!WARNING! This tutorial is can be dangerous to your home, your person, and your minis. Beware!

What you will need:
1) Plastic Minis
2) A Lighter (with an adjustable flame is preferred)
3) Some What of a High Pain Threshold

In this example I used Termagants. The area we are focusing on for this tutorial is their tails, normally they stick straight out behind them.

1) Using a lighter, with the flame set somewhere between medium and low, make two really really quick passes across the length of the tail. This part must be done really fast, like 1 and 1/2 seconds or less kind of fast. Too much longer and you risk burn marks and melting the plastic too much. If you see smoke, you are doing it wrong.

2) This part must be done even quicker, A.S.A.P. while the plastic is still hot, use your high threshold of pain to bend the tail by grabbing it with your fingers and shaping to desired angle. Think natural, curvy, non-90'degree angles.
2a) It also helps to use three fingers, placed along the length of the tail, two on one side and the third finger on the other side; then bend with the outer two fingers. The middle finger (no pun intended) will help guide the tail to a curved angle.

3) Repeat...

These two simple steps must be done fast, and with a soft yet firm and steady hand. So know what you are looking for before you start. If you move too fast and too hard in step two you risk ripping the tail off or making an unusable angle.

Practice makes perfect. If you want to practice using the lighter to heat the plastic, or even want to shape it again, make sure you give it plenty of time to cool down between each time you heat it up. The added heat will stack atop of the old heat and cause a greater risk of flat out melting or leaving burn marks.

Due to the fast paced nature of this tutorial you can imagine that I am unable to provide pictures of what to do "during" each step. But here is the finished product:


Some bend up, some down, some side to side, use your imagination. This sort of thing really only works on plastic parts that have little or no detail. Parts with high detail might get lost/smashed when your finger bends the plastic to shape so be careful.

And remember what I said at the start of this tutorial kids:

!WARNING! This tutorial is can be dangerous to your home, your person, and your minis. Beware!

Why must it be bent with fingers and not tools?

Because the pain is part of the ritual!

I have considered heating the plastic to bend up some fingers in an otherwise open hand... Hadnt thought of a lighter (tried boiling water - didnt work).

Because, this tutorial is for real men who can take the pain! This game isn't for no pansies!

LunaHound wrote:Why must it be bent with fingers and not tools?

Good question LunaHound. The reasons it is better to use your fingers instead of a tool are three fold:

1) Time is of the essence. It is faster to dead drop the lighter and start right into shaping with the fingers. Picking up a tool adds precious nanoseconds of a delay. (Do not use Zippos, and aim for a safe spot when you do drop the lighter, as it can get pretty hot as well. For example: DO NOT aim for your lap)

2) It is easier to gauge how much stress you are putting on the heated plastic so you do not apply too much pressure and ruin what you started.

3)

SamplesoWoopass wrote:Because, this tutorial is for real men who can take the pain! This game isn't for no pansies!

(we will ignore the double negative at the end of that sentence, cause real men dont care bout no double negatives, that juss means it is twice as bad and twice as much not for any pansies, aint dat right men?)

Psyker_9er wrote:
DO NOT aim for your lap

Unless of course your aim is blisters in a VERY uncomfortable spot....

But seriously, why on earth aren't you using a candle?

and also why not use the heated salt methode? just heat an amount of salt (kitchensalt) and then in the heatet salt the plastic can melt to a certain degree. pull it out and bend at your wishes^^. read it on this site a couple of times.

Paintbrushturkey wrote: But seriously, why on earth aren't you using a candle?

One issue with a candle would be evaporating wax residue and soot. Plus with the adjustable lighter I used, I can control how much or how little flame to use.

Example: Darkkt mentioned bending fingers on an open hand. In that instance I would use the smallest flame to contain where I put the heat as much as possible and keep it from spreading unnecessarily to the rest of the hand.


(I will edit the original post to specify a flame adjustable lighter is preferred, thanks for all the feedback)

I feel compelled to mention that breathing plastic fumes is extremely dangerous...

not such a good idea to do it with a barbecue ligeter i tried it and now ive got blisters all over my left hand

Tools can also put an unnatural flatspot at the point of contact, where fingers can mold themselves to the cross section shape of the tail while you put the curve into its length.

Just dont get the plastic too hot or you will get thumbprints in your termagants lol.

grotsrus wrote:not such a good idea to do it with a barbecue lighter i tried it and now ive got blisters all over my left hand

HEY, I warned you! but welcome to manhood

Gitsplitta wrote:I feel compelled to mention that breathing plastic fumes is extremely dangerous...

I warned you too! Never said this was a safe thing to do. You are right about the fumes, however, the point is to only "heat" the plastic. Just enough heat so that it is malleable and shapable. Hopefully you are moving so fast that nothing "melts" or "burns", so if any fumes do escape from the plastic, they are minute and disperse with out any problems. If you see smoke, you are doing it wrong.


