Brass (or copper) sheet for banners etc.

[Chaos Moomin]

Hello.

 

I want to use brass or copper sheet to make banners/pennants and long purity seals. I have seen minis with this done in the past but I've gone looking at what's available, and there are a bewildering array of thicknesses available on Ebay. Green Stuff World sell some that are 0.2mm thick, so I assume this is around the sort of thickness I'd want, but wondered if anyone with hands-on experience could advise?

 

And does anyone know of the practical differences between brass and copper sheet? Brass seems more available, and cheaper, but the mini that inspired this was using copper. I'd ask whoever made it but I found it on Pinterest and it's uncredited...

[sbarnby71]

I can't see there would be much difference from a modelling point of view, be aware that both can develop a patina (like rust but for copper and brass), so you will want to clean it up with some white spirit (in the UK) or rubbing alcohol before priming.  Just be careful as when you cut it the edges will be very sharp, so mind your fingers!

 

Copper maybe a little bit more difficult to accept a base coat, so would suggest a spray base.

[Chaos Moomin]

I never realised the  patina could be a problem for working with brass. I do use brass rod sometimes, and I've never noticed any issues; does a varnish not protect it?

[Mithrilforge]

@Chaos Moomin - I have used the Sealer Top of a Yoghurt container (Larger Container) the Peel back top,  they are perfect and can be shaped to your desired way, and don't have any adverse effects over time (please make sure to lick off the yoghurt before using )

 

Cheers, Mithril

 

Edited December 16, 2024 by MithrilForge

[Jukkiz]

what about any coke can or any drink can?  It´s easy to cut through and bend and shape

[Chaos Moomin]

On 12/20/2024 at 8:35 AM, Jukkiz said:

what about any coke can or any drink can?  It´s easy to cut through and bend and shape

 

I used to do that back in the day, but found it difficult to work with; too springy.

 

I ended up ordering some 0.25mm brass. I'll try to remember to update the thread with a review when I get a chance to sit down with it, in case it's useful to anyone else.

[Spottswoode]

On 12/12/2024 at 12:47 AM, Chaos Moomin said:

Hello.

 

I want to use brass or copper sheet to make banners/pennants and long purity seals. I have seen minis with this done in the past but I've gone looking at what's available, and there are a bewildering array of thicknesses available on Ebay. Green Stuff World sell some that are 0.2mm thick, so I assume this is around the sort of thickness I'd want, but wondered if anyone with hands-on experience could advise?

 

And does anyone know of the practical differences between brass and copper sheet? Brass seems more available, and cheaper, but the mini that inspired this was using copper. I'd ask whoever made it but I found it on Pinterest and it's uncredited...

 

Copper sheet would be thinner than brass, but I use tomato paste tubes like this - they're thin enough to bend easily, but stiff enough to retain the shape.

[Matcap86]

On 12/12/2024 at 1:47 AM, Chaos Moomin said:

Hello.

 

I want to use brass or copper sheet to make banners/pennants and long purity seals. I have seen minis with this done in the past but I've gone looking at what's available, and there are a bewildering array of thicknesses available on Ebay. Green Stuff World sell some that are 0.2mm thick, so I assume this is around the sort of thickness I'd want, but wondered if anyone with hands-on experience could advise?

 

 

As a heads-up: the greenstuff world stuff is not pure brass. I bought some and it has a lead core, which isn't advertised online, but says so on the packaging. If you don't want to work with leads this might be a thing to keep in mind.

[Evil Eye]

On 12/21/2024 at 7:57 PM, Spottswoode said:

 

Copper sheet would be thinner than brass, but I use tomato paste tubes like this - they're thin enough to bend easily, but stiff enough to retain the shape.

The classic!

 

I seem to recall tin sheet is VERY good for this sort of thing as it's quite soft and pliable. It's not used too much in scale modelling as it's VERY soft and thus copper or brass are preferred for most "I need something very thin" applications (more in-scale track guards etc), but for making banners and the like it's absolutely perfect.

 

Alternatively! VMS make a product called Paper Shaper that can be used to set regular printer paper into position. It's often used for making tarps on vehicles, and I can see it being perfect for banners etc.

[Chaos Moomin]

On 12/22/2024 at 10:39 AM, Matcap86 said:

 

As a heads-up: the greenstuff world stuff is not pure brass. I bought some and it has a lead core, which isn't advertised online, but says so on the packaging. If you don't want to work with leads this might be a thing to keep in mind.

 

Good to know.

 

The stuff I ended up getting was by a company called Albion Alloys which, as far as I can tell, is fully brass. As I mentioned up-thread it is 0.25mm. It can be cut with large scissors, is pretty easy to shape into nice, flowing folds if done around cylindrical or curved objects, and stays solidly in place - very little springiness or risk of accidental deformation. It would work particularly well for large banners, I'd say.

 

However, I primarily got it for smaller pieces like pennants and purity seals. For this, I think something a little thinner would have been better. I still managed make what I was trying to make, and I do like how solid it feels, but being able to cut it easier (say with a craft knife) would allow thinner shapes, with smaller details, and also allow more creases and folds on the smaller surface area of, say, a purity seal.

 

If I was buying some more I might try and get some 0.15mm, though my Ebay searching turned this thickness up only on a roll, like tape, which might limit you size-wise, and is also more expensive than the sheets.

 

The 0.2mm GSW stuff is probably a pretty good compromise, though I don't know if the lead gives it a different feel to work with.

[Spottswoode]

16 hours ago, Chaos Moomin said:

However, I primarily got it for smaller pieces like pennants and purity seals. For this, I think something a little thinner would have been better. I still managed make what I was trying to make, and I do like how solid it feels, but being able to cut it easier (say with a craft knife) would allow thinner shapes, with smaller details, and also allow more creases and folds on the smaller surface area of, say, a purity seal.

 

 

Yeah, for banners you'll probably want something a little bit thicker, but if you're doing purity seals and the like then the aluminium from from a tomato paste tube is ideal. I used it for the scrolls on my CF banner, and they're the perfect scale (you should be able to see the thickness in the picture below). They're not particularly strong though and will deform if they get knocked or something heavy rests on them.