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Post by Parduz on Apr 20, 2010 2:21:12 GMT -5
I tried to build a Hvy and Light mech.... i printed it on a heavy photopaper card (270g) 'cause the way the heads and the weapons attach to the body: they seems a bit like that pirate ships made by plasticard, and so i though that some thickness will help. It worked, but i have got another problem (which is related to the paper i used, but for what i can see it exist with almost any cardstock): the "double folding" of the legs, 'cause the 2 sides of the legs are already glued: while the hip folds can be done (they are like 100 degrees) the next is a 180 degree fold: it "breaks" my paper, with the printing layer detaching from the "support" layer. I'd like to have help, suggestions and (if possible) macro shots of how to do the legs... thanks
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Post by Tomahawk on Apr 20, 2010 8:27:17 GMT -5
I had almost the same exact question.
In addition, what kind of glue do I use for the hips? White school glue (Elmers)? Superglue? Something else? I assume I would use the same glue for the head and gluing the mini to the base.
Thanks, Tomahawk
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Post by Dagger on Apr 20, 2010 8:28:13 GMT -5
You may be scoring the fold lines too deep.... you could try using a ball point pen to compress the fold lines instead of cutting them. Or it could be that your paper is a little more brittle than usual. Have you tried a different type of paper?
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Post by Tomahawk on Apr 20, 2010 8:28:35 GMT -5
BTW, Parduz, good advice on using scalpels to cut the paper. It worked great!
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Post by WaffleM on Apr 20, 2010 8:31:13 GMT -5
Unfortunately I'm in the process of moving and all my photography stuff is already packed, so I won't be able to get you any pictures. Hopefully this makes sense. Here goes: The purpose of the "extra" fold at the hips is to inset the lower torso on the hip joint. If I had used just a simple 90 degree fold the back of the hips would have to be flat with the fold and it would look too two-dimensional. With the thickness of your cardstock, you may be able to cut off the extra trapezoid that creates this inset and then just glue the inner "thigh" flat part of the leg to the edge of the "hip" part of the torso. Looking down on it, this would make a " T ", with the top bar being the leg and the vertical part of the " T " being the torso. With a good strong glue (white or PVA should be fine), you should be able to flex the legs open a little when you glue them to the base. Alternately you could put a slight bevel on the torso hip edges, but this may be a little tricky. For gluing the the joints and slotted parts I use Tacky Glue, which is a white school glue or PVA (like Elmer's but thicker). Elmer's Glue also works but I like to squeeze it out onto a scrap card and let it set up a little by waiting a couple of minutes before using it. This makes it a little thicker. Elmer's and Tacky both dry clear. Some people use Super or Crazy Glue (cyanosomethingorother) and swear by it, but I've never tried this. I tend to shy away from "bonds skin instantly" glues, especially after accidentally gluing my finger to the back of my neck in junior high school. I had an itch...
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Post by Dagger on Apr 20, 2010 8:32:07 GMT -5
Glue - Any of those glues will work fine for the hip... it reallys boils down to your personal preference.
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Post by Tomahawk on Apr 20, 2010 8:43:10 GMT -5
Glue - Any of those glues will work fine for the hip... it reallys boils down to your personal preference. If I use white glue, how do I get the hips to stick together? Glue it, lay it flat and put a book on it? White glue takes a while to set up.
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Post by Tomahawk on Apr 20, 2010 8:43:45 GMT -5
With a good strong glue (white or PVA should be fine), you should be able to flex the legs open a little when you glue them to the base. Alternately you could put a slight bevel on the torso hip edges, but this may be a little tricky. PVA?
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Post by WaffleM on Apr 20, 2010 8:50:01 GMT -5
With a good strong glue (white or PVA should be fine), you should be able to flex the legs open a little when you glue them to the base. Alternately you could put a slight bevel on the torso hip edges, but this may be a little tricky. PVA? PVA is the European name for white glue and is the same thing (as far as I can tell). Thicker glues, like Tacky or set up Elmer's, tend to dry quickly and you only need to hold the joints for 30 seconds or so.
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Post by Dagger on Apr 20, 2010 10:37:00 GMT -5
Tomahawk - The more white glue you use, the longer it takes to dry. Luckily, it really doesn't take much at all... just put a thin layer on the joint and hold it together. Like WaffleM said it should take less than a minute.
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Post by Tomahawk on Apr 20, 2010 11:52:40 GMT -5
Tomahawk - The more white glue you use, the longer it takes to dry. Luckily, it really doesn't take much at all... just put a thin layer on the joint and hold it together. Like WaffleM said it should take less than a minute. OK, thanks. I'll try.
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Post by Parduz on Apr 21, 2010 6:45:48 GMT -5
With the thickness of your cardstock, you may be able to cut off the extra trapezoid that creates this inset and then just glue the inner "thigh" flat part of the leg to the edge of the "hip" part of the torso. Looking down on it, this would make a " T ", with the top bar being the leg and the vertical part of the " T " being the torso. Let me see if i've right understood: you're saying that i can cut the "180°" fold line, and glue the two "gray" faces...?
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Post by WaffleM on Apr 21, 2010 8:14:11 GMT -5
Let me know if this helps: Cut off the blue trapezoids and glue them to the leg as if they had been folded and glued there. Then glue the Torso Hip Edge to the Leg at the edge created by the glued on blue trapezoid.
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Post by Parduz on Apr 21, 2010 9:21:45 GMT -5
Thanks.... i think it will be enough to cut only the leg, and fold the trapezoid, anyway this also is a solution.
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Post by tugunmojo on Apr 21, 2010 9:51:48 GMT -5
For years, I was afraid of using Superglue on papercraft--I had this misguided belief that it would somehow ruin the paper/ink. However, when trying to build Armor Grid minis for the first time, I decided I was just too lazy to hold the minis themselves long enough for the glue to dry sufficiently, so I gave Superglue a try and, voila, it worked just fine. On some pieces, such as the leg/hip discussed above, I use a small binder clip to "do the holding" for me, while I work on other things--usually, only for a couple of minutes, tho. I have taken to using the Superglue to attach weapons/accessories as well as basing the Mechs/Vehicles/Infantry directly on to the base itself and have had no trouble with it.
Where once I was afraid, I now know that Superglue has it's place in papercraft. Give it a try, but do watch for gluing yourself to your mini--an easy way to avoid this is to get the Superglue that comes in a little plastic bottle and has a brush to apply it. Using the tubes of Superglue, I think, would cause a great deal of trouble.
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