I just posted part 1 of a sci-fi scratchbuilding/kitbashing tutorial on my site if anyone is interested.
Part 1 is an overview. Part 2 will deal with construction. Part 3 with detailing, etc.
Here’s the link:
http://lyzrdstomp.com/lyzrdforum/index.php?topic=62.0
John
Admin
The Lyzrd’s Stomp
Photoshop tutorials and More
http://www.lyzrdstomp.com
Nice! I like the way you are presenting and writing this! Great job!
I have been scratchbuild/kitbashing since I was six(now 40) and have learned to “see” how things can be something else.
Cool piece.[8D] My wife just rolls her eyes when I use my model eye at the store(any store).[;)]
Very nice Johnny, please keep us informed as to when you update the tutorial, I need info like this!
Nice article. Even ILN did a form of kitbashing, so what’s wrong with that? My wife has learned to accept my sickn, I mean gift. [:P] She even helps me “configure” the way certain ships look and has even named a few.
As for for ship designs, I still see them in weird things, like Happy Meal toys, patterns in wood grain or even odd shaped clouds. Maybe I am sick…[:D]
That’s funny my wife does too. I always feel funny when I in the crafts dept of some store, ya know the spot where only old ladies looking for knitting needles hang out , just look for shapes to canabalize or “assimilate”. That is what i call this type of scratchbuilding/kitbashing. Because you are literly taking parts from other junk and fitting it to your needs. Not tomention being a trek term it fits perfectly.lol
Hey Woody I beleive it was that i was discussing raiding the dollar stores for electronics and such to light models on this site a few months back. Love the “Dollar Tree” and resale stores. Lots of stuff to Assimilate!
I’m at work now i can’t wait to get home so I can finnish reading the article!
Very nice! Thanks for that!
Make sure you post Part 2!
You have to love the dollar store! [:p]
Hey there, great article! I also eagerly await part 2 and 3. Please post them soon.
The Syko Ward
Oh, man, I just made a trip this weekend to “Deal$” (a dollar type store) and they had ALL KINDS of bottles, containers, kids things, etc., that just got the ol’ imagination crankin’!
Does anyone know if it’s cool to take a camera into those stores and take pictures of products on shelves? Has anyone done this? Does it make the store managers paranoid?
To enhance my tutorial, I want to go take pictures of the kinds of products you can buy to use for scratchbuilding/kitbashing.
John
Great article! [:D][:D][:D]
[?] What do you do about the “oily”-type of plastic that some of these items are msde of? The ones that don’t take painting very well.
There was a scratchbuild/kitbask over on the StarshipModeler BBS where highlighters were used as warp nacelles. But the primer peeled off with the masking tape as the builder was applying thediffering paints per panel detailing.
This builder overcame by using Mr.Surfacer, a Japanese hobby primer.
And, surely some of those empty bottles you used needed some filler to keep them rigid. If so, what did you use?
-Leelan
Hey-
I simply wash them in dishwashing detergent after removing the labels, then I epoxy a .010 or .020 styrene sheet around the main body of the bottle like this:
and that’s what I glue everything else to with regular modeling glue, then use black primer over that. Works great!
No, no filler. The epoxied wrap around mentioned above strengthens the bottles a great deal, and then all the stuff glued to them, and the primer, then paint does the job.
All of this is covered in part 2 of my tutorial, which I’m working on now! 
John
Great article. Thanks. I have never tried anything like this, but am, of course, now inspired…
Leon
Fantastic!
Thanks for the article John. Straight to my bookmarks!
You’re welcome. Throw in a toast to Clyde and Verne as well while you’re at it!
John
Very nice, actually hard to believe those are household items; I saw those over at the BBC forum, most impressive…
You the lucky guy that has the Chopper, eh?
Yeah, I’m the Chopper guy. I can’t believe more people haven’t heard of this very valuable scratchbuilding tool!
John
Please enlighten me John - the Chopper?