scalescenes.com

Construction Tips

Tools required:

• Steel ruler
• Modelling knife [Card blunts knives, replace blade regularly!]
• Tweezers
• Glue stick [Ideal for applying printed sheets to card]
• ‘All purpose’ clear such as UHU (solvent free) or PVA adhesive
• CA or ‘super glue’ [Ideal for small fiddly elements]
• Artist's matt spray varnish
• Quality felt tip pens [To touch up corners or edges]
• Pencil
• Cutting mat or sheet of thick card
• Damp cloth [To wipe glue off fingers]
• Fine sand paper [To smooth rough edges]

	Gluing For spot gluing or applying a thin beads of glue, use ‘all purpose’ clear (UHU - the solvent free in the green twist top bottle works well and doesn't string ) or PVA adhesive. Use sparingly and keep a damp cloth handy to wipe glue off your fingers. Small elements can be glued with CA or ‘super glue’. Apply weight to assist with adhesion if required.
	Mounting For mounting large areas, coat well with a glue stick. Use a rubber roller or ‘3M application squeegee’ to ensure good adhesion to the card. You can also use a good quality spray adhesive if you have adequate ventilation. An even all over coverage will avoid bubbles.
	Cutting Use a quality modelling knife. Remember, cut away from you and REPLACE YOUR BLADE REGULARLY (card blunts knives very quickly). NEVER apply excess pressure to the knife, it’s easier to cut through heavy card with several lighter slices rather than a single cut. As you are cutting, try to keep the blade at a shallow angle, this avoids a rough ‘ploughed’ edge either side of the cut.
	Folding With the exception of smaller parts it is easier to fold elements before you cut them out. Crease each end of the fold first using the blue dashed lines as a guide and then work gently towards the middle.
	Scoring Score all elements before you cut them out. Scoring involves dragging a knife VERY LIGHTLY along the surface of the sheet only just breaking the surface of the paper. Practice on a piece of scrap first.
	Wrap & glue Using a small piece of scrap card smear a thin even coat of glue along the overhanging flap and then gently fold it tightly around the edge of the card. Keep a damp cloth nearby to wipe off any glue from your fingers.
	Protecting the model It is strongly recommended giving finished kits several light even coats of artist's matt spray varnish (used to fix chalk and pastel drawings and available from most art supply shops). This helps protect the print surface and reduce fading and discolouration. ALWAYS TEST THE VARNISH ON A SCRAP PRINT BEFORE APPLYING TO YOUR MODEL!