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Where do the conversion kings here get that metal coil material that they use for hoses? I've seen several greenstuff converters add it to make details for tubes on their models but can't find a distributed.
They look like tightly coiled springs

you might be referring to guitar string

Can also take 2 thin wires and dremel/drill to twist them together pretty tight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLICWoLpDE4

You can also use something called the Tentacle maker toolbox:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W52Dpb8rkQ4

Rather than using inflexible metal string, use this tool to make the same thing out of green stuff, which is much more pliable.

Hello.

Great information on the tentacle maker tool!

I'm wanting to do something along the lines of the photos below for some conversions I'm about to start working on. The very small ribbed hoses that feed into the skull in terminators. I have the heads and was wondering if there's genius solution to finding very very small hoses, other than making your own. I have some small copper wire for the normal/smooth hoses, but I'm stumped on the ribbed hoses.

I could give the greenstuff a try, but with something that small, well I end up with greenstuff in my hair and all over the damned place when I try to work with the big stuff. Not to mention the fact I've only worked with greenstuff a few times. The fact that it would be so small, I think even tweezers would destroy the ribs even if I mastered the technique shown in that tentacle maker tutorial.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

There are a few different approaches for this. All of them fiddly and some really hard for a GS beginner.

What I'd try in your case is grab a thin wire and an even thinner one. Wrap the thinner wire around the other one to get the ribs. Grab a drill bit that is large enough to slot the resulting cable into. Drill the holes and glue a short cutout from your twisted cable into it.
Then grab a tiny bit of GreenStuff and roll it into a fine string. Use that string to create a connector around your wire ends. This will help hide imperfections and fills in the drilled hole. It will also look better on the model itself.

Other options could include: Use Greenstuff and a tentacle maker tool like already mentioned. Roll a thin GS cable and let it cure a bit. This way it will deform less then cut and clue. Finish it with the connector like described above.

Or for a more experienced GS user with a really steady hand. Simply use a knife to cut the ribs into an already attached string of GS. Again finish with a connector after curing.



You can see what I explained here. This is an example with a tentacle maker tool. If you're carefull you can do short cables with that too. (as seen above the weapons nozzle between skull and plasticard handle)

Masq-mini make their own tube tools too. I have a set of the original resin versions, and they work pretty well with a bit of practise. I've built up a fair stock of random tubes rolled from leftover putty.
The trick, which I think should help with your problem, is to let the green stuff firm up quite a bit. To the point that you can carefully handle it and bend tubes without automatically squashing the details or leaving fingerprints, but that you're still able to roll it into thin tubes or cylinders and mark fine details (i.e. ribbed texture) in it. (So leftover putty that's been sitting around lends itself well...)
If you have to handle a fresh, uncured hose with tweezers, to bend it or move it around or whatever, try to grip it at one end, where you can easily trim off any excess length with damaged detail.

(In your hair?!)

Nice work and examples, Doomhammer!

Oye! Thanks fellas for the replies!

I guess the only way to get better with GS, is to get my hands on some GS. Good stuff on the technique for creating the connectors, thanks!

Doomhammer, where did you get the small plastic pipes(white) for the weapon? I've seen them used in a few youtube tutorials, I never get any responses on where to find them. They look like tiny PVC pipe.

What sizes are those on the weapon? I've seen them used on SM bike exhaust pipes as well.

Most hobby shops do in fact carry thin plastic tubing, but if you want a tasty and easy solution, buy a bag of suckers. The ones with plastic sticks rather than paper. Pretty much anything round and plastic is fair game for conversions, suckers, pens, plumbing parts...

I haven't graduated to a Green Stuff roller yet, but I just ordered one. I use guitar cable currently. It's not so much difficult to use once you understand how it works. You have to bend it slowly, otherwise you'll get a bend in the tube that looks kinked or unnaturally bent. You want to bend it slowly and gradually depending on the size you want. And be careful using metal tools without cushioning as it will bend individual coiling and knock them out of place slightly.

Dragon Forge have some very good wire for this. It's more bendable than guitar wire.
http://www.dragonforge.com/Painting%20service/for%20sale/sculpting_supplies.htm
Under Power Cables

 Theduke07 wrote:
Dragon Forge have some very good wire for this. It's more bendable than guitar wire.
http://www.dragonforge.com/Painting%20service/for%20sale/sculpting_supplies.htm
Under Power Cables

Money!!!


Thank you!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Any suggestions on electronic wire(plastic coated) or copper wire sizes for very small non ribbled cables that I will have going into the skull? The copper wire I currently use for pinning is a bit too large.

The smallest I have is .032 in or 0.81mm.

While I could TRY to make the ends/connectors out of green stuff.. Do any of you electronic or microboard sadering guru's have any suggestions as far as very small pieces I could purchase in bulk that could act as connectors? These connectors would be at each end of the wires and cables, ie connector to the skull >> wire >> connector to the armor.


As far as guitar string... where to begin? Sizes? Types? any links?





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