(odd, I just notcied that some how the first line of the tutorial got cut out, so I put it back.... And I will say it again here too: !WARNING! This tutorial is can be dangerous to your home, your person, and your minis. Beware!

Awesome Idea. I wish I hadn't already primed and painted a good portion of my Nids. I will try this out though. Thanks!

Real Men for the Win!

If you are feeling brave enough, after you practiced on a few with out paint, this technique works even when they are painted. I had some of the Termagants in the base coat phase after they where primed that I tried it on and it worked fine. Since yours are fully painted I would not blame you if don’t really want to.

If you do however, you have to move even faster though, because the "melting point" of the paint is less than that of the plastic Termagant itself.

Also, be warned that some of the paint might come off and attach itself to your finger. If that happens, you are doing it wrong

A few touch-ups might be needed afterwards, but it is your call though.

I did this before on some of my termies, and I used a candle, and smooth heat reistant work gloves I found at menards.

Lighter would work too, I just used a candle for constant flame and kept a hand free.

Acardia wrote:I did this before on some of my termies, and I used a candle, and smooth heat reistant work gloves I found at menards.

Lighter would work too, I just used a candle for constant flame and kept a hand free.

True, a candle would provide a stationary constant flame, but as I mentioned before, there is the risk of the evaporating wax leaving behind a residue. Then again, everything about this tutorial involves some kind of risk.

Which is why this tutorial aint for no pansies, specially them pansy types that think they are smarter than everybody just because they thought to wear them there flame resistant gloves.
(just kidding)

This weekend I am going to be putting together yet another pansy free tutorial titled:
"Fun With Plastic and Sharp Objects!"

Another idea would be to use a smoke free oil candle. Providing a stationary flame, no waxy residue, and still plenty of manly potential.

NakedBatBoy wrote:Another idea would be to use a smoke free oil candle. Providing a stationary flame, no waxy residue, and still plenty of manly potential.

If you boys want to have scented candles everywhere during your tea party go right ahead. If you boys want to keep your manicure pretty by wearing them flame slowed gloves go right ahead.

Even if you do have time to go shopping with your mommy to get these magical smoke free candles, I would still suggest an adjustable lighter.

That way you can control the amount of open flame you want to work with. And I'm sticking to my on this.
Large flame for larger areas, smaller flames for smaller hard to reach areas.

Now! If you MEN want to do this with more power; grab your welding torch, grab your gonads, man up, and we can get this done in 0.005 seconds.

Or just use a gas stove, I guess that increases the risk of really cooking your hand though.

Trilobite wrote:Or just use a gas stove, I guess that increases the risk of really cooking your hand though.

Now you're cooking! No, I mean literally, now YOU are cooking.

There is a fine line between manliness and insanity... very fine line... and you my friend, are riding that line to the danger zone. But chicks like dudes with scars, so keep up the good work.

(now for legal purposes I must say, DO NOT DO THAT! DANGER! DANGER! WARNING! WARNING! STOP! SAVE YOURSELF! TURN OFF THE STOVE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!)

purge the unlcean with everlasting holy fire!!!!!!!

just burn the whole gaking mess and call it a nurgle army...

Viktor von Domm wrote:purge the unlcean with everlasting holy fire!!!!!!!

just burn the whole gaking mess and call it a nurgle army...

Keep melting it and call it: "All that remains of the unclean one that we just PURGED with everlasting holy fire!" (Or , you can call it: "Atrotuotwj Pwehf" for short. )

But, I do like where your mind is going with this. Creating things through their destruction.

It is an art form it it's own right. I wish more people would see it like we do. And plus, it is a battlefield after all. Perhaps half of the Termagant's face is melted off from a blast of plasma like Ol' One Eye. But the little guy kept on going, like a good little trooper, under the Iron Control of the Hive Mind.

In that case, I could see how you might want to use a metal sculpting tool to shape the now melted plastic into more of a skull shape.

But Remember:

Gitsplitta wrote:I feel compelled to mention that breathing plastic fumes is extremely dangerous...

well you could as well heat up some metallinstruments like normal butterknifes or a screwdriver and press the on the model for plasmadamages... also as many persons on the forum posted as anegative circumstance when striping minis with nailcolor remover. melt the part with it, aplicate it with a brush (one you hate^^) and instant sunburnt mini^^.

on a side note: i dont have currently enough minis to try out such methodes. the ones i have have to be fielded with all their limbs and facial features attached^^.but if i ever have to much i will get my evil revenge on them for having such places where you can not get it painted without messing other parts up... makes me MAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDD

Psyker_9er wrote:

NakedBatBoy wrote:Another idea would be to use a smoke free oil candle. Providing a stationary flame, no waxy residue, and still plenty of manly potential.

