Scratchbuild?

This is basically constructing/modeling/shaping a part or a complete model starting from scratch.  When there is no available model on the market, you can build one from plain styrene sheet, modeling clay and or any other material.

The exact same thing as in real life.  Let's say you want a trailer.  In real life you'll make your drawings and then go to a metal supplier and buy all the necessary steel-angles, sheet metal and metal tubing to build it.  You'll cut all the parts as per your drawing and then get the parts welded together to create your master piece.  Then youo'll have to buy some wheels and suspension from a retailer to complete the whole thing.

The same thing applies to scale modeling.  You could create a scale representation of the trailer but using styrene and plastic rods/tubes/angles and sheet to build it.  Then you'll use plastic cement instead of weldings but the result is the same.  And you can still buy the resin wheels form an aftermarket parts supplier.

You can even cast your own parts when you have the proper material.

Here are a couple of "how-to"

http://smooth-on.com/howtomakemolds.htm

http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=220

http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=1001

And here is a supplier of styrene sheets and bits.

http://www.evergreenscalemodels.com/Sheets.htm

Of course, having some designing skills is of great help.

So its pretty much making everything on your own, seems difficule and long and I never hear of styrene sheet? and how do your shape it into the piece you want.

Most basic shapes are available in strips like flat bars, angles, tubes, rods, square bars, hexagon bars.  So you can simply cut them to length.  The styrene sheets can be cut with a plastic scribber.  From there it can be glued together or bent into shape.

For more complex rounded shapes, you have to shape them and sculpt them using some products like Aves Apoxie Sculpt available thru here: http://www.ausfwerks.com/

It's not that complex but you need a little experience.  I starts with some small details you can add on your model and you slowly feel the need to create some more.  At least that's what happened to me.  Of course I'm an industrial designer so engineering the parts and getting the drawings done is easy for me.  But I think it's not quite difficult if you take the time to look at the part you want to scratchbuild and think of a way to get it into pieces.  Then it's just a matter of getting the material and cut it accordingly.

You start with simple projects.  If your an armor modeler, you can start by trying to do a tool box or a jerry can holder.  Sand bags using Apoxie Sculpt, springs using electrical wires.  Spare track holders.  Just simple projects that will perfect your skills and then you can aim higher and build a trailer or a simple structure for a gun ..... etc.

That kind of project can be costly though.  I once planned to scratchbuilt the Apollo Saturn V Launch Umbilical Tower and it was both a very complex and pricey project.  I could ended up paying around $800 only for the plastic required. 

 

T-rex wrote:

So its pretty much making everything on your own, seems difficule and long and I never hear of styrene sheet? and how do your shape it into the piece you want.

 

For a long time I thought, ugh sounds tedious but once I tried it I found that wasn't the case at all. It is not as hard as you would think and it allows you to build something unique, even if you are mostly building from the box.

As far as getting styrene there are two big companies, and a number of smaller ones.

Evergreen

http://www.evergreenscalemodels.com/

Plastruct

http://www.plastruct.com/

 

Evergreen has a good book for the starting scratchbuilder.

Has anyone in here bought that Evergreen book on scratchbuilding, and is it useful enough to justify the price? I mean, I'm no styrene Rembrant, but even I can build a plastic box.

I bought the Evergreen book, I think what you get for the $14 is worthwhile. It covers basic techniques and then provides additional detail through a range of examples, model RR buildings, armor, a car etc.

You don't really need it to get started but I found it helpful even after I had been working with styrene for awhile.

He's a idea for a scrachbuilding prioject that is on its way.

the german anti-tank Flakpanzer IV/2Cm Vierling Wirbelwind is just the body of a panzer IV with FlaKvierling 38 which I have just bought, let's not forget the turret which is not available seperatly, but I think that I could try to scrach build one, but how?

Tamiya has made a vesrison of this tank but my dio (another idea but won't be done fo a few months) will have two of them, one the real thing, the other scrachbuild, I have some of its plans thanks to a mittitary book of artillerys from 1914 to the prensent day.

   HI THERE : The truth is ,scratchbuilding is the art of using found parts and material and working , shaping ,sanding and painting until you have created the miniature you want . Found materials can be as simple as legos or stirsticks ,blown plastic bubbles ,plastic dishes ,packaging etc . You also carve wood ,plastic or other media to shape too .The real trick in scratchbuilding is to have an eye to what will fit your project or whether you,ll have modify it to much .Never let yourself get bogged down in Oh , gosh I,ll have to buy this or that . Make this your absolute last response . Your imagination is your guide as to what you,re capable of , so I say GO FOR IT . (I wanna see the finished model )      I use my library for a lot of reference material . Your L.H.S. should have a good grouping of reference materials for sale . You can also contact the museums allied with subject of your project or you can ask the services  public information office as to where you can get de - classified drawings , documents etc .  You need to be as thorough as you can be ,but you don,t need it to be perfect in anyones eyes but yours .        tankerbuilder

T-rex wrote:

Here a question that I just have to know, What's schatbuilding? How do you make a scatchbuild project? and where do you get the information of the piece?

I recently just started my first scratchbuilding project, no styrene in this one, but wood and alot of household products will certainly be used. I started a WIP on it, you never know it may help shed some light on some of your questions. Here's the link: /forums/1121726/ShowPost.aspx

Hope you check it out........despite the fact I just realized this thread is almost two years old.

T-rex wrote:

Here a question that I just have to know, What's schatbuilding?

Schatbuilding? no idea what that is.

T-rex wrote:

He's a idea for a scrachbuilding prioject that is on its way. the german anti-tank Flakpanzer IV/2Cm Vierling Wirbelwind is just the body of a panzer IV with FlaKvierling 38 which I have just bought, let's not forget the turret which is not available seperatly, but I think that I could try to scrach build one, but how

FYI that is a conversion. a scratchbuild would be making that out of sheet styrine carboard or something that's not a model kit.