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  • Guest

    #16
    super scrimper saver tip !

    instead of using tiny tinlets of tamiya acrylic paint, take a trip to the local DIY superstore, have a look at the stencil paints...... lo and behold acrylic paint !

    thinned down these stencil acrylics spray beautifully, ideal for large sections or for weathering or for diarama painting, plus they are about 5 times the quantity for the same price-

    not so good if you are looking for a quantity of say USAF grey or a specific colour but for those routine jobs these paints are ideal !

    Comment

    • Guest

      #17
      another tip....

      when using double sided tape to hold down model parts when spraying or maybe you stick material to the bed of your mill to fly cut or whatever to remove the sticky tape without damage to the model part or paint finish use lighter fuel..... it totally evapourates, leaves the part unmarked, and removes the 'sticky' from the double sided tape.... perfect !

      Comment

      • wonwinglo
        • Apr 2004
        • 5410

        #18
        Have you ever wasted paint that has dried solid in the tin rendering it un-useable ? well here is a tip that will avoid all of this wastage,when the contents get about half way air gets into the tin and starts the drying up process,to avoid this store half used tins upside down,this way no air can get into the tin,simply put a dab of colour onto the base in order to identify the contents.

        It also goes without saying that keeping the lids free of excess paint to ensure a good fitting lid will also help the storage life.

        Comment

        • wonwinglo
          • Apr 2004
          • 5410

          #19
          Flight Sim savings for scrimpers.

          For the flight simmers amongst us here is another money saving tip,quite a few of us have earlier additional add on software that was intened for FS2002,I was just about to purchase a replacement disc for some extra airfields for use in FS2004, when the manufacturers told me that there was no need to buy another disc as there was a way around it to install my older discs.

          Basically all it entails is downloading a simple add on file which when activated with the earlier discs brings up all of the additional airfields,brilliant it really works and really does save you some cash,to get the sequence just log onto Realflights web page and sign up to the support section,here it gives a blow by blow account of what to do,it is easy,saving money extends to all avenues of our hobby.

          Comment

          • wonwinglo
            • Apr 2004
            • 5410

            #20
            More money saving tips-paint brush care.

            Sometimes we do things that are just a bad habit,the outcome is we waste good materials and in doing so waste good hard earned cash,as this scrimping thing is all about the later it is important to get the very best from the things we use everyday,here is a good example of this-

            Most modellers use a jar of thinners to clean their paint brushes,what usually happens is that so much crudge builds up in the bottom of the thinners jar that it does more harm than good to the paint brushes,on top of this the one thing that should not be skimped on are good brushes,look after them properly and they will serve you well,a quick dip and shake in the thinners is not the best way to clean them properly,after each session work some washing up liquid in the palm of your hand and swirl the bristles of the brush around,just see the colour that comes out,this paint collects in the ferrule of the brush then hardens and will wreck a brush after a few uses.

            Now back to the thinners jar,use two seperate jars and in the bottom of each place a piece of perforated zinc or something similar,fold back the edges so the gauze stands just proud of the base of the jar,when removing paint from the brush use jar#1,then take the brush to jar#2 and clean again,this is the correct way to clean brushes,one of my interests is oil painting,over the years I have used dozens of brushes some of them are still in good condition despite lots of use,because care has been taken with them.

            Every week or so decanter the thinners and get rid of the sludge in the bottom of the jars,the rubbish as you know sinks to the bottom of the jar,this is where the piece of zinc comes in,the tip of the paintbrush is not stirred directly into the sludge and the perforated edge gives something for the brush to strike against.

            All of this sounds like a lot of extra work,but rest assured it is not if carried out as a matter of course,clean thinners,washed brushes at the end of the day=good tools and money saved,so think about it ?

            The crusade of the eternal scrimper continues.

            Comment

            • wonwinglo
              • Apr 2004
              • 5410

              #21
              Things that cost nothing for modelling.

              Scrimpers are constantly on the look out for interesting materials to use that cost very little,or better still are by-products of other things that have extra life in other directions.

              Here is one that I have been using now for some time,most modellers use the heatshrink iron on film at some time or another,the plastic backing film makes splendid anti stick material for lining your modelling board,place balsa strips etc to build the models structure pinning to the building board,this saves the plan from damage and also the structure of the model can be easily lifted from the board.

              he inner card tubes that carry the film make useful storage for things like balsa strip,just tape a piece of circular card to the base of the tube,you can either store the tubes flat if space permits or in a vertical position against a wall,either way they make excellent storage for strip wood,tubing etc.

              The centres of carpets are also made from larger card tube which make good document/plan holders,a trip to your local carpet shop should bring results as the just throw them away.

              Here is another unusual source for large diameter plastic tube which has similar uses,have you ever seen those machines in farmers fields operated by gangs of specialists who wrap up the farmers supply of hay ? the black cling film type material,comes on these large sturdy plastic tubes which are just thrown away usually cluttering up the fields ! ask the farmer first and if you are lucky you will have won some first class material,the material is not unlike that plastic tube used for laying services under roads etc.