Even if you do have time to go shopping with your mommy to get these magical smoke free candles, I would still suggest an adjustable lighter.

That way you can control the amount of open flame you want to work with. And I'm sticking to my on this.
Large flame for larger areas, smaller flames for smaller hard to reach areas.

You can move the wick higher for a bigger flame and lower for a smaller flame too.

Sure, go ahead. If you want...

exhibit A) Special Oil Lamp: $3-$5-ish for extra parts and accessories.
exhibit B) Corner Store Adjustable Lighter: $0.97-ish no extra parts.

For the price of the oil and the oil stand, you can even go to the gas station and get a lighter with a naked person on it. Maybe two or three. But, we are talking about sculpting and hand painting delicate figurines here.

And even if you do get an oil lamp, you will still need a lighter at least to get the candle lit.

With a lighter, you also have better control of where the flame will be positioned.

With a lighter, you can take the figurine with you and do this on the go.

With a lighter, there is no risk of a cat knocking oil off the table and setting the house on fire.

i am guessing you got a nack for lighters, right?
do you sometimes look in a flame so long that your fingers get burnt and you didn´t eaven notice...?


no prob mate, the bulky helpers with the white jacket will be with you in a min....






















get´m boys!!!!!!!!!!

Viktor von Domm wrote:i am guessing you got a nack for lighters, right?
do you sometimes look in a flame so long that your fingers get burnt and you didn´t eaven notice...?


no prob mate, the bulky helpers with the white jacket will be with you in a min...

LOL

Also,

Psyker_9er wrote:
With a lighter, there is no risk of a cat knocking oil off the table and setting the house on fire.

Fing nosy cats.

You make good points though about the maneuverability of a lighter. The cost is actually comparable though because the candle is refillable. Eh, either way it works.

And kids, if you do decide to go the candle route, remember that there's other ways in which you can make up for it by being manly. (Examples include: peeing outdoors, spreading butter on your toast with a hunting knife, not showering for a week, challenging the next squirrel or raccoon you see and killing it with only your mouth - as if you're a wild animal...)

That is right, step right up, Boys and Girls! If you can catch, kill, and eat something using only your teeth; be proud! (The Hive Mind Loves You!)

Hold your head, and your new fresh severed half-eaten head, and your lighter or scented candle raised up high in the air and ROAR! (It is easier for the Lictors to find you that way.)

We do not discriminate here; we can all be heManly here, or Womanly. It is what you have on the inside that counts. (All of that delicious biomass.)

However, everybody should stay calm, there is no reason to panic. We can all still find peace on this, our own Home-world... So there is no need to leave this planet on any type of spacecraft or teleporters. ( Mycetic Spores will shortly be sent to your own town!)

Candle users, Lighter users, hear me: UNITE! We are all humans right? So there is no need to be telling any authorities about anything; or calling anybody mean names like "Mutant" or "Xeno Heretic". What if they are the normal ones?!? And we should all be like them! (All your biomass are belong to us!)

You'll be happy to know that I just tried out the lighter method on 2 of my tyranids. One primed and one roughly painted. It worked very well with my primed one. I could move the lighter back and forth on it a few passes then grab/mold it easily how I wanted.

Unfortunately with the painted one it didn't work so well. I put the lighter under the tail in a sweeping motion and in about 0.03 seconds or so the end of the tail was on fire... So I swiftly extinguished that with my fingers and am sad to say that I won't be doing that with anymore of my painted models. The primed ones however, are in for a big treat!

Post pix when you get a chance NakedBatBoy!

Just please put some clothes on first!

Check out that awesome scented oil candle!

Those tails are very well done! Nice fluid bends and twists with no extreme unnatural angles.


You have mastered this technique wonderfully, even if you did use a scented oil candle.

Let us keep it going boys and girls! Post pictures of your fun with fire projects, regardless of it being done with a candle or a lighter.

If you tried to bend the fingers of an open hand, let us see how you did!
If you tried to bend a genestealer arm higher above his head, let us see it!

Also, I plugged your tutorial in my Project (B)log, hope that's ok!

Before I started Warhammer I used to make little el-cheapo dioramas with plastic soldier men and a lighter. So...many....FUMES! (They weaken your mind)
I made a whole heap of soldiers fighting off zombie...soldiers (You cannot fight US)
There was a fig I based loosely off the song 'One' by Metallica. He had no legs, one arm and half a face. (And lots of delicious bio-mass)He was leaning against a rock with a burnt flag held high.

Them's sure was the days.

By the way, Psyker-9er, I enjoyed reading this thread. You are a funny person. (Come entertain the hive mind)

EDIT: Zoh-mah-gawd BatBoy did your sig just get 5 times bigger?

