sundries

[rm]

So, anyone got tips on painting (and for that matter, during the sanding process, removing bits that join parts of the model that should not be joined) resin models? I've never done this before and feel intimidated. It's like I'm learning to be a geek at 36.

Funniest thing I've seen today from justpat over on twitter: "999: the mark of the Australian Beast."

I am in that itchy, unfocused ambitious place. You probably saw that coming. This is the mood I hate the most. What do you all do when you are suffering from it?

I have to send Kali more EtGB today. Meanwhile, I think I have a story I'll be finishing off for posting tonight.

Ann from Cunard called yesterday. Remember that? Anyway, deadline's Friday, but we don't know yet. Have to decide by tomorrow in order to overnight check if it's a yes.

Worst thing about men's clothing: the dry cleaning bill. I did the post Dragon*Con run to the cleaners and I was not happy. They, of course, were very happy.

We bought all the food ever at Trader Joe's last night.

Having now become a Mac user, and with most everyone in my life being Mac users, I can see I'm going to have to eventually (like years from now) get an iPhone for total integration.

I have an Idina Menzel song stuck in my head.

Should I tell the Nick Cave story? (many of you know it, as I've told it here before, but not in ages, and many of you don't, and it's the most narratively weak thing ever (no ending!), but it's one of those things of odd relevance this week).

Going to try to get the snapped glasses fixed today.

dimethirwen is doing a poll about street harassment. Because writing polls is hard, and LJ doesn't let you edit polls, there are two versions which attempt to address a wide-degree of variation. It's not perfect, and it's not scientific, of course, but help an LJ'er out:
http://dimethirwen.livejournal.com/684378.html (answers available to all)
http://dimethirwen.livejournal.com/684657.html (answers viewable only to pollster)

Comments

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

So did you get to see the Captain Jack puppet I made that was in the Art Show at DragonCon?

I saw you once in passing but was late for a panel so I was moving as fast as I could then.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I did! (People kept telling me about it all weekend). You weren't at your table when I went by though. I was very, very amused, mainly because the thought of Jack as a muppet-like creature is so... loud and hyper it was hard not to cackle (and be slightly afraid) at the thought.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

Oh *bwee*. Knowing your other puppets, that must be the height of cute. *looks at photos* and it is, yes. XD

[smirnoffmule.livejournal.com]

Weirdly listening to Nick Cave right this second. So I vote yes on story.

[gement.livejournal.com]

I am pro-story and I comment.

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

Me too, tell the story! I heart Nick Cave!

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

Story! Story!

[st-aelphaba.livejournal.com]

"I am in that itchy, unfocused ambitious place. You probably saw that coming. This is the mood I hate the most. What do you all do when you are suffering from it?"

I write. Eventually the ambition fades away in a cloud of angst. ;)

[kirby-crow.livejournal.com]

I am in that itchy, unfocused ambitious place. You probably saw that coming. This is the mood I hate the most. What do you all do when you are suffering from it?

A nap. Being unfocused plus strangely motivated usually means I'm starved of some kind of recharge (sugar, sleep, protein, etc). What also helps me is to stop everything, take an hour immediately and clear off some items from my calendar/to-do list. Clearing chores and tasks from my organic memory cache -even if I think they're not bothering me or pressing - seems to free up more room for production.

Brains are weird.

[laurab1.livejournal.com]

Apple have been ahead of the game for about twenty five years. Thanks to my dad's job, my brother and I were Mac experts, when they ran mostly on 3.5" disks, before we ever even saw an IBM PC with a mouse. He has a MacBook for work. All the computers for the Music Tech course he works on, at the local college are Macs, too. Working the Apple trailer site on the MacBook, with a remote control, is the best thing I've seen lately :) That, and Spotify.

[blucrowlaughing.livejournal.com]

I am in that itchy, unfocused ambitious place. You probably saw that coming. This is the mood I hate the most. What do you all do when you are suffering from it?

clean, then I both accomplishing something and hopefully as space comes into order the brain will follow and focus will be found.

resin kits

[pocketmouse]

This is for the gun, right? I've mostly done plastic models, but for the sanding parts, it's largely the same. I think with paints you just have to make sure it's completely set before you paint it, and there might be a couple paint types that will react badly/not take to resin. I could ask my dad, if you'd like. He's done resin kits, and modeling is one of his big hobbies.

What exactly do you mean by moving bits? I didn't see the kit. Do you mean the excess/flash from the mold? Trim it off with anything with snips and sand it down. I could probably help you out, but I'm not exactly sure what you mean.

Re: resin kits

[rm.livejournal.com]

Ugh, type... I meant "removing" -- there's excess stuff from the mold in a few places that causes points to be joined that shouldn't be, so it's not just a matter of sanding it off.

