Making Colchesian Pictographs Etched into Armor?

[Terkael]

Hello B&C
     Forgeworld has put out some amazing models for HH Word Bearers in the past few years. The models tend to have intricate pictograph lining in their armor. I know that it wouldn't be too hard to simply paint the symbols on but I was wondering if anyone has attempted to recreate in inlaid nature of the symbols by carving?

    I'm not sure there are dremel heads small enough to achieve this effect but maybe a very fine wood burner with some sanding could do the job? Any comments welcome!

[Bryan Blaire]

What about a small plastic inscriber or a hobby knife blade? Those should do the trick to etch symbols into plastic.

[Lucien Eilam]

A small scriber is probably what you want. No Dremel tool is going to be small enough or accurate enough. It's a lot easier working on resin than plastic, but if you're slow and careful it is possible.

 

Depending on the complexity of the pattern, a heated needle might be easier on plastic. Or even drilling out a section, filling it with putty and sculpting the symbols on that.

[Gurth]

I wouldn’t use a hot needle on plastic: it’ll melt the plastic (that’s what you intend it to do), but that means the plastic wells up to the sides and creates very soft and rounded edges — not to mention you’ll soon pull strings of plastic along your needle.

 

A “cold” (room temperature) needle will work much better, IMHO, and if the surface is large enough a plastic scriber like this is even handier:

 

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31songU6CgL.jpg

[Apostle of the 30th Host]

A thin layer of green stuff might work. Then carve symbols in with a knife or something?

Definitely for larger models anyway.

[ElectricPaladin]

I've got a tungsten needle point probe that I use to poke guide holes for pins that would probably work.

[Terkael]

Thanks for all the ideas folks, I am looking forward to trying some of them out on those new tacticals from Betrayal at Calth.

[SquigBait]

I would suggest taking a look at scrimshaw techniques and tools, especially when working with resin. Those techniques will transfer well to what you are wanting to dom

[wilks]

I believe the Word bearers transfers in the Battle of Calth box come with runes and pictographs on them, so no need to even inscribe them. Anyway hope that is of some help to you.