Q regarding plasticard

[Argonor]

What thicknesses do you folks use for scratchbuilding?

Fenris has 1.25 mm and thinner ones, and I consider getting me some materials for all kinds of devillish steam-powered contraptions.... (I should have 5 painted Brits in home service dress underways in the post somewhere).

Another question: Where do I get a circle-cutter?

[Svennn]

No help at all but I always buy plasticard by touchy feely from a local store. Its a good idea to get a selection of thicknesses too. Thicker is obviously more rigid but you will probably come across bits where you want to bend a shape or something and then the thinner stuff is much easier to use. The stuff I buy is guaged in thou. of an inch too so I cannot relate it to 1.25mm - but that sounds very thick.

[Argonor]

OK, sounds like the 1.25mm stuf should be used for basing, and/or roofs/floors that have to support some weight.

Just found a Danish website selling circle cutters (about £20 for one with a few extra blades). Just went on my wish list for Christmas, together with that Dremel multi-tool I've been wanting for a while... 

[Westfalia Chris]

I primarily use 0.5mm and make up thicker pieces by layering. I do, however, also use 1 and 1,5mm for bases and pieces that require greater integral strength. So using 1.25 or 1.5 for platforms is perfectly reasonable.

[Argonor]

Okies. That gives me some ideas of what to get, thanks! 

This place does wonders for my hobbying. I started out here just speed-painting with inks and drybrushing, everything right out of the (GW) pots, and almost exclusively using pre-made terrain.

Now, I paint using multi-layering techniques, use Foundry, Black Hat, and Vallejo paints, mixing inter-shades, darker shades, and lighter shades where required, have begun sculpting bits and pieces onto minis using green stuff, have moved away from using only slottas, now using washers/coins/plywood for all minis with integral or no base (I still put minis intended for slottas on those), have begun making my own terrain pieces - and now, the big leap, I'm feeling ready for scratch-building stuff.

3 years ago I would have laughed in your face, should you have suggested I'd go down this path...

[Geudens]

3 years ago I would have laughed in your face, should you have suggested I'd go down this path...

The Dark Side is tempting indeed... 

[Ramshackle_Curtis]

I use a range of thicknesses, from 2mm down to 0.4. All thicknesses are useful at some point! However, 0.5 is probably the thinnest you will really want, but as I say having a selection is by far the best option. Id reccomend buying four different thicknesses at least.

Dont even get me started on rods, tubes and hex section, and Im going nowhere near enthusing about textured plasticard, or you will be forking out hundreds of dollars in plastic sheet!

[Ray Rivers]

Beware...

Bases less than 1.5mm have a good chance of warping.

[dampfpanzerwagon]

In answer to your questions;

I would recommend 30Thou.  as a good all-round starting point - if you were thinking of buying just one sheet to try.

Most model shops in the UK will have some - also hobby stores, like Hobbycraft.

The circle cutter.  Check out a company called Olfa, see link below;
http://www.olfa.com/splash.aspx

I hope that this helps.

Tony
http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.com/

[Argonor]

Thanks for the answers - I'll bear in mind to get 1½ mm for basing (I MAY try the 1.25 as it is close)

I would recommend 30Thou. 

Does that mean 30/1000" ? Not that I would know the difference, we do not use Imperial here in DK, but the Metric system (I think I have a steel ruler that might have the conversion rates on it, though) 

[Johnnytodd]

Niels,

The compass style circle cutter works ok on paper-thin plasticard, but for thicker cuts you will probably need a steady hand with hobby knife.  For very small circles (2mm-10mm) I use leather punches.

John

[Argonor]

Yes, but I think I'll need one to score the card, to have something to cut along. I think it's easier to follow a scored line than a drawn one. 

[Ramshackle_Curtis]

Pish! The way forward is hand finished circles. Find a round object, draw around it. Use the mark and cut with nail scissors. Finally, neaten up by hand and eye.

Its hard, but look at it. You can easily see if its round or not, the human eye is quite good at that. Then simply make the "not round" round.

Actually, this is one of the best exercises you can do to improve your general platicard working technique. I recommend hand making circles for this imprtant reason alone.

[Argonor]

May try that, too 

Scissors/knives, and sandpaper could take me a long way...