              Always be vigilant and on the look out,you really never know what you will find that has been junked,people are so wasteful,but as a true scrimper that item will find a good use.

              Comment

              • wonwinglo
                • Apr 2004
                • 5410

                #22
                Keep on scrimping-Thin wood sources.

                As a young boy with pocket money at a low ebb,I was always on the lookout for pieces of timber that could be used for model building,one of my favourite sources was the local greengrocer,who would always have a plentiful supply of those thin wooden boxes stabled together at the joins that transported fruit,if you are selective then you can pull them apart and keep the best bits for modelling.

                Never look a gift horse in the face and this once again is a good example of being thrifty,the money so saved can go towards things that are not possible to scrimp.

                Also at the greengrocers was a plentifull supply of coloured tissue paper for my small rubber powered airplanes,use mums best iron and out come the creases !

                Comment

                • wonwinglo
                  • Apr 2004
                  • 5410

                  #23
                  Scrimper arrested in pound shop.

                  Ah that made you look !! well more goodies have been discovered in local pound shops,looking for thin strips of bamboo cane ? well look no further than your pound shop where cheap Chinese blinds give you enough material to last for years,you just run a craft knife through the strips and you will be rewarded with consistant strips of bamboo.Once available in model shops throughout the land but no longer considered a viable thing to stock these high tech days.

                  Dont forget to checkout those useful little gadgets used for marking out the corners of carpets etc,you push scores of metal prongs from the tool and it forms into tricky shapes,ideal for making up formers into fuselage shells of models,and indespensible when making vac-forms.

                  Comment

                  • wonwinglo
                    • Apr 2004
                    • 5410

                    #24
                    Todays scrimper tip-Antennae & fine tube.

                    Now I dont want anyone looking for needles in the streets,but here is a tip for anyone who needs very fine metal tube,your local chemist has stocks of needles in various thicknesses,these have many modelling applications such as those small and vulnerable plastic antennae on scale models,also other uses are pitot heads.

                    The best way to cut these is to make a small 'v' with a swiss file,hold between a cloth and snap,a small grinder is the best thing to clean them up.

                    Take care when using needles and make sure that you blend in the tip when you make the parts for your model.Used sensibly they can be a great asset for small details.

                    Throw away plastic cylinders make excellent glue dispensers, and many years ago I used these for making small capacity free flight fuel tanks,just lop the top off with a razor saw.

                    Comment

                    • wonwinglo
                      • Apr 2004
                      • 5410

                      #25
                      Scrimper versus Tightwad ?

                      Helen Tunnock from Membury asks-What is the difference between a Scrimper and a Tightwad ?

                      Scrimpers and Tightwads are the same thing Helen,the latter is the American definition,but we are the same the world over ! a unique band of earth saving utensils and artifacts gatherers, which are put to other good uses,dont forget everything we use has another use beyond that which it was originally intended,it is up to us to find that second purpose.

                      By doing so,we save money for other things we just cannot make or do without.

                      Comment

                      • wonwinglo
                        • Apr 2004
                        • 5410

                        #26
                        Blocks of wood have uses.

                        Look where there has been any carpentry job done around your home,or even in the street and you are sure to find small offcuts of wood,well dont throw these small useful pieces away because they have uses.

                        Get yourself some 3M Spray adhesive and lay out the blocks,cut a variety of grades of glasspaper,wet and dry and finishing papers to fit the size of the wood blocks,spray the blocks with spraymount and attach the pieces of abrasive paper,you have made yourself a useful and in-expensive set of sanding blocks to do your modelling.Should you be lucky to find offcuts of dowel or round shaped timber then use these as well,wrap the abrasive paper carefully around the shapes.

                        Now Christmas is coming up and there will be plenty of those large biscuit tins being thrown out,salvage them and store your sanding blocks in these,once the blocks get worn after lots of sanding,you simply tear off the paper and stick on new pieces.

                        Comment

                        • Guest

                          #27
                          Ok Barry You have impressed everyone with your scrimping and salvageable thread i now have a challenge for you!!!!!!!!

                          every where i walk is dog poo now tell me a use for that lmao !!!!!!!!!

                          go on i know you cant resist a challenge?

                          Comment

                          • Guest

                            #28
                            It can be used to throw at people who ask impossible questions on web forums!

                            Comment

                            • wonwinglo
                              • Apr 2004
                              • 5410

                              #29
                              Scrimpers paint tin holders.

                              Hands up how many of you have at some time knocked a tin of paint all over your workbench ? well if you ever have you will know what a mess it makes and it takes a bit of cleaning up.

                              The make commercial paint tin holders made from resin which work well but cost money,here is an excellent alternative,candle holders especially those ones that have a deep heavy base,some are made from heavy glass,others are metal with a few feet on the bottom,Humbrol tinlets fit snugly into the smaller glass ones and larger tins into the others.

                              Candles to brighten up the home are popular this time of year and loads of bases get thrown out,salvage them and stick them under the hot tap to clean them up,then press them into service to hold your wobbly paint tins,you will not regret it.

                              Comment

                              • Guest

                                #30
                                or use blue tak ( i do)

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