Iron Man Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 When it comes to modeling, what is the wierdest item you have ever used in your arsonal? For me it has to be a piece of my wife's hair as a airal antena and a course piece of my dogs hair as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
William G Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 A Cats whisker for an antenna on a 1970 Monte Carlo SS model. No I didnt pluck it, she shed one and I happened to pick it up. William G Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grey Ghost 531 Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 I've got a number of cat whiskers incorporated into models. They're a good choice sometimes, they're tapered and strong and flexible. I just need to find a way to straighten them and they would be even more useful. Maybe home perm solution??? For tools, I just finished an F-4S in Heater-Ferris camo. I used a laser level to lay out the demarcations in the paint scheme. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rm20886 Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 I use cosmetic items such as make-up sponges, nail polish, nail polish remover, nail files etc. I get some funny looks when I go into a store to buy them. :D Rob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
braincells37 Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 Dental tools. I once asked my dentist if he had any old tools he was going to dispose of. He gave me a handful. Probes, picks, scrapers and other things I just hated having around my teeth work great on my modeling bench! Terry :wacko: :wacko: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cool Hand Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 I just used White-Out as a surface filler. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChippyWho Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 Knicker elastic is good for generic 'plumbing' in wheel bays, etc. It is flexible and easy to fix with a dab of cyano (plastic cement will melt it good). The variety that is wound with thin black thread resembles ribbed piping quite nicely in 1/72-1/48; it gets a bit 'hairy' looking if it's too old though! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LanceB Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I use cosmetic items such as make-up sponges, nail polish, nail polish remover, nail files etc. Yup, makeup sponges make good masks for intakes. Eyeshadow applicators are good for applying weathering pigments. And in the nail art supply section, if you can find an angled striping brush they are quite useful as well. I find it easier to apply stripes (like the yellow stripes on bombs) with one. Like this brush. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WymanV Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 The girlfriend's nylons. Why-what's it to ya? Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spejic Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I just used a bit of metal from the top of a can of Spam (Turkey Spam to be specific) for scratchbuilding the landing gear for a model: http://s362974870.onlinehome.us/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=235510&view=findpost&p=2295399 I use the mesh from nylon tea bags for lots of things. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChippyWho Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 The girlfriend's nylons. Why-what's it to ya? Ken Lost something nano-size to the Carpet Monster? Ask her (first!) for something in fine denier, stretch it over the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner & hit the PLAY button... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WymanV Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 (edited) And straining paint. But I've had success with the vacuum cleaner thing too. Ken Edited November 30, 2011 by WymanV Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rm20886 Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 Lost something nano-size to the Carpet Monster? Ask her (first!) for something in fine denier, stretch it over the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner & hit the PLAY button... That is a great idea. Hmm, now where does she keep the nylons? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
majortomski Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 A #14 Crochet hook for paper models: http://www.internetmodeler.com/2007/august/aviation/X1.php Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MacStingy Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 Bottle caps. From beer bottle caps to jar lids. Always the right size for mixing small amounts of paint or washes and you can just toss them when you're done. Cheers Paul Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lawn Dart Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 I use the wrappers from Ferrero Rocher chocolates all the time for scratchbuilding for things that need a bit of fabric texture. I use pop and beer cans for aluminum and plastic bottle caps for mixing small amounts of paint. Being a woman, I don't find using hair, nylons, and cosmetic applicators all that strange . Off topic fun fact: you can use also use stockings (or the leg of some pantyhose) to replace the fan belt in your car in a pinch (my grandmother did this in her old Austin Mini when her and Pop got stuck once :P). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rm20886 Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 I use the wrappers from Ferrero Rocher chocolates all the time for scratchbuilding for things that need a bit of fabric texture. Oh darn, now I have to go and buy some chocolates. You have to do what you have to do. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lawn Dart Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 Oh darn, now I have to go and buy some chocolates. You have to do what you have to do. Works really well too! I replenish my supply at Christmas and Easter...or when I need to Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Iron Man Posted December 1, 2011 Author Share Posted December 1, 2011 Works really well too! I replenish my supply at Christmas and Easter...or when I need to Hey that does work, my wife will have no objection of me bringing chocolate in the house instead of a kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rocky Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 I've used cat whiskers for the bracing cables on a Kingfisher float plane. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
deadmeat Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 (edited) remove Edited January 24, 2012 by deadmeat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eastern Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 Hi, I used eye palette kit on my Kiowa engine. :) Alexander Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 Q-tips for airbrush cleaning are a common tool in my stash. As for the weirdest thing, back in 2003 when I was working on a 1/144 shuttle model, I got a piece of door screen to spray paint through to try and represent a tile texture. It was recommended by the old first edition printing of Kalmbach's "Famous Spaceships of Fact and Fantasy" from the late 1970s (pre-FSM days). It worked pretty well, but two weeks later the Cutting Edge tile decal sheets came out and I ended up using those instead. I still keep some of that screen around though for use in future projects where I might need a square pattern of some kind. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheFlyingDutchman Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 Had to use the shower yesterday to sand out a huge vacuformed fuselage.. I was banned from the kitchen in the living room because of the noise and needed a flat and wet surface. :P Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Rat Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 Bread bag clips. They glue well using regular polystyrene cement, they take paint well, they are easily cut, they can be scribed, they're flexible enough to take a little bending, and they're free! And if you want to get creative you can make crude seats out of them by cutting n the right place, I still haven't figured out the approximate scale but since I only build what ifs I don't really worry. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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