Hai,

Why don't we collect all the money saving tips in a single thread. Johson future for instance seems to replace most of those expensive varnishes that are sold in the model shops, and I read that white glue with a few drops of liquid soap added replaces maskol (which is always drying in the bottle anyway).

Are there other similar things available? E.g. Is somebody using alternative paints?

If you have practical experience with these or other simple household methods please post these under this thread.

See Threads Here:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/14629&page=1

And more mixed into the Tools & Supplies Forum

jee,

I have to spend more time on this site!!!


Seems like everything is here!!!

But not always easy to find!!

Went to the link provided, and it dealt mostly with free items that can be useful, foam meat trays,plastic containers and whatnot.
For money savers, here are a few of mine:

Vinegar instead of Micro-Sol.

Cement color instead of MIG pigments. Have used it for the past twelve years, and it is at least sixteen times more economical.

Plastic banding material for ultra thin diamond tread plate.

cutting up soda cans for fenders, sideskirts or hanging additional armor pieces (Panzer IV H/J or Stug IIIG) in lieu of expesive brass PE sets

18BRAVO: What is cement color? And where would a guy get it? My fav is the free political foam board posters you put up in your yard during elections(BUSH/CHENEY or KERRY etc). I have about 3 of these suckers tucked away and they should build me a lifetime of scale buildings, walls and ruins etc.

Hi guys

Great idea for a post. I'm taking notes as fast as I can read. I would like to share some of the idea I've used for years. Some are mine, but most I've picked up here and there over the years.
Take the tieback off a loaf of bread. Light it on fire and let burn down to its end. When the wax paper cover is burnt off, what is left is a thin black wire that holds any kind of paint, or shape. I've used them for grab handles, cables, e.t.c.
I use the non-childproof lids off of pill bottles. They are great for holding small parts for painting, gluing e.t.c.
Lastly, and I think I mentioned this in a post a long time ago. I roll a piece of masking tape on my fingers backwards when I'm sanding or holding tiny parts. It helps little parts from flying off to the carpit monster.
Well, thats it off the top of my head. I hope it helps

Happy modeling
Harry
Maybe Jim or somebody can bring all there types of post on to a spot say on the General Modeling page to make them easy to find.

I cut open toothpaste tubes when I need sheet metal type materials. It's thicker than foil and safer than using tin cans

It's a very finely ground pigment used for tinting cement, grout, or mortar. Lowe's and Home Depot have it, among many builder's supply stores. One brand is Sakrete. I'm sure they have a website.

Talcum or Baby powder is good for:
Making your paint-acrylic,enamel,or oil go dead flat/anti-glare for armor applications.Also makes really great 'mud' for running gear-road wheels.
Mix with Future for dull coating.
Mix a lot with Future for gap filling mix.
Partial burnt tie-wire makes good super glue applicators.Burnt all the way and you have radio aerials!
Swing wieght lead tape for golf club heads makes great PE substitute-FORE!!
Seal your foam dio bases with any color latex house paint.Prime and beat hell out of it with whatever you want!
Brown paper lunch bags with a bath of Iso alcohol and washed with acrylics right after makes good gunsling and horse rigging for limbar
More later-beer break! :-) :-)