[DSM-Mark]

Well, anybody who's done some scratchbuilding or modifications has bought some strange stuff for different reasons. You go into the store and look for something, knowing full well it won't be used for anything even remotely close to what it was intended for.

So, what have you bought that's unconventional? This should also help give some people ideas...


My most recent thing was a good mesh. I wanted a little bit of a heavy mesh to detail the back of my Revell Spider, which now opens, but opens to a big hole (I kinda jumped the gun on the project). I originally went to the store looking for mosquito netting that I could cut up, but they didn't have any. Then I thought of an mesh emery cloth used to polish metal, but couldn't find any of that either. However, it led me to a sanding mesh that is used to coursely sand drywall mud. This stuff is very dense, with little holes in the mesh. Comes blackish-brown. Bought 2 sheets of the stuff for $2. Misted black spray paint on it, and got the exact effect I was looking for. Very happy! For silver mesh, I've also noticed that wire strainers used for straining gravy would work well...

Others - engine detail wiring. Still haven't found a good substitute. Have to try some of thread and guitar wire I'm hearing about. My bro plays guitar and breaks strings from time to time......


Just keeping it cheap, peeps!

Any that you use, ever?