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Hi guys, could anyone tell me what is the best for conversions? I have some plasticard (stuff credit cards are made from) but i find it abit hard to work with, is foamcore a better material?
Im looking to make ork power claws, buzz saws, iron gobs and armour bits for boyz but when i try to make curves with the plasticard it splits.

Cheers

P.S does anyone know of a chart or somthing that converts vajello paints to citadel similars?

I find plasticard to be very flexible and adaptible. Have you tried putting it in boiling water?

Foamcore is essentially two sheets of posterboard sandwiching an extruded foam center. As a media for terrain, it's pretty awesome to make ruins and buildings with. For models, not so much.

It's typically about 1/4" thick and while there are thinner sheets available, you're basically working with cardboard. Plasticard is far and away better for making orky kun-ver-shuns, but it might take a little getting used to.

The most important bit of advice I can give you is to use a fresh hobby knife blade for your projects. They'll get dull pretty quick and it's easy to keep them around longer than they really should be kept. I keep my used blades in a separate container to use with Greenstuff.

Second, it helps to have a cutting mat to work on. If you're making bits that curve, try very light scoring or hashmarks on the inside of the curve and roll the bit around something like a pen or paintbrush handle to get it closer to the shape you want it.

Finally, you might want to try finding a scribe instead of using a hobby knife to cut your plasticard. They can be pricey, but cut a cleaner edge than knives by gouging a V and allowing you to snap the cut portion away.

What he said. You have listed my top two most useful modelling materials, but they are for completely different purposes. Plasticard will be your best bet for model conversions. If you're having trouble with shattering or snapping, try multiple layers of bent pieces of a thinner thickness. Or try your hand at the boiling water/hot salt/etc methods to make shaping a little easier.

As for your paint range question, try this: http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Paint_Range_Compatibility_Chart

It should be noted that you can ALSO get foamed PVC sheet.

3mm thickness, sturdier than foamcard, lighter than plasticard and it can be superglued.

I'm making a thunderhawk from it.

Where in the US might I find this mystical material? Sounds interesting. Is it very expensive?

chromedog wrote:It should be noted that you can ALSO get foamed PVC sheet.

3mm thickness, sturdier than foamcard, lighter than plasticard and it can be superglued.

I'm making a thunderhawk from it.

You can get Foamed PVC sheet as low as 1mm thickness
http://www.plasticstockist.com/Foamed-PVC-Sheet/White-Matt-Palight-Foamed-Pvc-Sheet.aspx

I would not have thought it would be very handy to the OP though, i think Plasticard is the material he requires.
Not sure where to get it in the US either, sorry.

A1rebirth wrote:I have some plasticard (stuff credit cards are made from) [...] but when i try to make curves with the plasticard it splits.

Are you actually using old cards? That material isn't what modelers are talking about when they say "plasticard." It's plastic card, yes, but you'll find the polystyrene sheet modelers are referring to is significantly more flexible. If you've never used it, try finding some actual polystyrene sheet, either from a dedicated hobby shop or, if you want to save money and don't care about the exact thickness, by looking for flexible plastic signs ("for sale," etc.) at home improvement stores and the like.

More generally, heed the advice given in this thread, already, regarding modeling materials. Foamed PVC (I think "Sintra" is a name it's sold under) is apparently a great, if a little pricey, material (haven't used it, myself, but I trust the reviews), but foamcore will likely be your best friend when it comes to building larger structures (walls for buildings, core structure of large vehicles, etc.). For detailing those larger builds and for small (i.e. model) conversions, styrene sheet, rod, and tube is invaluable.

Thanks for all the replys!
I will try heating it up but what affect does adding salt have? Is pvc foam core easyer to make curves with?


No im not but is it not the same material? just differant thickness?

oadie wrote:

A1rebirth wrote:I have some plasticard (stuff credit cards are made from) [...] but when i try to make curves with the plasticard it splits.

Are you actually using old cards? That material isn't what modelers are talking about when they say "plasticard." It's plastic card, yes, but you'll find the polystyrene sheet modelers are referring to is significantly more flexible./quote]

Styrine is a great sheet material.