I have a 1/35 vehicle that I must cut into halves. I have never attempted this before, so I was hoping someone here may have some suggestions. The model is, of course, fully built and unpainted.
Fully built will create something of a dilemma since the the pressure of the saw could very easily break apart glued joints. You will certainly need to find a jeweler’s saw and work slowly and carefully. The saw is likely to build up enouogh heat to melt the plastic along the cut as well, leaving a long, blobby line that will have to be addressed. You might want to lay a line of masking tape to keep your saw line straight. I’m guessing you’re planning to cut along the centerline, front to back making a lefet and right half. If this is a tank, you might want to remove the turret and cut the hull and turret separately after determining the line on which you want to cut.
Get yourself a coping saw frame or any other large “C” shaped frame/tool. Instead of a blade insert a piece of sewing thread into the frame. Mount the model to keep it firmly secure, set up some sort of guide or fence to keep your cut straight.
Check out my article on Cutting Curves, you can also cut nice straight lines using the same technique. Best of all if you break the “blade” it is easily replaced at little or no cost.
Long slow strokes…medium pressure, let the thread do the cutting. Stay away from nylons and synthetic threads as they tend to melt when hot from the friction. Cotton blend work well. Color choice is yours. [t$t]
Very interesting idea on the sewing thread; I hadn’t imagined that could ever work. I may give it a shot.
Thank you both for your suggestions; I am quite nervous about trying this the first time. I am actually cutting into halves, but not into left/right, but rather front/back. My biggest concern is that the joins will come apart, and wreck the whole thing.
If you used liquid solvents and welded the parts together it shouldn’t. If you used tube glue…[whstl]
Buy a second kit, cut if before assembly, and keep the whole one you have.
[:)]
I recently had to dissasemble a B-58 & tried various methods - I found marking a line with a VERY sharp craft knife & then continually running the blade over the same line gave a good result, although some areas took about 15 passes to cut & the blade had to be changed several times (its just really the very tip I used).
Building this beast took a while; I don’t think I want to spend the money and time to get another one built. [:)]
That’s what you want to cut?!!
[:O]
If that’s what you need to cut apart…which I hope you mean in managable sections for storage/shipment then you only need to cut the connections between the larger assemblies. For that you only need a micro razor saw.
!(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t320/hawkeyes_bucket/Modeling Tools/sawsmallpic.jpg)
You can chuck the blade into a #1 handle for a japanese cabinet style saw…be careful not to flex the blade too much.
lol, yes, that’s what I need to cut. Actually, its for the dio that I am currently in the process of building. I’ve measured, and one of the railway carriers needs to be cut, just behind the support point for the overhead superstructure. Using masking tape to keep my line straight is a great idea, and I will have surely mess up if I don’t use that.
See the picture below. The area marked off in red is what I need to cut off.
Since this is such a big cutting project I would rig up a jig to cut using the thread method. Cut it in such a manner that allows you to trim down with a block and sandpaper to take it to the actual line.
If you elect to use a saw, micro or regular razor, find some way to make a fence to keep the saw vertical while cutting. Maybe a small block of wood resting on top of the flatcar section.
!http://img117.exs.cx/img117/5601/n1qshok.gif
It also works very well for replacing panel lines on aircraft fuselages after removing seams.
