Zincite Posted October 15, 2011 Share Posted October 15, 2011 I've just received a load of spare sprues off eBay. From what was left on them, I believe the guy had assembled his army and just left anything he didn't want on the sprues, which is what I got. Having now clipped out all my parts (My Hive Tyrant is very happy with his new arms), I've got a lot of spare sprues to hand. It seems a waste to just throw them out, anyone have any ideas on what to go with them? Only thing serchy has found is this I was thinking of sharpening them into 'spikes' and planting them in polystyrene, painting and using as scenery, but I'm looking for any ideas. ;) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/240333-spare-sprue/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShinyRhino Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 That's about the only use for these days. Wargames factory used to have a recycling program where you mailed it all in, but they halted it last I heard. I have a huge filing box crammed with all the sprue I never got a chance to mail in. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/240333-spare-sprue/#findComment-2901031 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zincite Posted October 16, 2011 Author Share Posted October 16, 2011 Hmm. Might be sanding lengths of plastic for quite some time then... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/240333-spare-sprue/#findComment-2901434 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scathainn Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 If you play Fantasy also you can use your extra sprue along with cardboard and make movement trays :P Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/240333-spare-sprue/#findComment-2901468 Share on other sites More sharing options...
red_starrise Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 I've used sprue for various things including the base of bionic limbs, fences, guard rails, frame work for buildings or other items made from card/foamcore, rubble for ruins & bases, extra armor on tanks (which, when painted like concrete looks awesome), iron maidens. I just use my imagination when I need to build something & usually can find some way to make it happen w/ the sprue as a start. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/240333-spare-sprue/#findComment-2901481 Share on other sites More sharing options...
splicer407 Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 I've used it for supporting razor-wire fences (with the use of cardboard and a bit of GF9 razor wire (I think)). I sharpened a bit and used it on a Carnifex base and it looks like either a stone spike or a broken steel beam sticking out of the sand. I could imagine using it as framing for buildings, rubble (seen this, if you chop it up randomly into medium and short pieces, pile it together, and pour a bit of glue over it and maybe some sand or flock, it looks really nice). You can also make pretty convincing tank traps with it. I will need to try that extra plating idea though! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/240333-spare-sprue/#findComment-2901501 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnipeShot Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 I use them for stairs in my terrain. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/240333-spare-sprue/#findComment-2916489 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claws of Corax Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 One of my friends puts in through a coffee grinder and uses it as basing material.. My opinion is huge expense to buy a grinder when you can buy the basing material from GW.. Claws Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/240333-spare-sprue/#findComment-2916502 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zincite Posted November 4, 2011 Author Share Posted November 4, 2011 Oooo! It lives again! :D Cheers all for the replies. I've been cutting small lengths off and using it as rubble on my 'Nid army. Sad I didn't know of it sooner, since my bases are generally crap before now. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/240333-spare-sprue/#findComment-2916504 Share on other sites More sharing options...
IdOfEntity Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 I've used it for supporting razor-wire fences (with the use of cardboard and a bit of GF9 razor wire (I think)). Ah, fences indeed. Take two 3 or 4 inch pieces of spare sprue that have been trimmed straight, and where the widest flat portion is glue them together with chain mesh inbetween. It gives the fence posts more heft than your standard chain link fences, and the blocky posts fit more in line with Imperial architecture. Hand twisted barbed wire coiled in loops on top make a nice addition (22 gauge galvanized steel wire?) Filling the gap between the two sprue posts can be done with a touch of green stuff, or with any kind of epoxy. Or you could file a sliver away from the portion where the mesh will insert. Mount the posts on a row of plaster blocks (I like the Hirst arts molds for this) and you have a stable fence that won't tip over with a stiff breeze of body odor. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/240333-spare-sprue/#findComment-2916508 Share on other sites More sharing options...
glayvin34 Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 I only keep one or two sprues around to use as spacers/ rubble/ pokey sticks. More than that just took up too much space. Here are some images of an entire Necron army made of sprue. So, ya know, sky's the limit if you've got the patience. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/240333-spare-sprue/#findComment-2916542 Share on other sites More sharing options...
karn888 Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 it was a long time ago but i remember a thread in the work in progress section ware a guy was building a dreadnought using only sprew peaces for the bulk of it Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/240333-spare-sprue/#findComment-2917098 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subtle Discord Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 If you can find an old crank meat grinder, (Check at some second hand stores - they are almost indestructible so they are easy to find) and have a very secure place you can clamp it, you can use it to 'grind' those sprews down rubble very quickly. It even mangles and chews up the sprew to make it look very convincing. The key is to have a very secure place to clamp the grinder. It takes a lot of torque to force plastic through even a coarse meat grinding plate. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/240333-spare-sprue/#findComment-2917114 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShinyRhino Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 If you can find an old crank meat grinder, (Check at some second hand stores - they are almost indestructible so they are easy to find) and have a very secure place you can clamp it, you can use it to 'grind' those sprews down rubble very quickly. It even mangles and chews up the sprew to make it look very convincing. The key is to have a very secure place to clamp the grinder. It takes a lot of torque to force plastic through even a coarse meat grinding plate. I ran my first batch through one of these last night. Several frames of AoBR sprue from the Terminators. It was a workout. One thing you do NOT want to do is put long lengths of sprue in the hopper. I started with some 4" long sections, and they just jammed up in the feed screw. I had to cut them down to about 1-2" long to make sure they made it to the grinder head. Once they made it through, it produced some really neat pieces. Most about the size of a Marine head. Great for scattering on terrain pieces, not so wonderful for use on model bases. It's just too torn up to look like rocks. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/240333-spare-sprue/#findComment-2918532 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subtle Discord Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 I ran my first batch through one of these last night. Several frames of AoBR sprue from the Terminators. It was a workout. One thing you do NOT want to do is put long lengths of sprue in the hopper. I started with some 4" long sections, and they just jammed up in the feed screw. I had to cut them down to about 1-2" long to make sure they made it to the grinder head. Once they made it through, it produced some really neat pieces. Most about the size of a Marine head. Great for scattering on terrain pieces, not so wonderful for use on model bases. It's just too torn up to look like rocks. Well said. Good information. I'm avoiding doing anything on a table until my army is where I want it. Last thing I need is more distractions. So, I haven't really done this in mass, just some tests. I do want to do a City Fight theme for my first table, and saw this idea years ago. It appeared to produce the best 'building rubble', and without endless snipping, just brute force. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/240333-spare-sprue/#findComment-2918611 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plaguelord Baldric Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 it was a long time ago but i remember a thread in the work in progress section ware a guy was building a dreadnought using only sprew peaces for the bulk of it I do believe I am the slack owner of the thread you are referring to. :) Link to the dreadnought thread is in my sig. Am hoping to return to it after a sort out a few other issues. :D Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/240333-spare-sprue/#findComment-2919908 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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