Cut a structure in half?

N

nolatron

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Nov 17, 2004
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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?
 
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.
 
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.
 
If it's styrene, it can be quickly rrough-cut using a hot knife, then trimmed more precisely afterwards.
 
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
 
MasonJar said:
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
Click to expand...

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