I don't know if this has been suggested before but....

I was trying to add dents and holes to the armor plate in front of my sdkfz 7/2. After I fiddled with it with my rotary tool, I was horrified. The kit's armor plate was distorted and the holes I made don't look convincing. And we don't have styrene sheets here in the Philippines....

Pondering what to do next, I drank a can of light beer. Then, while I was looking at the can, I thought I can see a replacement there. After I finished and washed the can up, I cut off the tops and the bottoms, leaving me with a cylinder of thin aluminum. Then, I cut the aluminum lenghtwise and layd the resulting sheet below a heavy book to straighten it.

Using the kit part as a template, I was able to catch a better and nicer armor plate. I also replaced the kit provided armor plate of the flak gun with a new one made of the same can and replaced the bolts with stretched sprue.

I tried to experiment with the beer can. I found out I can make almost anything out of it in place of styrene sheet. It's thin, it can easily be cut (like paper) and it can be bent. Right now, I'm making the bolt-and-locks at the screen doors of my sdkfz 7/2.

So, have a beer and let's model the beer way.

Angela :-)8

I don't drink alcohol, but a soda can works also.

I don't drink alcoholic drinks but for the past few months, I've been using soda cans as replacements for photoetch

Yep, soda cans also work.

P.S. I'm not an alcoholic too but since I work out in the gym and I have a very high metabolism, the doctor said it would do well for me to drink a can of beer every now and then for the extra calories.

Angela :-)8

There's your problem right there..
You're drinking -shudder- 'light' beer...
Guiness comes in cans too. Try that. :-)

Mike

Ahh man - I drink from bottles

Off topic - I don't get it. Is that supposed to be a joke or something?

Angela

Beer--is for drinking. You scared me a second there, Angela. I thought you were putting the Beer itself to some unnatural use. Glad to hear it's the CAN you found a use for.
Hate to admit it, but I've got a surplus of that material lying about- and if anybody wants some, I'll be more than happy to empty a few more cans for you!
I never seem to have trouble finding the floor...

Seriously - thin aluminum is a great material for scratching. Cans from any drink will do, beer, soda, energy drinks etc.
Some cans are thicker than others so you can actually experiment and get different 'grades' or thicknesses for different armour, fenders, etc

I'm with Robert. Although this idea is good, the old use for beer works for me. Now, if someone would come up with a use for empty Dewars bottles...


Shaun

The only thing I find difficult about working with Beer/Soda can aluminum is that once cut, the edges become razor sharp. I can't begin to tell you how many times I have cut my fingers working with this stuff.

If you can get tomatopuree or garlicpuree etc in tubes, the metal is perfect for scratchbuilding. It's about the same thickness as the old leadfoil, and doesn't tend to be as sharp as the drinkscans.

Cheers

Henk

Very good ideas there everyone. cheers Kevin

No Joke Angela. Of all the tips and tricks that are presented here, this has to be tip of the day! :-) :-) :-)

Sorry for the silliness, I agree that can aluminum is a great source of building material.

The silliness was related to the fact that I personally do not care for light beer , but I DO like the thicker darker Guiness Stout which is now available in cans also.

My early morning sarcasm is not always easily
deciphered. Sorry..
Mike


Hey, Jim...
can we get a dark beer drinking smiley?
Or a dark beer

You can also purchase empty tubes at an art supply house. I get mine from Pearl Paints, they are a little thicker than a pop can, or simply buy a pack of K&S brass shim stock for about 5 bucks

too bad I dont drink beer in cans.
cans just dont taste like the real thing for me.

anyway, try Weihenstephan beer. its my fav.

if you keep scratchbuilding you will soon be one! :-)
Thanks for the tip.
So has anyone tried Corona or Tecate?

I LOVE corona dragonslain....but the bottles are really hard to work with in a modelling sense...heh.

Hi Angela,

Another option would be to use the container for leche flan (don't know how they call it in other countries) instead of soda/beer cans. They are sturdier...I once used them for schuerzens of the panther I did. Just a thought

Aluminum roof flashing.
I get 10 - 4"X8" - 0.10 mm squares of the stuff at the Homey DePot for about $6.00 USD

Guiness is my weakness
Cuhail

Hi warthog,

Those are called aluminum baking pans. Yes, they are also good modeling material.I'm probably using them for the armored skirts of my Panzer IV.

Hi Cuhail,

I found Guiness beer. Haven't tasted it though...

Angela

Angela- Prepare for an experience!
First off, Guinness is nothing like "beer" as you know it. It has been described as "a meal in a can/bottle".
It's thick, strong, and sweet. When you first pour it into a glass(I reccomend this...) it will look like it has grit floating in it. Perfectly normal. Also, be sure to pour through the head (foam) as this will mix it best, as opposed to pouring along the side of the glass to prevent foaming. Pouring straight down through the foam will best mimic the results of a "pub draught", the proper way to pull a pint.
As to temperature, there's quite a bit of debate. some prefer it chilled, but many purists insist that all stouts should be consumed at room temperature. After long experimentation I have found I prefer it at around 50 deg F, I feel that this mimics a fresh Keg just hauled up from the cellar. Personal preference only...
Oh, yeah, the cans are larger than regulars, so they have more modeling material left over. That's why I drink so many. Really.
I hope you don't mind this Treadjack, I just didn't want you taking a pull of this brown goop & heaving all over your modeling table...
p.s.- if you look closely at the "Where do you glue" thread, you'll spot at least one Guinness can being put to good use on my table...
RobH

Interesting feature of Guiness cans is that they have a plastic insert inside - sort of a bladder with nitrogen. When you open a can the pressure inside drops and the nitrogen is released from the bladder into the beer - very nice foam is created this way. So the foam on Guiness should appear regardless of the way you pour it into the glass.
I performed a surgery on a Guiness can and can confirm that indeed it does contain plastic insert :-)

Pawel