Might turn into a useful resource:

Trying to model: auto cannon
Tube diameter ~ 0.5mm
Suggestion: Staples.

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It's a good idea, but would need a LOT more detail to be useful.

Taking say a plastic imperial guard autocannon you'd need to give length and diameter meaurements for the gun barrel and the end piece, plus measurements for the gun shield and rear part and the ammo container. It would be best to list as precise as possible measurements from the 40k model as people can then choose how accurately to model their version.

There's not just one autocannon though, but many and there'd be a whole different set of measurements for a Krieg autocannon:

Or a SM autocannon:


Lastly did you mean Staples as in the office supplie store? Do they sell plasticard and plastic-rod? I hope you didn't mean actual metal staples for autocannons...

why not? - I've seen them used in conversions on here. They're nice and rigid compared to copper wire and make a good base to build off.

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Aren't they a little difficult to handle? Sharp and all. What parts would you make out of staples? Interesting idea.

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I rarely use a stapler, but most staples i see are not circular in cross section, instead tending to be more along the lines of a rounded off rectangle?

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AFK with real life, still checking PMs

good point.

they look ok here though:


biro tubing tends to be 3mm at minimum. What else would you suggest for smaller work?

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Paper clips? They come in many different diameters and can be easily cut to length with pliers. They are also very strong in short sections. I've used them as RSJ sections on terrain and they worked well for that.

This model is rather large so won't give you an idea of scale but I'm sure you can imagine that yourself:

If we are discounting brass rod, styrene rod, and similar 'conventional' solutions for more home/diy materials, you can make your own plastic rod to any thickness you want by stretching sprue. GW sprue had the wrong cross section, but sprue stretching is an easy way to make your own range of cross section plastics at custom thicknesses.

Also, try the bristles from plastic brooms and brushes, get one in a £-shop and chop away, might not take glue well though. Different toughnesses of brush for different plastic thickness.

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AFK with real life, still checking PMs

oooh. that's clever.

I've spent too many years living far away from any model shops, didn't even occur to me they'd stock rod in such small sections.

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