HadoukenAvenger wrote:Before I started Warhammer I used to make little el-cheapo dioramas with plastic soldier men and a lighter. So...many....FUMES! (They weaken your mind)
I made a whole heap of soldiers fighting off zombie...soldiers (You cannot fight US)
There was a fig I based loosely off the song 'One' by Metallica. He had no legs, one arm and half a face. (And lots of delicious bio-mass)He was leaning against a rock with a burnt flag held high.

Them's sure was the days.

I used to do the same thing as a kid! So many good memories!!

HadoukenAvenger wrote:
EDIT: Zoh-mah-gawd BatBoy did your sig just get 5 times bigger?

I want people to check out my stuff and give me advice!

Edit: Is it too much?? Should I tone it down?!

I don't mind it, it certainly draws attention

Not at all NakedBatBoy. You are doing some great work, so there is no reason for you NOT to be proud of it, use 72 as a font size, that should be small enough
I like the ork who stole the big shoota from the other ork. Classic.
Great color scheme on the nids too.

Thanks for the plug by the way. I feel honored.

As do I.

Here. I will return the favor:

If you didn't notice the huge self-plugs from NakedBatBoy: check it out here http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/318186.page

Psyker_9er wrote:Here. I will return the favor:

If you didn't notice the huge self-plugs from NakedBatBoy: check it out here http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/318186.page

Lol. I toned my plug down a bit! Thx though.

NakedBatBoy wrote:
I used to do the same thing as a kid! So many good memories!!

I've still got mine, within photographable distance.....

I wanna see! Let us see! come on, show us! POST PIC! PHOTOS! PHOTOS!


Let us witness those who have been taken by the flames of war!

Psyker_9er wrote:I wanna see! Let us see! come on, show us! POST PIC! PHOTOS! PHOTOS!


Let us witness those who have been taken by the flames of war!

Yes please.

I'll see what I can do.

i like victor von dooms idear after burniging hit it with a mallet that will make a mess

and after that have a pee.... just to make sure it gets the message that it is not welcomed around here, fething xenos^^

grotsrus wrote:i like victor von dooms idear after burniging hit it with a mallet that will make a mess

BRILLIANT! I just had a hilarious idea!

Heat the whole plastic Termagant, real nice and mushy, then smash it down flat, slowly and carefully so you keep a good portion of detail. Then glue the flattened bug to the underside of Tank Tracks. Or, do the same thing to a plastic Gargoyle, then stick it to the windshield of a Space Marine Titan or Airplane.

Viktor von Domm wrote:and after that have a pee.... Just to make sure it gets the message that it is not welcomed around here, fething xenos^^

Hey hey hey! calm down now, there is no need for name calling, we are all created equally ( equally delicious and full of yummy in the tummy biomass)

Viktor von Domm wrote:on a side note: i dont have currently enough minis to try out such methods. The ones I have have to be fielded with all their limbs and facial features attached^^.but if I ever have to much I will get my evil revenge on them for having such places where you can not get it painted without messing other parts up... makes me MAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDD

I know the feeling brother... My new troop purchases are few and far between too. Plus, not only do I have my armies to worry about, but I also have two daughters with armies of their own.

So in a way I guess, it was my lack of fresh material to work with, that got me thinking out side of the box. After I painted everything, or at least had them all base coated, it was then that I had to think of new ideas or be forced to strip them all down, and start over.

I use hot salt. less chance you will end up with a flaming or otherwise mangled figure.

sennacherib wrote:I use hot salt. less chance you will end up with a flaming or otherwise mangled figure.

If you got a link to that tutorial I would like to read it, but I am going to go ahead and say that I still suggest a lighter with an adjustable flame. It is true that there is a good chance that bad things can happen with fire from a candle or from a lighter. But I just say boo-freaking-hoo.

I like risk, nothing ventured nothing gained. A lighter is faster, more maneuverable, accurate with an adjustable flame, and more manly.

What do you do with all the salt when you are done? Huh? Do you take with you on a picnic with your dollies, huh? Little girly-man. (j/k)

I really don't think any one can change my mind about using a lighter. Now, having said that, I am still interested in reading more about this salt method you people keep talking about. It might be useful for larger melting projects with lots of surface area to cover.

since i built two sm armies at the moment (one for my oldest son) i know how that feels. besides its two sm armies. one can get a bit upset from all this holiness fething gak^^

but fear not got my own hive mind set up for the making, then i will gladly give all mushy strategies a go^^
i hope that at the end of the week i´m able to show some of my wips to the world. so stay tuned, as i staying tuned to your cruelty to nids and models alike. besides again^^, did you ever try your methode on a marine and if so, what did you bend ?

on your other blog you´ve shown that nidmarine...something in your milk or why did you do that? genestealer? would be my only thought about that^^

and again, for every part that is not paintable without frustration commit vengance via cleansing fire^^

Viktor von Domm wrote:
but fear not got my own hive mind set up for the making, then i will gladly give all mushy strategies a go^^
i hope that at the end of the week i´m able to show some of my wips to the world. so stay tuned, as i staying tuned to your cruelty to nids and models alike. besides again^^, did you ever try your methode on a marine and if so, what did you bend ?

on your other blog you´ve shown that nidmarine...something in your milk or why did you do that? genestealer? would be my only thought about that^^

and again, for every part that is not paintable without frustration commit vengance via cleansing fire^^

FIRE! FIRE! FIREEE!

