How Do I make the Blast door from the Doom 3 project ?

[Wannabeamodder]

The cutting part I think I can handle

Charles

I take back this statement from an earlier post.

I am having all kinds of problems cutting straight pieces of styrene!

Help please

Crimson Sky if your out there tell me the secret "I vill not let eet fall into ze ands of zee enemy"

Charles

[tybrenis]

For thinner polystyrene (1/8" and smaller) I simply use a straight edge and a knife to score the plastic. Then, snap it along the edge. You can also cut it on a table saw, with a dremel, jigsaw, router, really anything. If it's thin enough you can even use scissors.

[Reyer]

do work

[Wannabeamodder]

Thanks Tybrenis

I'm using 1/8 inch styrene but after the scoring especially small strips like 3/8 inch wide I am having trouble snapping it.

Also I can't seem to make a continuous score line without leaning the knife at some point and that makes an edge thats not square.

I thought about cutting it with a dremmel but read something about the smoke not being good to breathe.

I also tried gluing and let me tell you Crimson was right when he said to use Zip kicker along with Zap glue it makes the gluing much faster and easier!

I have one side of the track channel assembled but it's ugly due to cutting mistakes.


Charles

[Mach]

Take a look at the evergreen website. They make styrene in all sorts of sizes.

http://www.evergreenscalemodels.com/Strips.htm

[Crimson Sky]

1/8th inch is tremendously thick, far more than you would need for the rails. the magic of styrene is in its strength, even whil eusing thinner stock. .060 would have been the thickest I'd use for the flat "J" part of the rail, and .040 to make the curved side pieces. The material is cheap enough to get a bunch of dif types and experiment. a utility knife and straight edge is just about all I use for simple cuts. using a pair of pliers is a good idea on thin strips to help snap it. I put a pair of pliers on the grinder to remove the teeth on the jaws so it doesnt mar the styrene.

[Wannabeamodder]

Thanks Crimson I was using way too thick of styrene!

Thanks Mach I went to evergreens website but it looks like,
they don't have online ordering.And I'll bet there isn't a store near me that sells it.
I have called all the stores I can think of but when I say styrene they are like "whats that".

So can someone point me to a place I can order styrene in small sizes online.

I learned a valuble lesson today a drill bit will drill into a finger (Imagine that)
Hurt like hell too!

Oh well no pain no gain I guess.

As for progress I think I finally found a gear combination that will work for the second Linear actuator.

Thanks
Charles

[Airbozo]

...I put a pair of pliers on the grinder to remove the teeth on the jaws so it doesnt mar the styrene.

Great idea! I see why you da man!
They do make a similar product for glass that has a wide gripable area for snapping off small pieces and strips. Pretty much single purpose tool though since it is not as durable as a set of pliers.

[Wannabeamodder]

I finnaly found a hobby store near by that sells evergreen products!

I should have my styrene this weekend then I can get started again.

In the mean time I shall take my grinder to an old pair of pliers!

Charles

[Wannabeamodder]

Well I have my styrene!

It is a lot easier to cut than the 1/8 inch!

Starting to bulid door panels fingers covered with glue
This isn't as easy as I thought it would be but we are getting somewhere!

I have finished the final drive gear assembly for the second Linear acuator and I probably will change the first actuator to this gear setup as it works more smoothly Pics soon! hang in there.

Charles