|
Post by coopdad on Feb 1, 2010 9:31:29 GMT -5
Being a tightwad I am constantly on the lookout around the house for stuff that could be used on my models. I thought I would share a few of my finds. I would love to hear yours too. John
1. guitar strings: coolant hoses (or braided hoses if perfect realism is not your thing) 2. light bulb filaments: cb mike cords or throttle return spring 3. blue jeans zipper teeth: battery terminal lugs
Electronic equipment (especially phones) are filled tiny wires and springs in there that can be used for wiring up engine compartments. Clean them out before trashing them. John
|
|
|
Post by 9t9hoelt on Feb 9, 2010 2:32:52 GMT -5
click pens.. springs inside used for coil springs. Then you can use the ink tube as a shock.
|
|
|
Post by Big Ed on Feb 9, 2010 21:49:53 GMT -5
Great ideas fellas. I ALWAYS rip open electronic stuff before they hit the trash can. I've got more colored wire than I will ever need (based, of course, on the speed at which I build). Never thought of the pen's ink tube for the shock body.
|
|
|
Post by diesel4x4lover on Apr 16, 2010 11:27:10 GMT -5
Something that hit my little brain a while ago....... sometimes as I start putting together a car or truck that requires larger/deeper wheeltubs, and I can't find any to work from my various pro-street/racing models, I started looking at alternatives. So, I started saving screw-on caps, mostly the green caps on Lawry's Garlic Powder containers. They do require some work, such as removing the inner threads, but they work perfect for my projects. I now keep all different sizes of caps for future projects. Hope this helps somebody
|
|
|
Post by wheeler on Feb 26, 2011 17:48:06 GMT -5
I like to use phone wire for sparkpug wires also, for really fine painting I cut a Q-Tip in half at a 45 Deg angle and use it like an old Ink Quil pen. Cheap no name Q-Tips don't work as they are cardboard/paper and soak up the paint, "Named" Q-Tip ones are plastic and hollow which lets the paint flow better.
|
|
|
Post by wheeler on Feb 26, 2011 17:51:06 GMT -5
Also, when I was younger I used to buy testors thinner at $1 a tiny bottle......now wiser and much older......I buy the no-name paint thinner by the gallon from the hardware store for the same price.
|
|
|
Post by wheeler on Feb 26, 2011 17:55:46 GMT -5
Crap, everytime I hit enter I remember something else....For tire tread to have a used look, just grab the wife's emeryboard for her nails. It works better then sand paper because it is stiff and won't bunch up. Just slowly drag the tire along it while rotating it around. She'll be pissed with the "burn out marks" on her nail file thingy but the tires turn out more realistic.
|
|
|
Post by twistedswift on Apr 25, 2011 11:54:52 GMT -5
i have used prescription bottles for tubs, finder flares, trash cans, a scale bbq , plus some have the same thread top as my air brush paint lids so they are great for extra paint bottles . I also use broken vertical blind pains for building sheets they are like 3" wide and as long as 7' doubled up it is about the thickness of a kit body. and you might be able to get cut offs at lowes, or home depot, where they cut them to size for people.
I use awesome orange from dollar tree to strip paint and chrome it is $1 for 64oz and $1 for a shoe box with lid . i have striped like 5 cars on one batch before changing the fluid i let it soak for about 8 hours and it is usually done and a little rubbing the paint is gone.
|
|
|
Post by tooltas on Apr 25, 2011 20:30:32 GMT -5
pin are great old presciption bottle are too i did a scale bbq smoker out of two of them..
|
|