I personally have not done this to a Marine yet, but I have no doubt that it would work just fine. I would use it to bend legs maybe. Or even on an open hand, I would use a low flame to bend the fingers closed.

I did use this idea on a Genestealer, I raised the arms a bit, and bent the fingers outward and wider for a more "going to grab you" look. I will try and find that one to take a pic, I did so well, that I can't tell which one it is

The Nidmarine pic on my other tutorial, Fun With Plastic and Sharp Objects!, will be covered more in more detail when I post my (P)Blog. At that time I will, of course, make many links available to every one so you can find the happy home of all your fellow Cult Members.

Hot salt. I will write a proper tutorial later but for now this will have to do.
Start with a pan you dont mind messing up. GO to a salvation army or other thrift store and pick out a non teflon pan thats on the small side, preferabley one with a low lip around the outside so that you can reach into it without buring your hand on the side. Also get a bunch of iodized salt, cheap at the dollar store or anywhere else. You need about a pound.
Put salt in the pan, heat on your stove on high for about 2-3 minutes. times spent heating will vary considerably. Then turn the sove to low low heat and using a metal spoon stir the salt so that the mixture inside is composed of evennly heated material. Let the salt cool down a little so wait about 5 minutes with the salt on low low temp.
You are ready to test the salt. Stir the salt one more time to mix it up so its all uniform temp. Then take a bit of old sprue and stick it into the salt. Test it for pliability after about 5 seconds. If the salt is too hot then the salt crystals will dent the surface of your sprue and the plastic will be to soft to work with. what you want is for the plastic to be just hot enough to be pliable. Experiment before using your model.
I have used this tech. to mold carnifex tails and to scratch build wings for greater demon. works pretty well.

somewhere there was a tut on this methode with pics but i cant find it anymore. but your short version covers everything needed. especially the part where you test it with sprue. very good thinking that is.

Thanks Sennacherib, that sounds interesting.

It would be cool if you made a Tutorial with pics so we can get the whole concept.

By the way you described it, I think my orignal statement is still correct. The salt method is better for larger bits like the wings for a greater demon.

Smaller bits, I am still going to use my lighter. If I am only going to do a few tails then I dont want to feel like I am about to start baking a cake.

But please, still post that tutorial.

I've had success bending plasticard to make nid wings by heating it with a gas stove. Just use the smallest burner, on the lowest heat. The advantage with this is that if you do fear Extremely Dangerous plastic fumes you can put your cooker fan on...

A WARNING GUYS, THIS IS KNOWN TO CAUSE CANCER IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. wienies.
Try a blow dryer or boiling water, both work very well.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/318880.page
i wrote a quick tutorial while on break from school. hope this helps.

Mewiththeface wrote:A WARNING GUYS, THIS IS KNOWN TO CAUSE CANCER IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. wienies.
Try a blow dryer or boiling water, both work very well.

WHEW!! Good thing I am not in California. Now I can breathe in all the plastic fumes I want, good to know
I was really hopping I wouldn't get cancer... Now I know that I don't have to worry since I am not in California, I am ok with trivial brain tumors or mutations. No big deal...

Blow dryer, boiling water, or gas stove... Large bits like wings and monstrous creatures, sure, sounds great.

Smaller bits, like tiny fingers, knee joints, or tails... Lighter, all the way.

Salt, blow dryer, boiling water, gas stove, blow torch, barbecue pit, microwave, or even just leaving the mini out in the sun for a few hours, wont have the control and precision that an adjustable flame lighter will have. With the adjustable flame you can put the heat right where you want it, with out heating the other portions of the mini you don't want to bend. A lighter is also movable, adjustable, and able to fit into hard to reach places. All other options, candles included, are stationary.

Here is a made up example of how the maneuverability of a lighter is better than a stationary heat source:
Let us pretend we are trying to work with a three armed Mutant mini. Two arms are reaching out holding a sword in front of his body. The third arm is the one we want to bend so it is scratching his chin. This arm comes out of his bellybutton and is reaching out too, but it is behind/under the other two arms.

With a lighter you can angle the flame between or under the outer arms while keeping a firm grip on the legs. Adjust the flame low enough so that only the the joint between the third arm and the bellybutton gets the heat. Now that we bent the arm we can again focus the heat by positioning the lighter and low flame only on the fingers so we can bend them toward the chin.

