Submit Your Helpful Hints, Tips, and Tricks to MCM

[Gregg]

Heh guys, I need some of your tips and tricks to run in the next issue of MCM.

If you have high res digital images, that would be even better.

The sooner the better.

Let me know, send an email or call: 808.754.1378.

[george 53]

Gregg, Seems like everybody's gotten kinda shy. But with all the stuff that's already on the forum why not just go down the line an just pick what's best?If you like it, use it.I don't think anyone would mind, After all it is your baby,and really why would anyone say anything? Hey Guy's If the Boss wants to use YOUR idea,Just let him.

[george 53]

whoaaa,Thats a GREAT tip.All those baby moons right there at your fingertips!Man guys, C'mon any body else?

[lorider]

I like to use small electrical wire wrap-ties a lot, they're good for filter elements, grooved blower belts, etc. Or regular pulley belts depending on which side you use if you don't have any rubber. Just sand down the opposite side with something harsh like 60 grit to make them more flexible which makes them easier to conform. I guess they would make good seat belts and shoulder harnesses too...

[MikeMc]

Perfect 1\64" stripes?????????

like these......

So go HERE:

http://www.finessepinstriping.com/index.asp

[samdiego]

Good grief, where do you start? Here's a short one that didn't occur to me for years. BMF the exposed contact surface of blower pulleys instead of trying to paint that area. It's a lot easier even if it's a cogged pulley.

Edited May 14, 2008 by samdiego

[m408]

My best hint or tip.

If you have a question or problem, post it here. You will get answers and/or solutions from some of the best.

[The Modeling Hermit]

I use the coffee stir sticks from MacDonalds as paint stir sticks. The end with the logo is good for small bottles such as Testors, and the larger end is good for taller bottles.

[59 Impala]

One tip I suggested was to make speakers from Burgerking coffie lids. They make excellent 12" speakers in 1/25th scale.

Another one was making baby moons from McDonalds lids for cold drinks.

Dan

Edited May 16, 2008 by 59 Chevy Impala

[RyanSilva]

Ive used baking soda as carpet.

Paint your floorpan or surface area with desired color. (craft paints work well), get a nice thin coat of paint on the surface, let dry, do another coat, well coated, then flood the area with baking soda, shake off, and let it totally dry out. When its really dry you can coat it with thinned paint.

Another way is taking a dime size drop of craft acrylic paint in a paper cup, then add 4 tablespoons roughly of baking soda, jiggle the cup till the baking soda balls up, if it looks wet...add more baking soda, then stir it well with a popsicle stick, stirring very very well, let it dry out over the coarse of a day, stirring every few hrs, just to keep the powders from becoming rock hard.

Once fully dry, you can sprinkle it to create colored texture for carpeting, trim, grass, moss..sand on a street..anything really. Crushed velvet?

[mageckman]

Gregg, feel free to use these tips in the magazine.

I build on a very limited budget, and can't afford to buy aftermarket parts for detailing. So any detailing I do is scratchbuilt with what I have, can find, or salvage from whatever source.

When I do small springs, throttle return springs for instance, I use some very small gauge wire and a very small needle.I thread the wire into the hole in the needle and start to turn the needle to wind the wire. I wind it until I deem it is long enough for what I need it for. Then carefully push the end out of the eye of the needle and GENTLY pull your spring off the needle.If you are making up quite few at one time you can even chuck the needle in your pin vice for speed and ease.

When I make the L shaped throttle, I make mine out of very thin sheet plastic or a big enough piece of flash( of which there is plenty on many on the reissues that some of the manufacturers are making nowadays). I figure out where I am going to make my throttle and drill three holes an equal distance apart similar to this :. , BEFORE I cut out the L shape. Once it is cut out I then paint it in an appropriate metallic color.

Hope this helps, Mageckman

[rollover]

I keep 2 small buckets of warm water handy when I airbrush acrylics. When I'm finished with the first color I take the jar of paint off of the airbrush. Next I put the airbrush in the 1st bucket and pull the trigger. This pulls the water through cleaning it out. The second bucket is used to clean the dirty water from the 1st bucket out of the spray passages.

[MikeMc]

A 2.25" bike tube......cut into sections can be used to open stuck paint jars.....makes a great grip!

[Scalefinishes]

DOT3 Brake fluid as paint remover.

[sdrodder]

One tip everyone should know on striping old paint is use castrol super clean. It strips the paint of easely and never harms the plastic. All u need to do its put it in a container roof first so it doesnt float pour it over the body and wait. When the paint is almost of take it out and brush with an OLD toothbrush. Works for me. Breakfluid takes to long and if moisture hits it it doesnt do the job.

[ajulia]

Hello all! Just wanted to stop by and say that for awhile now and Im not sure if anyone has tried this however I use cardboard tape for vinyl tops and the roof material of interior tubs as well. Its got a nice course look to it that prety much looks to be scale size. Hope it works and if ya do try it lemme know what cha think!!

peace

ajulia

[sdrodder]

Hello all! Just wanted to stop by and say that for awhile now and Im not sure if anyone has tried this however I use cardboard tape for vinyl tops and the roof material of interior tubs as well. Its got a nice course look to it that prety much looks to be scale size. Hope it works and if ya do try it lemme know what cha think!!

peace

ajulia

Got pics? Would love to see it because its a great idea