Making a Plasticard Model

[Ullr Direfang]

Sorry my Search-fu is the worst.

 

But I am looking to make a few almost sentinel/Warwalker like models for my army. I was planning to use Sentinel Legs for it and some other Sentinel parts to help, but I can find many of them about. So How easy is it to make some thing like those legs and armor plating out of Plasticard? I have been looking at Styrene sheets, rod, tubing, and I-beams online and don't want to spend the money for what I think I will need if it isn't going to look good (I would go to Battlewagon for the IG parts). I wouldn't need the finest detail for it so it could even look almost like dreadnought legs if need be.

[NemFX]

Ultimately, I don't think you can get an answer for this.

 

"How easy is it to make X?" - How good are you at making things?

 

It's really your choice on if you want to try, or if you'd wanna buy.

[Gurth]

Agreed, what is easy for one person can be very difficult for another, so there really is no clear answer to your question. The best advice is to just do it, though preferably starting with something simpler than a walker. For example, you could buy some plastic card and use it to build extra armour for a Rhino. This is a relatively easy job because it's mostly flat plates that you need to cut to shape and fit to the model, and so should help you get a feel for the material before deciding to tackle more complex shapes.

 

By the way, the modelling jargon for what you intend to do is scratchbuilding — as in "building something from scratch".

[pingo]

The best advice is to just do it

Indeed, but plan first. Plan it, draw it, measure it, think about it, then do it.

[Ullr Direfang]

The best advice is to just do it

Indeed, but plan first. Plan it, draw it, measure it, think about it, then do it.

 

 

Well this was the plan, but if people had pointers (other then plan first) I would like to know them.

 

People post up "green stuff how to"s and what not all the time so I didn't know if any one had any info like that.

[Subtle Discord]

I will agree with the other sentiments. It will be as hard as you make it, and it will be as good as the effort you put in. People have been building models with styrene for decades, many with levels of intricate detail that would make GW kits look like crude toddler toys. So, styrene is an excellent building material, and you can do virtually anything you can think of, within reason.

 

There are numerous 'styrene how-to' articles and books. A Google search for "building with styrene" will turn up countless videos and writings. This is exactly how I taught myself how to build with styrene; read, read, read, and read some more. Look at articles talking about scale military model building. Military model builders have been doing this looong before the first Space Marine was even a concept sketch. While the subject may be different, the techniques for working the materials are exactly the same.

 

Now, if you want a step-by-step of how to build something specific, (like looking up "sculpting fur with greenstuff") you might be hard pressed to find exact directions. Unless someone else has built something very close to what you're wanting to build, and took the time to document and create an article about it, it just won't exist. You need to learn basic build techniques from any number of sources (and build a few simple things along the way) and then apply that to the object you personally want to create.

 

Break a project down into component parts, and you can find gobs of information. (I almost feel like I'm saying, "Wax on. Wax off. Daniel Son." increasing your google-fu technique) Do searches for things like, "building hydraulics with styrene" or "bending styrene rod" or "cutting styrene sheet/tube/rod", for example, and you can get specific information that you can use on something you're building. Then take that information and run with it.

 

And yes, taking the time to make a good plan is worth more than its weight in gold. Doing test fits in paper and cardboard to refine that plan will also save you a ton of frustration from wasting time and plastic, cutting something that is wrong.

 

*Shameless personal plug*

 

Also have a look at my WIP thread. I ramble and rant about all manner of things, but I do lots of styrene building, and just did a few articles on how I cut, shape, and clean styrene sheet in the things I build. I have others planned, but time is always the greatest enemy to my aspirations to write more articles.

[Gurth]

There are numerous 'styrene how-to' articles and books.

This is also why I mentioned the common modelling term :blush:

 

You need to learn basic build techniques from any number of sources

Which is far better than following an example exactly, because knowing what you're doing is much more useful than only knowing how to do it.

[Ullr Direfang]

OK, thanks.

 

Yeah when I did a "scratch building with styrene" search in google it helped more. Also thanks to Subtle Discord for the better search terms.

 

I figured I would have a lot to learn and thing like what you said will help a lot.

[Crimson Hawk]

Sorry my Search-fu is the worst.

 

But I am looking to make a few almost sentinel/Warwalker like models for my army. I was planning to use Sentinel Legs for it and some other Sentinel parts to help, but I can find many of them about. So How easy is it to make some thing like those legs and armor plating out of Plasticard? I have been looking at Styrene sheets, rod, tubing, and I-beams online and don't want to spend the money for what I think I will need if it isn't going to look good (I would go to Battlewagon for the IG parts). I wouldn't need the finest detail for it so it could even look almost like dreadnought legs if need be.

*Insert blatant flog of link in sig*

It seriously isn't that hard. If you don't have a problem cutting out those tiny little fiddly bits with a knife, then Scratchbuilding is a 'pure skive' as we say up here :)

[Subtle Discord]

No problem at all. This really is the kind of subject matter I can blather on about. However, by no means is my word gospel on the subject, and I learn new techniques and change/advance old techniques all the time.

 

To shorten the list and get past some of that daunting feeling over just what plastic you 'need', the list is actually kinda short; 1mm Sheet, 0.5mm Sheet, 1.0mm Rod, 0.75mm Rod, and 0.5mm Rod. With just these you can build strong structure and/or plates with the 1mm Sheet. Then use the 0.5mm Sheet to add trim, panels, banding, and/or various other decoration. The selection of Rod gives you a good variety to use as small medium and large rivets. Rivets over 1mm need to be on a huge model or they just feel too big, in my opinion.

 

After that, maybe you'll some 0.25mm Sheet and 0.4mm Sheet and a few other packs of Rod for added variety. For example, I prefer 0.4mm Sheet to do my trim, but I'm sure most people would be fine with 0.5mm Sheet. And, if you start going this far, odds are you've done a bit of building and now you know better what you might want/need. Consider some things like Square Tube/Rod, I beams, H beams, and, C Channels; if they make sense for what you're building.

 

I use 1mm Sheet, 0.4mm Sheet, and 0.75mm Rod to do almost everything I make right now. I have lots of other plastic, but I use it much less than those three things. The good thing about most plastic is once you've got a pack, unless you use it like crazy (and you do use some stuff up very fast) it lasts and is always there for those odd times you need it. Build a selection over time, and spread out the costs.

[madscuzzy]

Oddly I have amassed a large amount of styrene bits: rods, tubes, sheets, etc. amounting to prollie more than any single model from GW. Then again, I like to use pre-cut stuff, so it gets pricier. If you are willing to get styrene sheets and just cut them as needed, then it will save you a lot of cost, but at the cost of convenience. It does take a lot of effort to cut cleanly and finely, and this will prollie come with experience.

 

What is it specifically you are trying to build? Perhaps we can advise you directly on the ideas that you want to portray?

[Venerable Jazzman]

As has been mentioned already, there's a vast array of modelling articles available on t'Internetz - the good thing about gamers/modellers is that we tend to be fairly geeky, so have embraced the Net with both glue-sticky hands.

 

You said it was a Sentinel/walker you trying to build, have you had a look at Boot Camp? It's the Imperial Guard version of the B&C, they've got their own modelling section here, looks like they've got some Sentinel projects on the go, and you can always ask for guidance.

 

And if you have any doubt as to what you can achieve with plastic, time and determination, scroll down on this article.

 

Have fun :)

[Ullr Direfang]

I have actually been thinking about using some Rectangular Tubing I saw on a couple sites. I feel it will make lengths of legs and arms much easier and a couple other little spots. I have learned a lot over the last day just looking at different things and I think my version of thunderwolf cavalry will come out pretty good if I am lucky.