"Breakin' the Law"

[dansls1]

Ok, so we've all read the countless tips and techniques out there. Which (if any) of those 'rules' do you completely disregard and do differently than the 'norm'.
For me, it's the 'don't score fold lines with your knife blade'. For as long as I can remember, I use the same sharp blade I'm cutting paper with to score. I use a straight pin (or equivalent) to mark the lines, flip the paper and drag the knife across the paper with limited weight to make sure it doesn't cut. I don't remember ever cutting through the paper by accident - and I've tried using pins and other scoring implements and can't get my folds as straight otherwise.

[Phil]

I use the backside of a #24 x-acto blade (on a #2 handle) to score. I used to, simply, fold the lines over a straightedge...

...I RARELY use tabs...I join the cardstock end to end WITHOUT SUPPORT!...

...I use little girly embroidering scissors to do MOST of my cutting...

...I hold my tongue at 2:00 rather than 10:00...

[shrike]

I (almost) never bother to score from the backside at all. I use a polished, very small stylus and do all the scoring on the face where I can see the lines. If I need something to be very sharp edged,like a small box, I cut the pieces apart and edge glue them

[Don Boose]

I score on the front side regardless of which way the fold will go and I use a dullified #11 blade glued into a 3/8-inch dowel with the other end rounded. I use the dowel handle to curve parts held in the palm of my hand (or on my mouse pad, which is a little Oriental rug) and the rounded end to rub over the paper to make a compound curve.

Increasingly, I am using the edge-glue technique, but I still use some tabs. In most cases, for things like fuselage parts, I cut the tabs off and reglue them underneath so that the two edges will be flush.

I'm still trying to train my hands to roll tubes. I can do the Golden Bear hollow tube thing pretty well, and can usually roll a tube with a wire center, but paper tubes with a zero diameter center are still beyond me.

I was reminded on my inability to roll tubes about three hours before the Troll deadline, when I began to construct the Hampden undercarriage. Watching my shaking hands and sweaty brow with interest, Lil asked why I hadn't done the hardest and most problematical part at the beginning of the project instead of until the end. I had no answer.

Don

[Stev0]

So far I have tried various fold and join techniques. Good to see a variety here.

On a side note...

Originally Posted by Phil

...I use little girly embroidering scissors to do MOST of my cutting...

Tee hee hee :D

[B-Manic]

I don't belive there are any hard and fast laws or rules. Different techiques work better in some circumstances than others. That's why I scan all my printed models before I start building. The correct method is often not the first one I try. Or perhaps I should say does always lead to the best results.

Often the technique is dictated by the way a particular part is designed. Like Shrike, I often cut things like boxes apart. When building ships, this can make for a long build process but the elements look crisper and vertical alignment when stacking is much better.

edit~ on reflection two rules exist no matter what

Rule #1. Don't rush. (repeat offender)
Rule #2. Test fit. (hey, I already have glue on the piece, how bad could it be)

[Gharbad]

Originally Posted by B-Manic

edit~ on reflection two rules exist no matter what

Rule #1. Don't rush. (repeat offender)
Rule #2. Test fit. (hey, I already have glue on the piece, how bad could it be)

Funny, those are the two I break every time!

[John Bowden]

Rules!!!???

Rule #1 Don't make any rules so you don't break nothing...............

Rule #2 Hey wait a minute.....................

john