Cut a structure in half?

nolatron

Member
Of course I'm kicking myself for not really doing this first, but I'm looking into ways for cutting a completed structure in half.

I'm kinda wanting to chop a little bit off the back of my Taco Bell structure, so it's not as deep and more like a semi-background building. It would fit better in the area it's going if it could loose a little weight.

Here's the structure:
IMG_1506.jpg


I pretty much wanna to cut off the back of the building from just past the side door on towards back.

So any suggestions on what kind of tool would be best for such a task?
 

tetters

Rail Spiking Fool!
A chop saw would take for that in no time! :p

Honestly I don't know. I have a few ideas I'd try myself, like a hacksaw with a very fine tooth count and going slowly. But I'm kinda crazy that way too.
 

Russ Bellinis

Active Member
I think the most effective way to do it would be to make a wooden block filler to support the roof and walls. Then cut it carefully with a hack saw. If you try to cut it in half without supporting the inside, I think you risk collapsing the structure.
 

MasonJar

It's not rocket surgery
Know anyone with a large-ish bandsaw?

Otherwise, my choice would be a razor saw, and kind of work your way around it. Dress the rough cut with a file, or sand the whole thing at once on a sanding table.

Andrew
 

nolatron

Member
Thanks for info guys. I think I'll try using a razor saw. The roof does come off so that I'll probably make the job a little easier, won't have to go through the whole thing in one shot.
 

Mountain Man

Active Member
Know anyone with a large-ish bandsaw?

Otherwise, my choice would be a razor saw, and kind of work your way around it. Dress the rough cut with a file, or sand the whole thing at once on a sanding table.

Andrew

Do not, I repeat do NOT! use a band saw. Speed = friction = heat = equals blade "grabbing" melting plastic = very bad day for operator.
 

MasonJar

It's not rocket surgery
Do not, I repeat do NOT! use a band saw. Speed = friction = heat = equals blade "grabbing" melting plastic = very bad day for operator.

Sorry... should have added some ;) :D ;) after that...

I agree: plastic + high speed blade = not a good idea

Andrew
 
L

lester perry

what about a drimmel tool? I have used one for that before using a slow speed and moving slowly. I have also used a hot knife, what ever you use the cut will have to be cleaned up
Les
 

doctorwayne

Active Member
I don't know about the bandsaw, but you can cut plastic models on a tablesaw, using a fine-toothed blade, if you have a solid block of wood inside of the model. Likewise, any fine-toothed handsaw, like a panel saw or mitre saw, will work okay, but the model needs to be supported by something solid behind the surface being cut.
Personally, I'd remove the roof and back wall, then support the sidewalls, in turn, on the edge of your workbench and cut them with repeated scores with an X-Acto blade, then snap off the unwanted sections.

Wayne
 

Mountain Man

Active Member
Dremel tool with a cutting blade on low speed works great. Used it all the time on plastic military models and never had a problem.

By the time you get your model properly set up for a table saw, it will all be over using the Dremel.
 

nolatron

Member
Hmm. I think I have a cordless dremel floating around in the garage still packed from the move last year. I'll have to dig around for it.
 
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