Now, with the stationary options, you have to heat through the outer arms, or hold the mini in some odd fashion that might not be a firm grip. If, perhaps, you try to hold the mini upside down, that puts the heat source in contact with the head first, which we want to avoid. Also, heat rises, now we are holding our hand directly over an open flame. Same sort of thing happens if you hold hold by the head and have the flame go up from the bottom. Now the legs are melting, and we still haven't bent our third arm. With the Salt idea, I don't think any of this would be possible. With a blow dryer and with salt, the heat would go every where. Head, outer arms, legs get heated first, then finally, it might reach the third inner arm but everything else is mushy.

I am not saying that there are not any good uses for the other methods. What I am saying though, is the lighter can be your best friend.
(thanks for the tutorial on the salt method Sennacherib, good read)

Good example man. That even makes my scented candle (lol) useless! Go you and your lighter theory!

NakedBatBoy wrote:Good example man. That even makes my scented candle (lol) useless! Go you and your lighter theory!

I like the sound of that... Lighter Theory 101, an advanced college course to be taken along with physics and philosophy, for a degree in burning things.

I like the idea of changing things up a bit, not making everything so uniform

well finally i used your burning strategy on a sm model.

repostioned my left arm of the famous lundgren model^^



you can even see some burnmarks near the glove of the left arm...
it only takes about a sec and then you can turn and twsit all you like.
so am i beeing a wussy for using a candle?^^

cheers mate, and thanks again for the tut, vik

If it was a scented tea candle candle from a store called "Wicks and Sticks" then yes, you are a wussy!

If it was a roman firecracker type candle, 5 foot tall 3 foot wide magma candle, blow torch, flame thrower, lantern loaded with gasoline, or a lighter, then no you are not a wussy!

But as long as you are using an open flame, that counts for something.

The way I used to do this, and even it was a bit dumb, was to use a soldering gun (GUN as in plumbing not IRON as in electronics the wattage is very different) to heat up and bend parts of the units. Don't make contact for long but just enough to heat up the flex area. I also used what is called a clamp to hold the model and free up a hand instead of just droping the heat source because us real men, you know the ones who discovered your precious fire, also invented what are called tools. We use these tools to make doing things easier you should try it sometime. NOTE: A cloth on both ends of the clamp is enough to make sure there are no tool marks on your model.

Another way I've seen is to use steam from boiling water in a kettle or other device where it is rushing out of a small opening.

My only hang up about using an open flame is that plastic DOES catch fire and that WILL ruin your models, but melting them another way achieves the same result at a lower risk.

well it was kind of a smelly candle so i was a wussy but i will get manned up. next time i will use a dork of neighbor and lit him and then i will use him for bending my models. that way i get two goodies for one thing. getting rid of bums in my hood and unique models^^. and thirdly i´m mean manly an the chicks have to get in line to get astonished by me^^.
whoa thanks psyker, this modeling technique could prove to become a babemagnet^^ i nominate you for at least three nobelprices...

ComputerGeek01 wrote:...because us real men, you know the ones who discovered your precious fire, also invented what are called tools. We use these tools to make doing things easier you should try it sometime. NOTE: A cloth on both ends of the clamp is enough to make sure there are no tool marks on your model.

Another way I've seen is to use steam from boiling water in a kettle or other device where it is rushing out of a small opening.

My only hang up about using an open flame is that plastic DOES catch fire and that WILL ruin your models, but melting them another way achieves the same result at a lower risk.

Tools are for Fools who can't take the heat! Making it easier does not make it right! Using your hands, feeling the pain, putting your own blood into the model is part of the ritual. Us men dont have a monthly blood letting, like women do, so we have to make up for it by other means.

Plus, as I stated before in this tutorial, using just a simple lighter can be taken with you on the go or done on a whim with out any prep time to gather your tools together. Tools can also leave unnatural angles.

It is to be done fast enough that nothing catches fire. If you see smoke, you are doing it wrong.


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Viktor von Domm wrote:well it was kind of a smelly candle so i was a wussy but i will get manned up. next time i will use a dork of neighbor and lit him and then i will use him for bending my models. that way i get two goodies for one thing. getting rid of bums in my hood and unique models^^. and thirdly i´m mean manly an the chicks have to get in line to get astonished by me^^.
whoa thanks psyker, this modeling technique could prove to become a babemagnet^^ i nominate you for at least three nobelprices...

Thank you Viktor, you manly stud you, for your support! Setting your neighbor on fire could get a little smelly though so be warned.

i cant smell anyways^^ but i guess since i ´ve got some little kids the screams will anoy my kids... so i will stick to my wussy ways probably...or would using the warmth of my manly armpits do?
hmmmm might be usefull to run a few miles around the block to get a bit more warmth...

