I did my parts selection for my second HAZ-BAT and i am using Voltar parts....But voltars many guns don't exactly go with the idea of the figure.

So any advice on how to use an x-acto to trim the guns off of the figure?

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Well if you have to ask this question then you are probably in over your head, but the best way to learn is just start cutting and see what works. You will need some sand paper to smooth out the surfaces after you trim away most of the plastic. Since you are working with RAH plastic I strongly suggest looking into a Dremel and sanding bits. The hard plastic of RAH stuff is a [LASER BLAST] to cut with an X-acto. It can be done but there is a big chance of the blade catching and then gouging into your hand when you try to force it. Trust me I learned the hard way.

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I agree with AVE, for this type of project a dremel would be a lot easier. While it is possible to do it with an X-Acto knife it will take you a lot longer and if you've never done something like this before you'll probably end up cutting yourself at least once. If your stuck with the knife go with the whittling method first. Clean, even strokes, away from you just grazing the surface rather than sawing at it. You'll still need the sand paper and I'd also reccommend a blade sharpener of some kind because the X-Acto will dull quickly during this project.

You also want to be sure that the mold will accomodate that kind of cutting. For instance, some molds have been pressed right up where the holsters start. If you were to cut them off completely you'd be left with a hole you'll need to fill in. Check the back of the chest and the inside of thigh to see if the parts have enough plastic in those areas for a clean removal of the guns. Good luck.

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Dremel.

If you're asking about the best way to do this already, you'll end up killing yourself. A dremel may give you a quick knick, but unless you hold it on yourself for any length of time, you won't cause any permanent damage.

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You crazy emo kids these days and your x-acto knives!

I just bought a dremel this summer and I am so glad I did. Think of it as a lifetime investment. The tool will come in handy for many odd jobs around the house. And what I hear from these old-timers, the tool holds up for a good decade.

Make a day of it - go sell some plasma Saturday morning and use your $40 to buy a dremel.

_CJack

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Wig makers will buy human hair too...then theres the sperm bank as well.

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Don't give him any ideas!


Just take it slow and realize any mistakes can be dangerous to your fingers.

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If you have a hardware store in your area, a Harbor Freight, or even a Big Lots, you can usually find dremels for under $10. There's a store here called Fred's that's had dremels for $4.99 last Christmas. They're good enough for working on figures and you get lots of bits that also work well enough for customizing. I've got 6 different dremels. 2 that are the higher dollar ones and the rest are cheap ones. I use the cheap ones more than the higher dollar ones.

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Ya know, I own the little $20 version and he $100 super deluxe version. I NEVER use the $100, its too damn powerful. I've shot many a Joe head across the room using it.

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Buy a Dremel tool...



My dad's dremel tool lasted for 30 years before the bearing went out. I've found the cheap ones to be easy to stall, but haven't used them much on plastic...

Yeah my high dollar name brand Dremel with a varible 10 speed selection will melt the plastic before it sands anything. My little single speed $14.99 knockoff set that I bought at Big Lots is used all the time. I think I've used the name brand about 5 times total, and each time I used it was because I didn't feel like digging a drill out to drill a hole in a thick piece of wood.

I've pushed them before, and the same holds true now. Those battery operated nail file tools work great as well. They're a rotary tool that is pretty much a dumbed down dremel. The bits they come with work great for doing work on action figures. I've got some of those that I actually use for more precision work (such as making a nose smaller or reshaping eyes and such).

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I got a Dremel Stylus for Christmas last year. Light, relatively cheap, and powerful enough to do anything you'd need. And it's handy for household projects too.

I highly reccomend it.

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I've used both the bigger ten speed dremmel (which is my personal tool) and a little ten dollar knock off (which belongs to my father in law.) I wish I had both. The bigger dremmel takes some getting used to but the power is great for cutting things and hollowing out heads and the like, plus, since it's expensive, you can use it around the house. The little one is good for fine detailing. The size of the bigger dremmel makes it hard to maneuver sometimes especially on very fine work, like detailing a face. It's also smaller and easier to store. It will just take some more time to di bigger jobs abd I'm pretty sure that you could cut anything in half with it.

As for the x-acto, I used one when I first started out and you can make it work for the weapons but you will need to practice first. the first weapon juts won't turn out right until you get practice unless you get lucky. And you'll need sandpaper to smooth. If you can't cut something with the x-acto, try some bigger nail clippers, then sand down the piece. Also, remember, you can always take more off, it's a lot harder to add more, cut less than you think you need to.

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