Model Train Journal

Scrapping or Scrapbooking is a method of preserving, presenting, arranging personal and family history in the form of a book, box, card. Typical memorabilia include photographs, printed media, and artwork.
--Wikipedia

Dan Dowdy has found a model railroad use for a scrapping tool called a "Cricut Cutting Machine."

I'll let Dan explain it, see links below.

https://youtu.be/WcTaHF-W8rE
http://oscale.uberflip.com/i/944796-mar ... 018/48?m4=
http://www.oscaleresource.com/Magazine/current.shtml

Some of the stick and tissue model airplane folks use these to cut formers and ribs.

I think Micro-Mark is marketing a similar type device.

It's intriguing. I could definitely see using it to create a unique or scarce brick pattern on a piece of styrene.

George

Holy Shites!!! That is bad to the bone!!!!!

My kid the school-teacher has a Cricut she uses for making various school materials. It's very handy, versatile, but I have to say quirky/tempermental as well. I've used it a few times to cut clear-acetate discs with center-holes, used to represent spinning props on miniature model airplanes. Useful, but one could do the same with a couple of punches made by ek-tools. Haven't tried any other applications...

Healey

This could be a game-changing technology if it is successfully applied to model railroading and scratch-building.

Imagine making a drawing of this...



And having the brickwork engraved on a sheet of styrene!!!

Wouldn't that be cool? Talk about taking model building up a notch or three!

George

How does it cut?

It's a motorized blade device, O Scale Resource magazine has a pretty good article as well as a link to a group of videos demonstrating the machine being used to cut sections for a building.

Thanks, Tom.

I'm looking at a Klic N Kut unit 15" or 24" for hobby work. It has up to 1KG of cutting force and can work with card stock, plastic, bass wood and even leather. These usually run about $450-$650. The scrap booking cutters are fine for paper and thin vinyl. Most of theses have seriously lighter cutting force. Drawback to the KlicNKut is the wight/size. It's more transportable than "portable". There are also issues of software support and connectivity. Some of the units require internet connectivity to access the necessary library files. Read reviews of any units you are considering.

Can these be used to cut out paper models?

That was the original concept, folks like us just gotta have more, more, more.

Depends on the model of the cutter. If the software supports it and it has a scanner function yes.

More functional (and more expensive) units will be found by searching for die cutting instead of vinyl cutter or scrap book cutter.

Thanks, Tom and Chuck.