Viktor von Domm wrote:...or would using the warmth of my manly armpits do?
hmmmm might be usefull to run a few miles around the block to get a bit more warmth...

If your Armpits can melt plastic, then you sir, you should be the one nominated for five nobelprizes of manhood!

now i have to clean my desktop after sprying my coke around...

Just quickly back on topic; I just used it on a fully painted Termagaunt with a simple match and it worked beautifully.

You could make some awesome plague marines by melting vanilla marines together.

In a pinch a match would work too, post some pics Enginseer!!!
Plague marines are a good idea too, ClosetRoller. As well as plasma burns or vehicle exploded terrian sets.

Have a few melted IG heads or arms laying around the exploded transport would be cool....I mean....HOT



POST PICS EVERYONE!

I want to see your handy work with a flame. Post pics on this tutorial of things you have melted. Specify your methods. Open flame, soddering gun, candle, armpits, flame thrower. POST PICS!

3 pages on how best to burn plastic... this says somthing I think lol

today i used the methode again, made me a scratch built standard bearer out of an old 2.edition sarge... drilled the left hand where normaly the chainsword is and then over the flame turned the hand to my needs...works like charm.

and for the record: it was blazing hellfire i used, so i´ve manned up considerably^^. sorry no pics, too hot for making pics^^

vik

Trilobite wrote:3 pages on how best to burn plastic... this says somthing I think lol

Not just the best way my friend... But the Manliest way to burn plastic!! MUHAHAHAHAW!

Viktor has been using hellfire now it seems... Is that how your armpits melt plastic? Hellfire Armpits?
That might need some medical attention...


Do not use Chaos Fire!
You could start with regular space marine figurine, and end up with a female Ogryn with pointy torpedo/bewb armor.

and that would be bad??? hmmm to each his own...

Well, now that you mention it, I guess not...

Unless, the Chaos Fire transformed the figurine into a life sized Female Ogryn who then tried to mate with you... That could get messy.

can´t do, i´m married and my missus would certtainly have something to say in the mating department...

So we agree:

Chaos fire, although very manly, could be very very bad to use.


Although, maybe you will get lucky and not only will the figurine bend the way you want it to, but will also be magically fully painted and win golden demon awards.

Who wants try and figure the math-hammer odds of probability with that huh? huh? With chaos fire, Is luck more prominnent or laws of probability?

i´m on to another project that involves some nurglings and a can of chilli beans...

no only joking, or am i?

I know the feeling... I have to make little nurglings too after I eat chilli

loooool...

and the face made in the process just seems a tribute to father nurgle himself^^

ClosetRoller, you beat me to the punch.
I have seen afew models at a store I used to go to often of the melted marines gone plague with fire .
I have yet to try it, but very tempting.
A friend screwed up his marines by soaking them in acid(nail polish remover) for a night and gave them to me...Now if I can only get my hands on chaos fire

Here's an exhaust pipe I melted on my Ork Trukk to make it fit how I wanted it to.

I really liked the feel of an Omaha Beach type transport... I melted the exhaust pipe to bend it to shape, I added spikes and body parts to the front, and also used some plastic to build up walls with. Here's what I got (other pics in my plog):

Edit: Personally I think you could achieve better results with less trouble/pain, but if this works for you then its a good technique.

I think i read earrlier about someone saying zippos are bad but you could put it in a vice, so that it could kinda act like a candle... But waaaaayy more manly...

General somethingorother wrote:I think i read earrlier about someone saying zippos are bad but you could put it in a vice, so that it could kinda act like a candle... But waaaaayy more manly...

He is right you know, in fact, those are the only type of candles I allow in my house. Massive vice grip bolted to the wall with zippos or blow torches firmly locked in place.

Keep up the good melting work NakedBatBoy

I melted a few more nid tails myself, I'll post pics later.

Not only can this be used with termagants but can also be used with any other model

cool may have to try this on my ork vehicles fro all those pesky bits that don't fit properly

just use hot water to bend plastic

Ouch

I will definitely be doing this, does it also work with Hormas?

tyrantguard101 wrote:just use hot water to bend plastic

Hot water, hot salt, and other such methods are good ideas for larger projects. Stuff like the hull of a vehicle or wings on a DP.

The adjustable flame lighter is more intended for smaller quick and easy projects.

The Terrifying Terror wrote:I will definitely be doing this, does it also work with Hormas?

This technique will work on anything plastic. Even the thicker legs of Space Marines are no match for a well focused and controlled flame.

When it comes to Flesh Hooks, or other thin platic material, you must move twice as fast with the flame, and also let gravity be your friend. So take 0.0002 seconds instead of 0.002 and let gravity help bend it downwards towards the direction you want.

when i saw the name of this thread i was picturing something enitrly different

TNM wrote:when i saw the name of this thread i was picturing something enitrly different

Maybe you were imagining tinfoil's daemon thread?

tinfoil wrote:I've been having fun.

