#7: You Don't Have to Eat 1000 Popsicles

[RPGnet Columns]

http://www.rpg.net/columns/roleplayinginminiature/roleplayinginminiature7.phtml

Summary:

Building set pieces for your field.

Go to the column (http://www.rpg.net/columns/roleplayinginminiature/roleplayinginminiature7.phtml) for more information.

[John Schmidt]

The first suggestion I would make, check out MicroMark's web site, (I don't work for them but I have bought a lot of their products over the years). Having spent a number of years building custom terrain the old adage, the right tool for the right job...will not only make your project come together easier but it will quite possibly see that you enjoy the process.

http://www.micromark.com/

There are some tools that are hard to beat...

#83265 Long Right Clamp $23.50
This little beauty will let you assemble building walls that are square and straight.

#83541 Splice Clamp $23.50
Want to do end-to-end gluing...this is tool you want.

#14568 Wood Strip Cutter $9.25
Sometimes you need a different width of wood bit for that model, the wood strip cutter will let you cut balsa and even harder wood panels much more efficiently and precisely.

#82439 Chopper II $44.95
The Chopper is a very handy tool that lets cut those wood strips into the proper lengths, you can even do miter cuts. Word of caution, this is one of those tools that you need to pay close attention to what you are doing. At the bottom of the articulated arm is a razor blade...not something that you want to be careless with.

#83113 Duplicutter II $36.95
Great if you want to create a number of identical cuts in sheet styrene.

#80873 Age-It Easy Gray, 3-1/2 FL. OZ. $7.19
I really like this stuff, it simplifies aging wood.

If you enjoy building models and get to the point that you want build sturdier projects, take a look at Hardboard. This is pegboard without the holes, it is inexpensive (about $9 for a 4'x8' sheet), tough and doesn't have a great tendency to warp.

If you have the inclination, I would say that for faster crates. Go to Lowes (or any DIY center) and look for dowel rods, you will find that they also sell square dowels. The 1" square dowel can be cut into 1" cubes, use the duplicutter and the chopper II to cut some strips of styrene which you glue around the edges and whalaa got yourself a whole warehouse of crates in no time at all.

For a little investment up front, you can certainly get yourself set up to make a lot of terrain.

[Sirharrok]

#82439 Chopper II $44.95
The Chopper is a very handy tool that lets cut those wood strips into the proper lengths, you can even do miter cuts. Word of caution, this is one of those tools that you need to pay close attention to what you are doing. At the bottom of the articulated arm is a razor blade...not something that you want to be careless with.


I just want to endorse John's recommendation of the chopper. I bought mine a decade ago at a model train show -- it is indispensable for cutting pieces of thin wood or balsa to exactly the right length, everytime.

Cheers
Sir Harrok

[Remjin]

Wow, I had forgotten about Micromark. I used to get their catalogues all the time! Awesome reference, I'll have to be sure to include it in a future article.

Thanks guys!