anyone with super cheap tricks not a cheap skate just a single dad

[crazymike179011]

hello everyone and thank you to anyone that reads this.im a single dad i do have a girlfriend that helps support my youngest son and haveing another one on the way plus i have to older kids that i pay 600 a month for.i love the hobby but im always looking for cheap ways to make more detail that being said.i look around the garage in front of me for wires laying around for plug wires and stuff to make fuel lines and brake lines.i dont use the foil becouse some months i am lucky till the bills and food is done im out of money so anyone with cheap ways to detail a car.i buy my kits from a guy that gives me a price breakmost of the time i spend no more than 12 dollars for a kit.and he sells wheels and stuff from the ones he built and i get the parts cheap or sometimes free and the dicals.but anyone with detail help thats cheap.im going splurge and a gibson engine for my annaversy.

[Terror]

I tend to look at everything I find as to how can I use this in a model.Junk drawers are a good source for stuff.Juice box straws work good for many things.If you buy toys for the kids,I always keep the grayish twisty ties that secure the toy in the package.Old headphone wire is a keeper also.BTW I am A cheap skate.LOL Also I use chrome duct tape sometimes its thicker and harder to work with but can be used in some apps,Only $10 a roll and enough for a lifetime and has the same finish as kit chrome.

Edited July 29, 2010 by Terror

[Steve Keck]

Mike,

There was a series of articles in Scale Auto or Scale Auto Enthusiasts about budget modeling. Maybe someone here has those issues and would be willing to copy them for you.

Until recently my only machine tool was a 3/8 inch variable speed reversible hand drill. With it I was able to turn intake trumpets for Weber carbs and turn signal bezels from K&S aluminum tubing.

I recently replaced my variable speed Dremel with a $19 two-speed rechargeable one from the big blue box home improvement center that I like much better.

Never throw anything away! At least, not before tearing it apart and salvaging parts. Some of the best fan belts I have came from a VCR. Textured foils and texture plastic containers abound. I used a tooth brush package to replicate the tail light lenses on my model of my 1:1 El Camino (see my avatar). Some of us use the clear vacuformed packaging for windows.

I have good luck with the $1 bottles of acrylic paint from the craft stores. I thin it with windex and airbrush interiors. Dull coat when done to protect it.

Some things I would not advise you to skimp on: paint brushes, tweezers, needle files, pliers, pin vises and rattle can paint.

I'll step aside and let others contribute.

If you are looking for something in particular PM me.

[torinobradley]

You are in good company my friend. Lots of us here like to build on the cheap. Just need to get in the habbit of looking at everything and think "how can I use that in my models". The list is huge and by no means complete to what you can find and use. Bread ties (plastic and metal), plastic signs, all kinds of wire and cord, if you rip apart that radio that no longer works you can provide yourself with all sorts of different things. Many of the diodes look like fuel filters or cool cans, coils, imagination is the key. Cigarrette package lining, disposalbe butane lighters provide lots of little parts like springs and tiny o-rings you can use for bushings, paper clips, plastic coated paper clips, lollypop sticks (plastic ones), old watches & jewelry from garage sales, all kinds of different toys have goodies in them, many of the items you buy have interesting packaging with unique shapes and such. know someone that smokes cigars? Ask them for the tubes they come in. Those have very thin wood and can be plastic or aluminum. Soda cans are great for sheet aluminum. How about those neat little 'stands' that secure the larger die casts or other toys in their packages?

Just keep your eyes and mind open, use your imagination and go from there.

[highway]

Also I use chrome duct tape sometimes its thicker and harder to work with but can be used in some apps,Only $10 a roll and enough for a lifetime and has the same finish as kit chrome.

Another good BMF stand-in, and even cheaper than chrome duct tape, is good old household aluminum foil. The only downfall is there is no adhesive on it, but that is cheaply fixed, too. I used aluminum foil on this trailer, and only have about $5 in the entire foil job, both sides and the roof are all foiled.

That is another plus of the aluminum foil, because the sides I used the shiny side of the foil to replicate a stainless steel style trailer, but to replicate the duller aluminum roof, I just used the dull side of the foil.

By the way, this was the adhesive I used for the foil, it is sprayable and I think this can was only about 3 bucks.

[TurboKitty]

In addition to what others have said, you can also use masking tape for different things: fold a piece together so it sticks to itself w/ no air bubbles, cut it to shape, and paint it flat black/grey/tan etc for floor mats. You can also do the same for seatbelts, racing harnesses, etc. Several layers of it can be roll bar padding.

I even use the plastic strue left over once all the parts are trimmed off. You can use it to make tubing for rollbars, cold air intakes, and other misc tubing. Just trim all the excess off for a smooth surface, and carefully heat it with a blowdryer so that it can be bent or wrapped around. You can even use it to make turbochargers lol. The chrome plastic strue can be heated the same way and it saves having to chrome foil it.

You can use little bits of tissue paper wrinkled up to represent hamburger wrappers or other "litter" commonly found on a car floor, lol. Use your imagination, with a good pair of tweezers and a magnifying glass, you can make just about anything, out of anything

[Dave Ambrose]

Harbor Freight has a needle file set for $2. It's very serviceable for plastic models.

You can find stuff like fine wire at industrial surplus outlets. I use wire wrap wire for ignitions and small hoses. You can also find tools at a substantial discount too.

I also routinely surf local garage sales. You'll find cheap baby gear at those too.

Good Luck