TIPS AND TRICKS
Pop-Out Furniture pieces are easy to assemble, but here are some tips and tricks to make it even easier. Along with tips and tricks for Pop-Out Furniture pieces, I will include some basic tips and tricks for model construction as well.
Tips and Tricks
1. Always score and color your Pop-Out Furniture pieces before removing them from the page. This will give you a larger area to grasp while scoring and will allow the paper to flatten if any warping should occur after coloring.
2. Never try to freehand the scores unless it is a curved line. Use your straight edge. Free-handing the score will typically result in cutting through the paper.
3. Use a pair of needle-nose pliers to assist you with the bending of the scored lines. Line the edge of the score with the edge of the pliers, and fold the piece against the edge of the pliers. This will save you a lot of time and heartache.
4. If you are using CA glue (super glue), lay a piece of waxed paper on the table. CA glue won’t attach to the wax on the paper.
5. Use your table to assist you with assembling the pieces. The flat surface is ideal for many things. Let it hold your work in place for you, amongst other things.
6. Use the blunt edge of the craft knife to hold some of the smaller tabs in place while the glue sets. It will help to hold in places your fingers are too small to reach.
7. Be patient while the glue sets. This is the most time consuming part of the construction process for the Pop-Out Furniture pieces.
8. When cutting foamcore for model construction, make sure you change your blade after every tenth to fifteenth cut. This will assure that your edges are clean and don’t look “chewed.”
9. To create an effective three dimensional effect for moldings or decorative architecture, photocopy a scale version of the decoration a few times and cut out the pieces each time removing a little more of the decoration. Stack these one on top of the other to create a tiered look.
10. If you have a scanner and a descent printer, scan in some of the harder textures to reproduce (wood grains, marble, etc…) and scale them down and print them out. There are a wide variety of photo papers and cardstocks available to give different finishes to the printed piece. It will greatly improve the look and quality of the model.
11. Try to look at things through the eyes of your scale figures. Many household things can be used in models. (i.e. thread is about the size of 1” cable, toothpicks make great table legs, linguini noodles can be cooked, then sculpted and left to dry to create curved stair railings, etc…)
12. Acetate, or clear acrylic sheets, are great for windows and other glass needs. Plus, it can be photocopied onto and back-painted to create stained glass.
13. Acetate can also be used to glue furniture and scale figures to. This will create a transparent, but sturdy, base and allow your floor to shine through.
14. Always keep a first aid kit nearby, with a few basic necessities: bandages, alcoholic swabs, antibiotic ointment, gauze and super glue remover.