Re: resin kits

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

Razor blade. An exacto knife works best because you have a handle and they have pointy blades. I wouldn't try it with a kitchen knife or anything. It's also usually a good idea to wear some gloves if you're dealing with especially thick or hard stuff, to minimize the chance you will wound yourself.

I used to be really good at this. Where's the instant transfer portal where you need it?

Re: resin kits

[cozzene.livejournal.com]

agreed. Also I highly recommend painting before gluing anything. I've also used a dremel with grinder affixed.

Re: resin kits

[pocketmouse]

OK, that's what I thought it might be. With plastic models we get that stuff off with wire cutters, which should work here. If it's too big, use a serrated blade of some sort. There's a lot of modeling help sites out there on the 'net, too, so if you google something like 'removing flash resin model' you should get some good hits, and probably tips on tools.

[coyotegoth.livejournal.com]

You know Nick Cave is at the Union Square B&N next Monday at 7, yes? (Promoting his new novel.)

[rm.livejournal.com]

NO! AWESOME. We have the same tailor; we can make smalltalk. Hahaahah.

[p-zeitgeist.livejournal.com]

Allow me to help you spend your money.

It's not total integration, but it may well come to that soon: the new version of the ipod touch seems to be able to do everything the iphone can do, except use a cellular network. It can use a wireless network, and it can run Skype. So in exchange for giving up having it also be a cell phone, you get a device that can make calls over accessible wireless networks, cruise the internet, take notes, do all those iphone-app things, play media -- and isn't bound to a telecom company contract. As soon as I get to the point where I can tell myself I actually need it, it's what I'm getting.

[gina-r-snape.livejournal.com]

Itchy and unfocused?

I second the recommendations to a)nap and b)clean. Also, try reading something you've been meaning to get to and see if it inspires any ideas. Or exercise.

As for the Mac/iPhone thing . . . YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS you will become one of uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuus.

[kel-reiley.livejournal.com]

I am in that itchy, unfocused ambitious place. You probably saw that coming. This is the mood I hate the most. What do you all do when you are suffering from it? - i usually just suffer through it
or start 50 new things, of which only about 3 will get finished

i would like to read the nick cave story :D

[misswinterhill.livejournal.com]

Tell the Nick Cave story, because it fits so well with the 999 thing and he wrote one of the best love songs ever (erm, in the middle of writing a bunch of murder ballads...)

I am one of those Mac people. It took me about a week, and now I love my Mac so much. <3 I agree with you that an iPhone is very good for full integration but not necessary.

When I am in the unfocussed place, I do something like go to the theatre or a cultural event or even to a museum -- it's inspirational but I am stuck there, it's not like playing the piano or writing where I can get up after 10 minutes, make a sandwich, and then never go back to it. It makes me focus and remember why I love what I love.

[sola.livejournal.com]

For the kits, all you need is an Exacto (or several), some sandpaper in 300 down to 600 grit (plastic-backed or "wet" is better, check Micro-Mark if you can't find it locally), and patience. Carving away in small pieces is better than trying to get a whole chunk at a time. Small circles for the sandpaper.


For painting: if you intend to leave any parts of the model unpainted, use Mr. Super Clear finishing spray to prime and finish; otherwise, you can get Testors primer and sealant at any Dragon's Den, along with small pots of color. Don't forget the paint thinner; you'll need it to, well, thin the paint to get a smooth coat. The smaller the detail/model, the more important this is.

[catalysticat.livejournal.com]

I am in that itchy, unfocused ambitious place. You probably saw that coming. This is the mood I hate the most. What do you all do when you are suffering from it?

Apparently, I mainline Buffy.

Good luck with choosing the glasses, whatever style you decide to go for.

[laughingacademy.livejournal.com]

My family have always been staunch PC users, but my brother just gave me a hand-me-down iPod and my father has acquired a Mac notebook ("Whatever you do, don't pick one up to see how much it weighs. That's how they get you"). I expect I will eventually succumb, especially since my PC is limping badly.

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

Re: modeling, most of my experience is working with pewter and resin wargaming figures. I sucked at getting into wargaming -- not committed enough -- but enjoy the painting bit and do a little now and then.

There are three kinds of things that need removing: sprues (if your parts come joined in the package by little sticks of material), molding flash (little strips and lines of stuff along the molding lines), and other irregularities.

For sprues, if you can use a sprue cutter to remove things, that's the ideal. Twisting and cutting can damage the piece, or remove too much material. For flash, I always use an X-Acto knife to get the big stuff, and then sand with a fine, fine grit paper as needed. Likewise with the other stuff.

I usually paint with acrylics, so the stuff below about enamel-based paints is good advice if that's the way you're going. In any case, be sure that you check that the paints you intend to use are safe for your kit. Test on spare parts (sprues) or in easy-to-hide areas. Ask for help at a gaming/modeling shop if you're unsure.