Make a turret very quickly the Svennn way

[Svennn]

Someone asked how I made the turrets on my recent VSF ship so I thought I would share.
This is all you need (almost). A spray can lid, some plasticard (I use 20 thou. for this as it bends around the can easier than thicker stuff), a couple of the little plastic tubes that come with paint brushes and some glue.

I said almost. These are my not so secret weapons. I also raided my wifes crafting room for a corner punch and some Appli Glue. Appli glue is glittery but rather thick and no we will not be putting rhinestone patterns on a black t-shirt. Seriously though, both these can be bought very cheaply from craft stores and are very usefull.

I took the corners off the pieces of card and added a whole with another punch. The sort you use for putting files in ring binders.

Stick them onto the can top. I put them on opposite sides as the bigger piece will be a door. I use superglue as liquid poly will not work on the weird plastic used in the lid.

Now its time for the appli-glue. I use it straight from the bottle with its own nozzle and blob little dots where I want rivets. Takes a little practice to get consistent but not much and it is very quick.

It is so quick in fact I decided to add more rivets and then added the gun barrell made from the paint brush tubes.

And that is pretty much it, spray undercoat and paint as desired. Did I say quick - this whole thing including taking the pictures took six minutes.
If you want to add a little more detail use some short lengths of wire bent into "u" shapes and glue them into rows of holes to make a rung ladder. I do the door handles the same way by putting a rung vertically.


Svennn

[PeteMurray]

Hey Hammers, sticky this thread. It's a good one.

Svenn, this is a good thread.

GOOD THREAD

[Bugsda]

Genius!

[TwoGunBob]

Detailed and useful. Thanks for posting it.

[dodge]

Excellent stuff (I seem to be saying that a lot lately)

Very effective and comes up brilliantly when painted. 

[Dewbakuk]

Hmm, I think I need one of those corner punches!

Svenn, I've used the PVA method to reasonable efect but that appli-glue looks much faster. However I'm not keen on the way it peaks. Can it be smoothed off easily?

[sukhe_bator]

A smaller version to consider, one I used to make Vulcan-style minigun auto turrets for 15mm Sci-Fi - but might make a good Gatling gun turret?
Materials:
1 plastic screw cover
1 biro (preferably old) or plastic brush tube a la Svennn's method
1 short length plastic rod/thin brass wire
Method:
Cut plastic rod/brass into several short lengths (about 1" to 1.5" long)
Cut 2 short lengths off end of soft biro inner (the one with the ink in) or lengths brass. Ensuring all ends are squared off (if using clippers not scalpel)
Bundle rod lengths and insert into the two biro rings (5 or 7 can't remember which) Ensuring rods are straight and not twisted. Glue into position.
Cut or drill round hole into screw cover to same dia as biro ring. Insert bundle and glue into place.

[Geudens]

Very well presented tutorial, Svennn!

Rudi

[Hammers]

Treated for Photobucket rot.