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Uses for Sprue Frames


UniWolf

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I'm surprised GW haven't announced degradable plastic yet. We must collectively be a horrible source of microplastics.

Do you really want your minis to dissolve after 10-20 years? Or less?

I doubt they would degrade dry stored in a case.

I saw someone build a pseudo MK IV dreadnought out of sprue on the B&C a loooooong time ago....can't remember who or if it was finished - sorry :sad.:

 

What I recall seeing was pretty damn good though., he basically used it like plasticard rods, glued and filed into shape.

 

Very imaginative.

 

MR.

 

I couldn't find that one, but I did find the old Extra Armour conversions I was thinking of - I'm pretty sure it was the same guy. He doesn't have any posts listed though :(

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/114375-vehicle-conversions-and-the-men-who-love-em/page-3?do=findComment&comment=1417075

 

There's some great stuff in that thread :D

I'll just quote myself from another thread:

Definately seconding the cut up sprue - that's usefull for modelling various odds and ends. And upcycling stuff which would otherwise end up in the bin is always good.

E.g. pieces of sprue cut to length can serve as sidewalk cap stones. Two tilted/diagonal cuts can make a shape like a gold bar. Four such pieces but a bit longer can make a window frame. Alternating sprue and upside down sprue makes for an almost wood like surface. And so on.

Also, the rep rap project has a section on recycling:

https://reprap.org/wiki/Category:Recycling

People have been looking into ways to turn plastic waste into filament, which requires two steps: cutting the waste into small pieces and extruding the heated, liquified granules into filament.

 

I do not think the polystyrene/resin used in GW kits is suitable for that process (e.g. it would just burn up at usual extrusion temperatures), but maybe some of the shredding machine ideas could help with cutting sprue into pieces.

 

 

Cut sprue could be helpfull e.g. as filler when casting resin miniatures.

 

I've been thinking about getting a grinder, and turning them into 3~ coarses, fine, rough and medium.

 

Then using it for basing

Hmm, I bet if you mixed it with white glue or maybe super glue it would make good gap filler.

 

I've had some sprue sitting a bottle of nail varnish remover ( with acetone, not acetone-free) for a couple of months, and it's done nothing but form itself into a cracked blob. I was hoping it would go sludgy and I could use it as filler, but that hasn't happened. If anything it's made it more brittle.

 

Has anyone done any tests on heating it to see what temp it melts at? I know you can stretch it over a candle to make aerials, but that's a lot less controllable than putting sprue in the oven and getting grindable chunks of thermoplastic out.

I see some Science coming on.  :D

 

If I don't post tomorrow just assume the fumes have got me :tu:

I'm really hoping I can make it a reality, but with so many things that need sorting out I don't want to get too far ahead of myself. My dream is to make a process for people to donate bulk sprue in exchange for some store credit, but I'm not sure how realistic that will be. Time will tell if this idea can get off the ground.

I glue small bits (like shoulder pads) to them and sharpen the other end to stick them in foam or card for ease of painting, very useful for that. 

 

I've seen people carefully shave off the numbers and letters you get on some of the sprue's and use them as details on their models.

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