WIP Punch and die

[naf5058]

I am working on a roman signifer sculpt and want to make Lorica squamata by punching out individual scales. Is there a cheaper way to do this than buying a punch and die set(~$60+)? Would a hand punch such as the one linked produce round cuttouts or is this tipe of punch only useful for making holes? And if there is a way to make a homemade tool for this process that would be great also.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HAND-PUNCH-...505?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336dcf9be9

 

[Einion]

Using a punch set might not be ideal anyway because the scales might not have rounded ends but yeah, there are some cheaper options.

What scale are you working in?

Einion

 

[naf5058]

I'm working in 1/9 scale. I've experimented with making putty scales but they dont look right. I've also cut out a couple scales from a soda can, and they look pretty good but it would be impossible to make a full set of identical scales in this manner. Most of the references I have show the Lorica squamata with ob-longed shaped scales which wouldn't work with a normal die anyway, others are pointed or square so I think all would be accurate. I have found oval shaped dies online but they are pretty expensive and I am not sure if they will be useful to produce scales or are just good for making holes.
Thanks for the response, Nick

 

[redhorse]

I'm not sure the exact size you'll need but you might want to look at paper punches for scrapbooking. There are all different things and a flower petal might be exactly what you need. Plus they are cheap. You should be able to use cardstock on a figure, you can saturate with CA glue for strength and paintability. I've done that quite a bit in my other hobby of paper models.

Here's Joann's line:

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/category.jsp?CATID=cat2785&slotFlag=true&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product+-+Scrapbooking+Tools-_-Scrapbooking+Tools+-+Punches+%28E%29-_-paper+punch_Exact&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=paper+punch&utm_campaign=Product+-+Scrapbooking+Tools&002=2365735&004=2220134403&005=16389102&006=8257267323&007=Search&008=&gclid=CICv5em6m6wCFRJX7Aod31TIBQ

 

[jasmils]

Just an idea.
Scratch build the first one, and then cast the rest off in resin.


Jason

 

[TonyT]

if you could get a wire mesh of the right shape could you not lie it flat, scrape say magic sculp over it, let it dry then push them out?

 

[kiwi45]

Try a piece of rectangular brass tube? and reform the ends with heat to make them oval shape then sharpen, should punch out thin lead sheet etc.

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Are you using air hardening clay?

If yes,
I would use this approach.

Get some Evergreen styrene sheet, and cut to rectangular shapes.

Bind some together in small stacks.

Mark the top & bottom ones with a circle that will allow you to have a accurate finish.

sand them back.

May have to may a few smaller stacks.

Rather then hand craft each one, you could then make them in batches.

I have sen something similar done in a magazine, quite a while ago.

HTH

 

[Einion]

I'm working in 1/9 scale. I've experimented with making putty scales but they dont look right.

Okay, that's larger than I was expecting. At this scale sculpting them might not be the best approach, although you can definitely get the right look with a good impression tool and you get a good rhythm going; it may be the most practical way of doing it though.

I've also cut out a couple scales from a soda can, and they look pretty good but it would be impossible to make a full set of identical scales in this manner.

This might be the best approach technically for the larger scales, although even production-lining the process it's no small task.

I'm not sure the exact size you'll need but you might want to look at paper punches for scrapbooking. There are all different things and a flower petal might be exactly what you need. Plus they are cheap. You should be able to use cardstock on a figure, you can saturate with CA glue for strength and paintability. I've done that quite a bit in my other hobby of paper models.

Here's Joann's line:

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/category.jsp?CATID=cat2785&slotFlag=true&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product+-+Scrapbooking+Tools-_-Scrapbooking+Tools+-+Punches+%28E%29-_-paper+punch_Exact&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=paper+punch&utm_campaign=Product+-+Scrapbooking+Tools&002=2365735&004=2220134403&005=16389102&006=8257267323&007=Search&008=&gclid=CICv5em6m6wCFRJX7Aod31TIBQ

That looks like a real possibility, I'll keep those in mind for the future thanks.

Just an idea.
Scratch build the first one, and then cast the rest off in resin.

I don't think it would be possible to cast them, even for the larger sizes; but typically they'd be less than 1.5mm wide at scale.

Einion

 

[naf5058]

Thanks for all the great suggestions guys! I went to Micheal's and in the scrap-booking section they had a ton of different punches, I found one which produces an oval just the size I wanted, and said it was heavy duty so I decided to get it and try punching some scales from a soda can. It went right through the can. The edges came out slightly rough and not perfect, but the imperfections are small enough that I dont think they will matter once painted. I cut each oval in half and layed down a small section on top of some sculpey to get a feel for the look. i think it turned out pretty good. let me know what you think

 

[theBaron]

That's a good solution, I like the way it's coming out. Good idea!

Prost!
Brad

 

[redhorse]

Not bad! I didn't know if they would go through metal, but looks like it works pretty well.

 

[naf5058]

Thanks for giving me the idea Redhorse! The punch was labeled heavy duty so the normal paper ones may not work on metal. At first the edges on the punch were a little rough so I took a peice of sand paper and ran it over the punch surface and now the scales are coming out real smooth. The punch was only $10, so it came out way cheaper than buying a punch and die set, plus it produces a better shape. It will probably take me a while to get some images up of the scales on the figure, I still need to to the clothing underneath, but once i do i'll be sure to let you guys know how it turns out.

 

[Einion]

Looks great Nick. Perfect solution - easy, repeatable and a very believable scale thickness to boot.

Einion

 

[housecarl]

Looks good, and recycling to boot.
Carl.

 

[naf5058]

Thanks guys! I will post new pictures when I finish the armor on the figure