SCI-FI SCRATCHBUILD QUESTION?

The best tool I have ever seen for rounded edges is something called a Flexi-file. It's a flexible strip of sandpaper (in varying grits) held by a frame shaped like a hacksaw U. For less than $10, it's a no-can-do-without tool.

Thanks Bio-dorc and everyone else. I will have to try these ideas out.

Easy... The sheet styrene is a small 90 degree block basically.
For a nice neat joint you sand away one edge to the requested angle,
or both edges to add up to that angle. After glueing them together
you then sand to the desired edge. Hope this helps


(right click and VIEW IMAGE. Doesn't seem to enlarge...)

I am going to have to try these suggestions. How about when doing something that comes in from a slant/angle instead of a 90° angle. Something like a front end of a sled or the rounded areas of a scratch built y-wing fighter? I hope this description is clear enough.

The easiest way I've seen to get rounded edges is to use the same size quarter round as your thickness of styrene. In this case the box was built up out of .020, then some .040 glued to that leaving |_ edges. These were then filled with .040 quarter round stock. Little bit of filling & sanding and bamf! Rounded edges.

This, tho', only works if you're looking for larger radius curves.

For knocking off the sharp edges I've found the polishing sticks work very nicely. Nice tight little radius.

I agree with Max. In order to make a nice round edge, you have to add material
to work away (SANDING Aargh!). I works playing with diffirent thicknesses
of styrene. I use 2mm for structural and add support in the back to sand away.
Other parts are fine with 1mm/0.5mm/0.2mm...
I was flabberghasted ( funny word...) at how well this works...
I just work away the desired amount with a course file and smooth the surface
over with fine grit sand paper (SANDING Aargh!). You just need to be patient
and work away slowly. In the beginning I used to sand away like my foot was
connected to the mains, leaving nice highways in my round edges...

Hey Snoopy. Here is how I do rounded courners.



People tend to come up with their own way of doing things like this so see what else shows up here. This works really good for me just remember to use small file sets to shape and then sand to smooth out the curve. If you are using liquid cements give it several hours to set up completely before any sanding and filling.

Hope this helps,