Polystyrene figures

[Who BootParticipant @whoboot]

I want to construct some figures to my recently finished Skimmer airboat (see my photos on this site). It looks empty without a figure on it. In order to keep weight down I fancy making figures out of something light like polystyerene but I don’t know how to handle the stuff. On the original plan issued with MB in Sep. 2007 Glynn Guest noted that he’d done a figure out of polystyrene, but did not give details on how he built it. It was a simplified figure but it looked ok.  Does anybody have any tips please on how to work with polystyrene?

[Who BootParticipant @whoboot]

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Who. A hot-wire cutter is the tool to use for carving up polystyrene (expanded polystyrene I assume you mean). This is available from “hobbies” magazine/website and is very reasonably priced. No doubt other places stock these items. PVA glue sticks this well enough but again there are special glues you can use, not forgetting stuff like coving cement and similar adhesives from the decorating industry. Craft shops can supply balls for heads and things, and a coat of PVA afterwards will give you a harder skin on which to paint and fill holes/cracks.  Ashley

[Len OchiltreeParticipant @lenochiltree67043]

Hi Who,

 

I made a Pilot for my Helicopter from blue foam using a Junior Hacksaw and sandpaper.

 

Len

[Who BootParticipant @whoboot]

Thank you both Ashley and Len for you prompt and useful advice on how to shape a figure out of polystyrene. As soon as I’ve built a figure I will post a picture of it in my photos album here on MB online.

[Len OchiltreeParticipant @lenochiltree67043]

Hi Who,

 

Dont buy a hot wire cutter, make one,

1, find an old electric Hairdrier or Toaster or paintstripper.

 

2, Strip out the “Hot Wire “.

 

3, Make a woooden ( Not Metal!! ) U shaped frame with the arms about 6″ apart.

 

4, Fit an electrical connector to each end of an arm.

 

5, Fit a length of Hotwire tight between the arms.

 

6, Fit a suitable length of cable to each end of the Hotwire.

 

7, Connect a Crocodile clip to each cable end.

 

8,Put a on/off switch in one of the cables.

 

9, connect to a 12volt Battery and start carving.

 

 

Len the tight wad.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Len the thrifty. Good idea, everyone gets through about 900 toasters in their life, and the next time mine breaks i am going to recycle the wire for just this purpose. The commercial one I have has a very small span. Ashley

 

Just a thought, if I made one large enough to cut a loaf with into slices, would it come out ready toasted at the same time?????

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