TOPIC:

eddrick wrote:

It's like a baby Marauder!

Go on, you know you want one!

Scored some more bits recently.
A ropey bodyshell:


"Interesting" lights


Damage on the front.

Not sure if I will be able to glue this as is does not look like styrene - more like the shiny plastic used on the Holiday Buggy. Any tips?

Someone has had a go at plastic welding:


A bunch of random parts which all look new, including the added bonus of some NIP fake exhausts that I was missing! I am guessing these are incredibly rare and I was thinking about making some out of ally tube.

I'd like to preserve the decals at least well enough to scan and reprint them. Any tips on removing them safely?

Those lights are pretty Heath Robinson

No idea about getting decals off safely, I really don't have a very good track record in that department There was a recent discussion about it though, IIRC there was mention of various 3m products, including one that would remove the adhesive?

I use a hairdryer on the reverse side of the shell to warm things up, & slide a stanley/scalpel blade carefully under the decal to gently lift it. Trick is to not over-harass it or it'll split or stretch. Any leftover goo on the body can be removed with WD40, but if your heat/method is right the goo should remain on the decal & in most cases you can re-apply it (Sometimes a tiny dab of CA is needed for goo-less corners).

Welding is your only option for joining polyethylene body parts (Or unsightly plates/nuts/bolts etc), you won't find a permanent gluing option.

Had thought several times about getting one, then remembered I've had 2x Marauders & they're god-awful things, which quickly restored my sanity!

The decals came off pretty easily with the help of a hairdryer - thanks Eddrick.

Is there any way I can test what sort of plastic it is?
Any idea where I could find some compatible plastic to repair it? The bleach bottle in my bathroom is PE and a similar colour. Could I use that?

Martin wrote:

Is there any way I can test what sort of plastic it is?
Any idea where I could find some compatible plastic to repair it? The bleach bottle in my bathroom is PE and a similar colour. Could I use that?

Anyone?

If I need to weld it, do I have to use the same plastic or could I weld styrene sheet to it? I'm looking at you Eddrick...

Martin wrote:

Martin wrote:

Is there any way I can test what sort of plastic it is?
Any idea where I could find some compatible plastic to repair it? The bleach bottle in my bathroom is PE and a similar colour. Could I use that?

Anyone?

If I need to weld it, do I have to use the same plastic or could I weld styrene sheet to it? I'm looking at you Eddrick...

Eddrick - where are you?

Top desk sourced all the way from Michigan

Had a spare moment, so I thought I would have a go at some plastic welding on the body. Here is the result:



Now I just need to find some filler that will stick to the body. I am thinking about plastic filler for car bumpers - anyone had any experience?