Thoughts on uses for Sprues

[hivemindprimogenitor]

Hello All, Since I've started this hobby I have developed a large mass of sprue leftovers that just seemed to accumulate and do nothing productive. As such I decided to figure out a good way to repurpose them into useful things and so far have managed to come up with a simple, yet time consuming, solution. I use acetone and let the sprue bits soak until they liquify and then I can use the sprue "goo" biomass as either basing material or I have even had a few successes at making spare bits like Zoanthrope tails and Hive Tyrant waists.

Since this has become a very useful solution to the plastic accumulation that I have, I have begun taking the "trash" sprues from my friends as well. This stuff is super handy. An comments, suggestions, critiques, or overall projects you would like me to attempt, I am game.

Finally, I would like to know your personal opinions on whether or not you would have a problem playing against someone that has replicated bits on their models even if the models are still technically 100% GW models and practically indistinguishable from the originals, and is that info that should be made public knowledge to my opponents/TO or is it something that isn't a big issue?

Mods if this is the wrong place for this thread just holler at me and I'll move it accordingly. Thanks.

[elkon]

I can answer your second question: anyone who has a problem with that isn't worth playing with.

[infornography]

So, I'm curious about your process here. Are you saying, make a mold like you would if you were making a resin copy, but instead of resin you use acetone dissolved plastic and it re-hardens in the mold? If so, that is amazing and I had no idea it would do that.

If your process is different please provide details.

As for if I would have any issue playing against this? Nope. I have no gripes playing against a Spruecron army or even lego men. Hell if you made an army using Reaper Bones minis holding bolters, as long as I could tell which unit was which easily, I'd play against that.

[hivemindprimogenitor]

See I kinda feel the same way, but I have met a few people while spectating at tourneys with my friend, that are genuinely self-righteous, holier than thou minded that make a big deal over stuff like that.

[elkon]

Tourneys are where the meta gamers and holier than thou people tend to congregate. Most of them are apparently still fine, but according to others you find a lot more of the bad to play against people in tournaments. I would suss out multiple places to play near you so that you aren't stuck in a place with a (please do not swear) gaming culture like some other people are.

[hivemindprimogenitor]

Sept 16, 2021 13:35:59 GMT infornography said:

So, I'm curious about your process here. Are you saying, make a mold like you would if you were making a resin copy, but instead of resin you use acetone dissolved plastic and it re-hardens in the mold? If so, that is amazing and I had no idea it would do that.

If your process is different please provide details.

As for if I would have any issue playing against this? Nope. I have no gripes playing against a Spruecron army or even lego men. Hell if you made an army using Reaper Bones minis holding bolters, as long as I could tell which unit was which easily, I'd play against that.

Thats awesome to hear. I am of the same mindset. We allow proxies for a few of our hometown newbies since its difficult to get 2000pts relatively quickly. As for my process it is pretty much the same as with resin recasting. I use things like oyamaru(Blue stuff) to make molds and haven't had any real success yet as it is a new technique I'm trying, but I have had a few successes using Alumilites amazing remelt. I scoop out the goo and put it into a large plastic syringe and inject it into the mold. I get some airbubbles from time to time and some flashing I have to trim but they look pretty good. I've even had a few slight fails for Zoanthrope tails that I am considering using as venomthrope tails as they look almost like they are in a constant state of melting.

One thing to keep in mind is that it does take a while for the molds to set and cure as the evaporation time of the acetone takes longer the less surface area is exposed to air so I tend to give each piece anywhere from 12-24 hours of "cure" time before I try removing it and it may still be slightly soft or smushy but retains its shape. At which point I leave it out in the open to finish the drying out. Then its pretty much just as solid as a regular sprue cut piece.

[dan3dim]

Sept 16, 2021 13:35:59 GMT infornography said:

So, I'm curious about your process here. Are you saying, make a mold like you would if you were making a resin copy, but instead of resin you use acetone dissolved plastic and it re-hardens in the mold? If so, that is amazing and I had no idea it would do that.

Wait wait is this real?

Op, I keep my spurs for building. It’s very easy to reuse it as building.

[hivefleetkerrigan]

Generally, I have no issues with some non-GW parts being used. I get a bit leery if someone is 3D printing or using recasts of exact GW sculpts, as it's IP infringement and will harm the hobby (both GW and FLGS stores in terms of sale). However, if you're copying your own sculpts for molding or are 3D printing bits for conversions, then I'm totally onboard with that.

Your process sounds really interesting and props to you for using your extra sprue! I'd recommend doing it in a well ventilated area as the fumes could be harmful or flammable (just not 100% sure what that will do chemically). I'd recommend using a fan as well to try to speed up the drying process.

Potentially, turning the extra sprue into terrain would also be a good use of them.

[garg]

That sounds cool that you are upcycling the sprues into models. I was putting them in the plastic bin and wish cycling them away. While i haven't had that many sprues so far because the majority of my army is second hand, this makes me want to make better use of the sprues i do end up with.

[infornography]

I've used bits of sprue for all kinds of things. Struts to hold magnets on vehicle builds, test beds for new paints, practice with my heat gun, terrain, etc. Never melted it and put it in a mold before though. Definitely interested if you have pictures of the process and results.

[yoritomo]

I think it's time for a moderator to step in here.

Originally I was going to just move this into the converting section and let you guys talk about your ideas. Then we started to talk about casting parts made by Games Workshop. This is a problem.

Reproducing something that has been copyrighted is theft of intellectual property and is illegal. According to the terms and conditions you agreed to when you signed up for ProBoards, illegal things may not be discussed on this forum.


Look, I get it. It's one extra piece from a kit that Games Workshop didn't include. The thing is GW chose not to include that part. I'm not going to pretend that I know (or not know) why they made that choice, but we as a forum have to respect that. You as a person can go offline and do whatever you want, as a forum we need honor our terms of agreement and the forum rules.

I know that there are people out there that will say that this falls under fair use. Fair enough. I only have two things to say about that:

1) I am not a copyright lawyer nor have I ever claimed to be. I am an administrator on this forum and one of my jobs is to reduce the risk that this forum violates any laws or agreements. The only guaranteed way to eliminate the risk from talking about casting GW models is to stop people from talking about casting GW models. (3d printed GW models also apply here)

2) This forum operates under the good graces of Games Workshop. Games Workshop has cracked down on a lot of online 40K creators, but not us. I'd like to think it is because we are good custodians of the rules they set forth. And yes, Games Workshop knows this forum exists and do check in on us from time to time. I am not going to jeopardize our good relation with Games Workshop just so a couple of you can talk about how to save a few bucks on Games Workshop models.


The bottom line here is that if you want to start a new thread in the conversion section talking about how you use old spurs to make terrain or customize your models, then by all means go ahead. If you guys keep talking about recasting GW parts or showing pictures of the GW parts you cast then, well, let's not go there.


*locked*