"Anyone Plan To Make And Sell Plate Greeblies (For 15mm)?" Topic

By greeblies I mean:

1) Very, very small pre-cut (or hole-punched/die cuts) FLAT and VERY THIN styrene forms, maybe by the bag, in all sorts of geometric configurations, that one could attach to the outside of space craft that are too plain AND/OR to enhance SF corridor walls.

I bought 3 simple circular hole punches, in 3 different small diameters, from a craft store. I also found a small rectangular one as well. Sharp scissors and a large paper cutting blade are also among my tools, but they don't really help make clean cuts with many of the shapes, plus it is extremely time-consuming.

I'm suggesting making die-cuts in lots of shapes and in precise angles:

These next ones are a bit too intricate for what I suggest, but the demonstrate shows the difficulty of making the precise angle geometric "scratches" ("scoring") yourself. Plus you don't run the risk of cutting yourself repeatedly with an exacto knife or other sharp tools:

AND my concept would afford the buyer the choice to make the conversion as elaborate or as simple as he/she wishes.

Here's an example of die cut pieces sold in paper from craft suppliers, mostly for scrapbooking, and they seem to sell them cheap by the bag:

auction

Really THIN geometric styrene die cuts for SF would be awesome. AND, if the plates are thin enough, they could be bent to make curved plating like this:

The idea of making whole sheets of stamped/moulded greeblies doesn't really help with curved sections of ships and bends in corridor walls.

2) Aside from that main point, I know that GZG makes a few metal cast pieces of control plaques. Much thinner (meaning low profile) resin ones with all types of tiny pipes and sensors would be awesome too.

What do you guys think of those two crazy ideas? Too radical? :)

Thanks,

Dan
TMP link

And if my first idea spawns the manufacture of such a die-cut SF product, I would love to get a free bag or two! :)

Dan

Crap now I have to spend all day on the phone to see if I can work out my idea to get something that will work for what you need…

So you like the first idea?

And, just to be clear, I mean VERY small die-cuts (like 5mm-15mm in size) in all sorts of angular geometric shapes, and made from REALLY thin and bendable styrene.

Dan

It wouldn't be styrene. It should still work. I need to do a bit of research and check to see if the manufacturing prices are stupid expensive.

If not styrene then, for the concept to work and have REAL mass appeal (WAY beyond just wargamers – could be a hot seller among 1/72 spaceship modellers and many others), the die-cuts would have to be made of a plastic that could be glued easily to styrene or other plastic on their existing ship AND/OR corridor walls, without requiring any special or thick and messy glues.

EDIT
Check out the sleek nearly-flat plates/panels on these corridors:

And, as you can see from the craftsy scrapbooking paper die-cuts on ebay, the technology is already there to produce them cheaply:

auction

Though, instead of paper, we are talking "paper thin" and bendable plastic.

Dan

Your going to make me play might hand to early :) BTW no glue required.

It might be too thin. I'll have to experiment with it. It would be good for adding details and breaking up flat surfaces. Should fit the bill for the most part.

Adhesive labels is another option I thought of, if cut into the precise angular shapes described above, and if they don't lift and detach on their own later. They would have to be able to take paint too.

EDIT
"Your going to make me play might hand to early :)"

LOL. Jonathan, you crack me up! Hey, I was just throwing the idea out there to the members, to see if they understood and liked what I was proposing (and, of course, hoping a manufacturer would contact me off-line, via PM or email). :)

Dan

So . . .

How do the rest of you guys like the concept? :)

EDIT
Could be even used to "enhance" flat surfaces on SF buildings that one either made, bought or even recycled:

link

link

Thanks,

Dan

Ok, weirdly I have a box full of little angular bits, I save all the off-cuts from my building in styrene. Plus a large collection of strip from Evergreen and other sources.

Now, a source of regular precut shapes in the 2.5 mm to 15 mm size would be nice.

Right now I coud do with some right-triangle rod in 1/8th inch on the two equal legs.

For round holes a rotary leather punch is great, as well a larger punch with replaceable dies. the largest circle is a bit over a 1/4 of an inch. link

So any chance I could get the names of the infantry and transport in the first pic?

As for paneling, if it was thin to begin with it could just be sold as a sheet and then the buyer could cut whatever shapes they need out of it. It would also let them choose which portion of the pattern to use or how to orient the lines and such themselves, making it a more generally appealing product..

I liked this idea a lot at first, and I still like it, but it occurs to me you could get a similar result by cutting up strip styrene. Thoughts?

As far as adhesive products go, I've used electrical tape for just this purpose in the past.

Also striping tape in the automotive department.

Who makes the shuttle in the first pic?

Thornhammer,

Believe it or not, it's from BK:

link

link

TMP link

Dan

I have a sample coming in that "might" work.

It is thin, 1/32 and the folks say it will take and hold shapes, should have sample in 2-3 weeks.

Lee

Photoetch

i lean towards PE for this as well. check this guy out:
propblur.com

What a good idea!

I think you can do a simmilar thing with some of the CNC laser cuttimg sites – use different colours to signify different depths of etchig and cut into panels, sort of like photo etching on wood.

Laser cutting something that thin causes problems. This wood or styrene will warp really bad due to the heat of the process.

I'm working on it :) I'm going to meet with some suppliers today to see if my idea will work.

Excellent!!! I can't wait to hear the results.

Dan

So this has warped into a totally different product then initially intended :)

I'm running the numbers and still trying to find someone to cut me a prototype but our intention is to release several patterns of scifi detail panels and a bunch of detail packs for walls/floors. You should be able to stick them onto the side of any flat hard surface and detail your walls with very little effort.

I did a test pattern loosely based on the Enterprise NX-01 walls. I've got some star wars inspired ones in mind as well as a few Tron items.

If all goes according to plan then we are talking about something that will look great and be cheap.

Will try 1/32 cuts this week.
A doll house furniture maker gave me domes hints to use,
And paper cuts easily.

Lee

I am looking to get a desktop laser cutter than might be suitable for cutting these n plastic, don't think the laser will cause the plastic to deform or very little much as only 50w.

regards

Is this awesome or what!

PDF link

link

His TMP thread here:

TMP link

Dan
PDF link

Any update on the Corsec stuff? like the panel ideas.