Fun With Plastic and Fire!

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**BAN**

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

**tyrantguard101**

just use hot water to bend plastic

**spireland**

Ouch

**The Terrifying Terror**

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

**Psyker_9er**

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.

**Psyker_9er**

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.

**TNM**

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

**NakedBatBoy**

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.)

**Psyker_9er**

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

**Dual Face**

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..

**Psyker_9er**

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.

**im2randomghgh**

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.

**orkork**

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.

**NakedBatBoy**

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

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

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?

**Rabid Ferret**

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!"

**im2randomghgh**

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.

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

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?