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So I'm going to convert two old Rhinos into either trukks or looted wagons (depending on the arms load-out) The question is what tool would you use to go about cutting the plastic without warping it badly? Many cuts with a hobby knife?

I want to pretty much cut the roof off, the back off and covert it from there. I also want to make jagged cuts in the side walls, looking like big teef.

Sounds like a job for a hot blade. You might have seen them in a department store, they are like a hobby knife stuck to a soldering iron. It heats up the blade, making plastic cutting a breeze. Be careful of fumes though, and of burning down your house. And of melting plastic. And of cutting yourself....

Ok, maybe you should find a different tool that's safer.

A hobby saw.

yup, your local modelling shop (or GW) sells hobby saws - they have very very thin blades and are good for most 'cutting plastic bits in half' activities.

A dremel type motor tool with a cutting wheel will do a good job too. Just make sure to reduce the speed, too fast will melt the plastic, not cut it.
If not, any of the above suggestions will work well.

If you are talking about big straight cuts you may want to consider a miter saw. I have been using a 10" saw for a current WIP. What I have noticed is that if you go slow it goes fast enough to locally melt styrene. Depending on the blade width you will lose 1/8"+ of material.



I have also used the hobby knife technique. It works it just takes a lot of time and patience. The good news for you is that you are doing an ork vehicle so I can't imagine that you could mess it up so bad that the orks wouldn't use it.

ptlangley wrote:If you are talking about big straight cuts you may want to consider a miter saw. I have been using a 10" saw for a current WIP. What I have noticed is that if you go slow it goes fast enough to locally melt styrene. Depending on the blade width you will lose 1/8"+ of material.



I have also used the hobby knife technique. It works it just takes a lot of time and patience. The good news for you is that you are doing an ork vehicle so I can't imagine that you could mess it up so bad that the orks wouldn't use it.

Bloody hell, LOL, , isn't that overkill for cutting models??? I use one of them for buliding chuffing houses!!!!!

The cutting wheel with a dremel tool is probably your safest bet. If you have the flex shaft attachment or better yet the newer stylus model its a breeze with a cutting wheel.

I recently used it to cut slota base holes in the 60mm hvy weapon team bases so I could "update" my Tallarn guard teams. Works great , granted the thickness will be quite different but the work is the same for the tool it just should take a little longer is all. J

ust remeber to do it out side or in a mess zone. Wear safty glasses and I would strongly suggest a mask due to the fumes I am sure a rhino will produce, depending on the speed you use.

hobby saw !

I like the dremmel so far but there is a hobby store near me and I'll take a look at this hobby saw. The hot knife sounded good too but I raelly want to prevent melting the plastic.

Thank you all for your advice. And I would use my circular saw but that would take appart the entire model

Yeah, if you do go the dremmel route, be sure to pick up some small clamps as well. I imagine it might be difficult to hold while you're trying to cut it.

My trusty bonesaw has cut its fair share of chimera apart and I've not lost a finger to it yet.

It also doesn't melt things. Or people.

Hammers work