Shaping Forge World heavy weapon ammo belts?

[Squark]

So, I picked up a set of Mediant Pattern Multi-meltas from Forge world, and am trying to bend the resin power tube/gas feed/whatever to connect the backpack to the gun. Unfortunately, I've really been struggling with bending the belt into shape- I ended up breaking the belt on my test model because it hardened before I got it shaped right. And an incremental approach doesn't work, because the resin snaps right back to a straight position if reimmersed in hot water. Help?

[Joe]

iirc, the recommendation from Forge World was to use a hair-dryer or hot air gun, as hot water isn't actually sufficient.

[Trokair]

I use a hair dryer, be careful not to get it to hot as that will soften or louse details.

 

With the heavy weapons for marines I would glue one end into either the weapon or the backpack (depending on what had the better angle/fit). Then I would heat just the cable as far as possible with hot hair from the hair dryer, turning it so no side go to hot. Then when it was pliable I would bend it gently until I can fit the other end into its relevant socket (or as close to as possible) and hold it there until it cools. Once it is cool I glue the end in (if it fits) and when the glue is all set use some more hot air on the cable to soften it again so I can bend it into a more natural flow between the weapon and backpack.

[NiftyVT]

I have done a ton of bending weapon power cables. How I usually do it is on a fully assembled model.  Sticky tac can work if you dont want to glue completely. I use the sticky tac method on Knights and anything I want to paint in sub assemblies. I glue one side of the cable on to the mini. Then I use a hair dryer to heat up the cable until it gets floppy. Then I quickly grab it and bend it into position and then hold it very steady until it cools down. If I can hold it with one hand I use the cold setting on the hair dryer to help it out a little. I also use tweezers as needed if I cant get my fingers to place the cable where I want it.

 

Examples below.

 

20170303_173334 by nifty, on Flickr

 

20170512_142519 by nifty, on Flickr

 

My most difficult bend to date was my Castigator. The cable is crazy thick and despite my best efforts my pose asked a little to much of the bend capacity of the resin and the edges split a little in some spots and I had to do some sculpting repairs.

 

20200324_205021 by nifty, on Flickr

[Squark]

Thanks, that's a big help. Not sure I'll be able to salvage the test cable, but I'll work something out- Maybe use a leftover guitar string or something to replace it.

[NiftyVT]

Thanks, that's a big help. Not sure I'll be able to salvage the test cable, but I'll work something out- Maybe use a leftover guitar string or something to replace it.

How I would try and salvage would be to bend and pin from one end to the other. Start by pre drilling each broken section for short pins and pre cut and dry fit the pins. Then start at one end by gluing it to the mini. Then shape that little bit, pin/glue the next bit, shape it, and continue on until you can glue in the other end. Its ok if it's a little janky looking at this point because once both ends are glued you can heat up the entire thing and message it into a better shape.

 

Or you could give a go all in one shot after pinning all the broken bits back together.

 

Another tip: You can use little bits of thin cardboard (cereal box/GW box work great) to protect other resin bits that you dont want to heat up.

Edited December 17, 2020 by NiftyVT

[Lovecraft0110]

So, I picked up a set of Mediant Pattern Multi-meltas from Forge world, and am trying to bend the resin power tube/gas feed/whatever to connect the backpack to the gun. Unfortunately, I've really been struggling with bending the belt into shape- I ended up breaking the belt on my test model because it hardened before I got it shaped right. And an incremental approach doesn't work, because the resin snaps right back to a straight position if reimmersed in hot water. Help?

 

I always try a hair drier first; if that doesn't work, I'll use my heat gun instead. If you don't have one yet, get one - for bigger builds I would say it's a must have. Much better than hot water, and less of a mess. 

[Brother-Chaplain Kage]

Boiling water has always done the trick for me and I'm actually taking a break from reposing a FW Avatar of Khaine with it as I'm typing this. 

[Borbarad]

Boiling water has always done the trick for me and I'm actually taking a break from reposing a FW Avatar of Khaine with it as I'm typing this. 

Same here. Boiling water works really well.

[Slips]

Near boiling water followed by a cold water bath to lock it in has always worked out for me.

[Xenith]

Boiling waters worked for me. Hot to handle though so be careful. Hairdryer has worked on citadel plastics for me also. I'll be using a hairdryer on my mediant multimeltas. Glue gun to model, cable to backpack, then to gun, heat cable and slowly bend into place, hold until cool, then glue backpack.