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-SHAPING
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Here
are listed all the tools and materials that are
needed to add or take away volume to the model, to
refine and reshape its forms and details and to
polish its surfaces.
Files -
Hardware stores sell files of every shape and
dimension. But for our use in model making, the
maximum dimension for this tool is that of a nail
file, that is used only for refining large
extensions of plastic. The other files should be
small precision files of various shapes, which are
often sold all together in one pack. They permit to
refine and smooth small portions of plastic and
every kind of hole.
Sandpaper - I use sandpaper for most of the
tasks of smoothing plastic surfaces. It's much
easier to use than the files for medium and large
portions of plastic and it's great for removing
excessive putty and dried glue. There should be at
least two kind of sandpaper in your toolkit, one
coarse-grained and the other fine-grained. The
first does the job of removing material and the
second gives the surface a new smoothness.
Drills - They are essential to open new
holes and to shape hollow forms. Drills of various
size and tip shape are sold in hardware stores
everywhere and a selection of them can be bought
cheaply.
Putty - This is the material used to close
every gap produced on the surface of your model, to
fill the junctures between the parts and to create
new volumes to shape. Plastic putty is sold in
tubes in every model shop and it can be easily
distributed with a toothpick or with the knife. It
dries completely in a few hours reducing its
volume. On the contrary, putty composed of two
components to be mixed together, sold in model
shops and hardware stores, doesn't have this
problem, even if it's more difficult to
prepare.
Plasticard - Plasticard sheets, tubes and
rods, with various thicknesses and with smooth or
shaped surfaces, are sold in many model shops.
Plasticard sheets are often used to fill or cover
large gaps and to create new surfaces and details.
Tubes and rods are often used to make new parts or
strengthen old ones.
Pliers and tweezers - There are so many uses
for these tools that it's superfluous to list them
all here. For example, they can be used to pick up
small parts and move them to places unreachable by
our hands or to handle a freshly painted part
without damaging it with our touch.
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