.

Or you could buy some online, loads of suppliers online. They even post it through your letterbox, some for free even . Look up 'Plastruct suppliers'.

 

[klingsor]

We have it in here the north - and they will happily post it down to you. Alternatively try a model railway show as the retail stands there carry a great selection of useful things you did not realise you needed. Some of the plastic odds and sods might be useful for dressing up ships – well maybe not the HO scale pallets from Knightwing but I have used wheels scavenged from 1/72nd scale tank kits for thrusters before now.

Another great source of parts are the missile and drop tanks sets from Hasagawa, probably the smaller 1/72nd scale ones would be the most relevant.

The URL is:
http://www.netmerchants.co.uk/section.php/967/1/evergreenscalemodels

I have heard you can spot which Evergreen pieces were used to make the Full Thrust ships from GZG quite readily.

 

[Stonehorse]

Having just started making my own models, I can advise that Heresy have a lot of good modelling tools, their Clay shapers and Procreate are very useful.

I also use odd items for the 'core' of a model and build up on it, one ship I'm working on is built from an Impega highlighter pen, I've seen some one make a very large Eldar Titan out of old Toothbrushes :shock:

When throwing items away, always have a quick brainstorm to see if it could be useful.

Once I've finished the converting from Pen to ship I'll post it up.