I'm putting some work into more slave-soldiers for the Harrowed -- that's not the fun part.

I've also been working on the possessed city terrain -- specifically the corrupted shrine. I find myself wanting to do things ... bad things ... to the eagle-headed jutting prow/piece commanding the center panel of the shrine. So first I assembled it as GW and the Emperor's loyal subjects intended. And then I burned open the brow of the figurehead:


(and it goes onto things like this...)

Meanwhile, I tried to figure out what to do about the most dominant aspect of the structure: its neo-gothic high-fascist eagle armor plating. I couldn't let that stand. After all, the act of possessing an imperial shrine would be a violently wrenching process. So I knew I was going to have to attack the thing. The shrine's "skin" is made of pretty thick plastic, though. I contemplated taking drills, a dremel, saws, files, an exacto knife to it. But I didn't want the thing to look cut or gouged or sawed up.... so much as warping from within, buckling and bubbling with change.

So I decided on another approach. When some warm weather coincided with one of my wife's business trips, I decided the fates were aligning, took the panel of the shrine outside, and went to work on it with a box of matches. Selectively applying flame, I softened the plastic in patches, mushed it around a bit (with an old butter knife and a coat hanger wire), plucked at it (with a pair of tweezers), and generally desecrated the thing.


*sigh. Remember when we were kids and we used to set plastic soldiers on fire in our backyards? Remember that smoke, that smell? I suppose it's toxic as hell. But intoxicating, too. It triggers this incredibly evocative boyhood sense memory. So yeah, I'm happy.

...Good times with Plastic and fire...

(Also, sorry for the thread advertisement Psyker, just thought this was another great example of a use for fire.)

No problemo NakedBatBoy. Those are awesome pix and a lovely display of fire usage.

Here are pix of my Lictor with flesh hooks:




And Here is a slighty better pic of my Ymgarl Genestealer:

Looking at the shadow cast by his tentacled hand, you can get a better idea how the bending actually looks.

I will try to get even better pix... It is a new camera so I am still trying to figure it out and learn it's true worth for finer details

rather than a high pain threshold you can use some pliers to hold your model in place, and gently use another set to actually bend them

I might just use this on my firewarriors so I can bend their legs and give them some more dynamic poses..

Using tools can cause unnatural looking creases or lines in the plastic, using your hands makes it more like natural sculpted lines.

Plus, pain dont hurt...hee'huyuck. See now, looky here:




That Ork boy done proves it right ther.

I burnt my tank-hatch commander horrifically just because he was so redundant and un-necessary. While cleaning up the puddle, my dog ate one of my FW, and I could have used the tank hatch commander (before liquefying him) as a proxy -_-".

Eh well, live and learn

Also, I used your technique to bend the leg of one of my XV8s to make him crouching, and he now looks like a 2-ton ninja.

Ok, I know this post is pretty old, but I thought I'd add my 2 copper to this. I also checked to see if anyone mentioned this but didn't see anything. If I missed it, I apologize in advance. One thing which I use to bend styrene is incense. Incense seems to work best because the head is a very small and concentrated. Just using the heat from the incense will soften the plastic enough for it to bend. Since the heat is a fairly small source, it's a lot easier to control. I've tried using a lighter, and candle, but always end up burning the part. Below is a sample on how I used incense to bend sheet plastic to make a push bar for a HPD Crown Vic.

Great idea KroKro! Not to mention, the incense would mask the smell of burning plastic.

You guys do know that burning plastic fumes are highly toxic, right? Like, brain cell killing toxic. I really hope that you guys are wearing masks!

_Tim?

Enjoy your cancer!


In all honesty this thread had me laughing out loud. This needs to go in the Humor section.

... with more disclaimers. MANY MORE DISCLAIMERS!


Tune in next week for "THE ULTRA MANLY AMONIA/CHLORINE PAINT STRIPPING METHOD! (warning not for pansies!"

Some_Call_Me_Tim? wrote:You guys do know that burning plastic fumes are highly toxic, right? Like, brain cell killing toxic. I really hope that you guys are wearing masks!

_Tim?

Everything kills brain cells. Touch your head as lightly as you possibly can, you just killed some brain cells.

im2randomghgh wrote:

Some_Call_Me_Tim? wrote:You guys do know that burning plastic fumes are highly toxic, right? Like, brain cell killing toxic. I really hope that you guys are wearing masks!

_Tim?

Everything kills brain cells. Touch your head as lightly as you possibly can, you just killed some brain cells.

What the heck? I seriously doubt that, man, or else the human race would be shuffling around like a bunch of zombies, because, AFAIK, once a brain cell is gone, it's gone.

_Tim?