gregh
electronics, computers and scratchbuilding
Martino asked (in this thread of mine http://www.gscalecentral.net/m80207 ) how I make corrugated iron from plastic sheet. So here?s the idea.
I use a paper corrugating tool from Fiskars I got it in the US somewhere years ago but can?t remember where. I found a Fiskars 12-93408897 Paper Crimper at Amazon.com which looks like it ? do a google for yourself.
I have tried using aluminium cans as the material and it is OK but wears out the rollers quickly. I could never get the same ?pitch? of corrugations from one sheet to the next so they didn?t overlap well.
So now I use ?PVC plastic cover sheet?. It?s used for making the covers on reports. I got a lot from work, but you can buy it from stationary and craft stores. Costs about 50c for an A4 sheet. (probably cheaper if you buy a box of it) It?s relatively thick ( 1mm ?). Overhead transparency sheets are too thin and don?t work. Neither will 0.5mm styrene.
This stuff only takes the corrugations in strips up to about 100mm wide ? I usually make mine 75mm ? about 6 scale feet. Maybe different tools would work better.
First I sand both sides with fine sandpaper for the glue (1 side) and paint (the other), in the direction along where the corrugations will be. You can just see in this pic that I have sanded half the sheet.
Then it?s put through the ?gator MULTIPLE times. On the first pass you will see the corrugations but they aren?t very deep. Then turn the piece over and do it again, then end-for-end it and do again and turn over again. Making sure you line up the corrugations each time. It may even be necessary to do it another 4 times. But you will get corrugations!
I usually glue it over styrene sheet with a silicone sealer, then paint. I have had it outside for over 5 years now and no problem. Not getting brittle. Here?s an example. I put it on in large sheets and when dry, I lightly cut out/score some 50mm wide pieces to represent separate sheets of iron.
I represent rust and dirt by using cement oxides. Dropping a ?pinch? of brown powder creates a big rust spot. Drag your finger down the sheet and you?ve got thin rust. Then a spray with clear lacquer ? even gloss soon weathers to dull.
I use a paper corrugating tool from Fiskars I got it in the US somewhere years ago but can?t remember where. I found a Fiskars 12-93408897 Paper Crimper at Amazon.com which looks like it ? do a google for yourself.
I have tried using aluminium cans as the material and it is OK but wears out the rollers quickly. I could never get the same ?pitch? of corrugations from one sheet to the next so they didn?t overlap well.
So now I use ?PVC plastic cover sheet?. It?s used for making the covers on reports. I got a lot from work, but you can buy it from stationary and craft stores. Costs about 50c for an A4 sheet. (probably cheaper if you buy a box of it) It?s relatively thick ( 1mm ?). Overhead transparency sheets are too thin and don?t work. Neither will 0.5mm styrene.
This stuff only takes the corrugations in strips up to about 100mm wide ? I usually make mine 75mm ? about 6 scale feet. Maybe different tools would work better.
First I sand both sides with fine sandpaper for the glue (1 side) and paint (the other), in the direction along where the corrugations will be. You can just see in this pic that I have sanded half the sheet.
Then it?s put through the ?gator MULTIPLE times. On the first pass you will see the corrugations but they aren?t very deep. Then turn the piece over and do it again, then end-for-end it and do again and turn over again. Making sure you line up the corrugations each time. It may even be necessary to do it another 4 times. But you will get corrugations!
I usually glue it over styrene sheet with a silicone sealer, then paint. I have had it outside for over 5 years now and no problem. Not getting brittle. Here?s an example. I put it on in large sheets and when dry, I lightly cut out/score some 50mm wide pieces to represent separate sheets of iron.
I represent rust and dirt by using cement oxides. Dropping a ?pinch? of brown powder creates a big rust spot. Drag your finger down the sheet and you?ve got thin rust. Then a spray with clear lacquer ? even gloss soon weathers to dull.
