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Arc Scraper StyleModels This handy little tool came to our attention via forum member Aidan Duddy (Abacus), who will be happy to get you one if you ask him nicely and furnish him with a few model tokens. It arrives in a flat package with another smaller cellophane package inside, which is designed to keep the scraper from moving around an puncturing the outer wrapper. Inside is a single piece of metal in a guitar-pick shape, into the edges of which are cut with scallops of varying sizes from 1.25mm to 13.4mm. Don't get these figures confused with radius values however, because they are the width of the actual scallops. Using it is a doddle. Simply choose a scallop shape that allows you to scrape the curved seam you are working on, so that the sides of the scallop don't touch the model (i.e. use a slightly larger diameter than the curve), and hold it at a slight angle, drawing it across the surface under gentle/firm pressure. The edge will scrape a thin sliver of styrene off the surface, and you will need to repeat the process as required, paying careful attention to the profile of your part, and changing to a different sized cutting edge if needed. It's surprisingly easy and effective, and will be most useful on tank barrels, fuselage halves and bombs/missiles, where it is difficult to retain the curved profile of parts where the joints have been sanded back using traditional methods. I've given it a try on some engine nacelle seams on my currently stalled vacform Hornet, and it does the job very nicely. It is made from a non-ferric stainless steel, which is a bonus because it won't be prone to rust in damp man-cave sheds, but it's a shame if you were hoping to mount it on a magnetic tool rack like I was. C'est la vie. Conclusion A great little tool that many of us will wish was around years ago when we didn't have the option of replacement metal barrels, but still highly useful, and I'll be using mine on those difficult to tidy mould seams on landing gear legs and other thin tubular parts that are so easy to break during clean-up. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of Abacus, who can be contacted by email at (that's an un-clickable graphic to protect his email address from screen scrapers)
