Advice on magnets (please)

[emptyhat]

Can I get some recommendations for the best dimensions and types of magnets to use when modelling the weapon arms for Killa Kans and other tank sized projects.

Oh and if you guys have any other nuggets of magnet wisdom my ears are open.

[Empirespy]

1 major tip,
paint he outside edge of the magnet, then scrape it off later, it's horrible when you accidentally put them in the wrong way, the scrap off the paint.
As for sizes for a killer kan, 3/16" x 1/16" should be the right sort of size, either that or 1/4" x 1/16" Disc, but I think they might be too big.

Hope this helps

[upguardsandatem]

Back on IGMB after a long xmas break! Well I must be honest, I'm fairly new to the use of magnets and have figured it all out by trail and error. I've used them to make all the weapons on my chimera interchangeable ( commissar.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=picpost&action=display&thread=14436 ).

This is probably common knoledge already but the best magnets to use are neodymium magnets. Size wise really depends on what you need to magnetise I guess (I'm afraid I'm not familar with killer kans), I brought one size (4x2mm) then needed to buy smaller ones for the turret weapons (2x1mm), so having a couple of sizes will be usefull. Although powerful for their size and able to hold things in place they aren't super secure, but they do the job. They're really not too expensive either. Looks like your UK based emptyhat so I's suggest using ebay, thats where I got mine, just search neodymium magnets and it will list all the sizes. Modelling sizes tend to only be £3-4.

Hope my inane ramblins are of some use.

Oh, make sure that when you finally glue them in place that the correct poles are aligned!!! I learn that lesson the hard way!!

[3ff3ct]

^ what he said. I think that the ones I use the most are the 3x2mm ones, and don't end up being too expensive.

What Empirespy said is very true, however I usually drill the holes (oh yeah, BUY A HANDDRILL AND DRILL BIT TOO!!! It helps if theres a bit of room to play with. Mine's 3.2 mm) and then stick one magnet in, then use that to put the other magnets in (IE put one in the arm, put glue in the arm socket and stick it in using the magnet stuck to the one on the arm).

That way an idiot like me won't get them the wrong way round!

I think my drill, drill bits and magnets came to £10-15, and I've still got a few left (after magnetising everything ever!!) If you would like some tutorials or whatever then I'm sure I could do one, it's not too hard once you've done it.

Killa Kanz eh? ;D

[emptyhat]

Okay I've ordered some magnets.

3ff3ct, you mean to drill a slot for the magnet to fit into the model? Or am I being slow?
At any rate I'd happily magpie your knowledge if you want to do a tutorial.

[3ff3ct]

Yes

And no you're not being slow, I probably overcomplicated that...