Customizing Question (1 Viewer)

[Carnahan]

Want to take a shot at converting a few figures and was wondering what cutting tool would be best. The figures in question are ACTA American Maryland Infantry and the plastic is fairly hard (definitely more so than some of their other sets). I was considering an X-Acto #15 blade, which is very narrow and sawtoothed - has anyone used this?

 

[Mirof]

If the plastic is hard, you risk to break the piece
Exacto yes but use the small saw and work slowly
http://www.xacto.com/products/cutting-solutions/tools-accessories/detail/X75300
http://www.xacto.com/products/cutting-solutions/blades/detail/X239

Don't use a electical tool, the blade will run to fast and the plastic will melt .

Best

 

[Carnahan]

thanks!

 

[NEVINSRIP]

Use a straight edged razor blade and wiggle the blade across the neck (or whatever).
Let the blade do the work and go slowly.
Be careful not to cut off any shoulders while removing heads. Allow clearance for the part of the blade that you are not cutting with.

Practice with a few junk figures.

 

[Denver]

First, practice on inexpensive reissued figures.

 

[theBaron]

For stiff plastic, like the styrene that Airfix and Historex used for their kit figures, yes, use a fine razor saw. Besides X-Acto and other brands of similar saws, you could have a look at CMK's fine razor saw. Many scale modelers use it for sawing styrene and resin. I think I got mine from Eduard, but I might be mistaken. You can do a web search on "cmk razor saw", though. It has a doble-edged blade, with two grades of fine teeth, and it comes with a plastic handle that you assemble (takes a second to do).

For soft plastic, I'd use a sharp Nr. 11 blade to slice through it. Get a pack and replace the blades frequently, because frequent use will dull them. I use the old blades for general utility work on the bench, scraping seams, etc.

Hope that helps, prosit!
Brad