Wanted to see how far I can push this cardboard n- glue thing. Took some cardboard, popsickle sticks, and hot glue and started on my Cardboard Hiss Tank build. Not really using plans, just horsing around while watching evening TV.







Hopefully will be able to do updates as I go along...

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That would be perfect for dio-shot and scenes that would require an interior shot. I reminds me of the shot of the Hiss from the comic #17 (if I'm right) where he's fighting Hawk? on top of it.

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I looked up the comic -- issue #16.

The cool thing was, the HISSes in that comic had a different, two-seater cockpit
and canopy on them, pretty cool. If this cardboard HISS turns out well, I might try
for a larger model that is a two-seater.

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I'm not sure how to say it without sounding like a jerk, because I really like a lot of your stuff, VM. But this cardboard kick seems like wasted effort to me. Obviously you have a good eye for the parts and the shapes. And you also have a steady hand to make the proper cuts and angles... so why not use those skills in a medium that can produce an actual useable, fun toy by working in styrene or something similar?

I'll be happy to eat my hat if the final products end up looking like they weren't made of cardboard. But as it stands, they look like they are made for paper-doll Joes, not the real deal. If you have the time to invest in going this far with it, I can only think of how cool this might be in plastic form.

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This is hilarious. Keep it up!

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No worries, it's all good, you didn't sound like a jerk.
We'll see how this comes out in cardboard first. I get the feeling that once things get painted
it'll be a ton better.

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ok, cool. In addition to a lot of the textured paper techniques that people suggested in the other thread, I wonder is there is anything else that can be done to improve upon durability as you go? Not literally paper mache, but some kind of varnish maybe to harden it once you have it shaped right?

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Wow Vid, I love what your doing with cardboard. Its great to see what could be done cheaply for dio pieces and background shots. I think playset parts can also work if done right.

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Ok, did more work tonight:

I deviated from the shape of the original HISS somewhat, but for some good reasons:


I added a backdoor that swings down ala' Sigma 6:



And a top that can swing up to allow for better play:


The gunner is now seated at a stationary turret but will have full 3-d controls:


The canopy reverse-opens... it was easier this way, and I think it helps to
set my design apart:


There's an extra pad of space inside the canopy for controls


A last shot; enough work for tonight!

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Your modifications o the design are ingenious and amplify the HiSS's play value about ten-fold.

I agree to some extent that, once you've perfected the design, you should transition to the styrene medium. You could make a mint.

Y'know, I've looked occasionally for styrene at Michaels and Jo Anns and have
not had much luck. Haven't tried Hobby Lobby yet but where do you guys get
sheet styrene?

One thing I'd be concerned with is that some of the "hinges" I used rely on the
flexibility of cardboard to bend. Don't know if styrene could be as useful there,
but maybe I could combine the two and have styrene sheets with a cardboard
(or other) hinge.


I did tape and paint work last night. Tonight (hopefully) is finish-paint and
addition of decals. I also switched out those popsickle stick cannons
for spring-loaded missile launchers. Hope to add more photos tonight.

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Doll house door hinges would work for you hinges your thinking of. Or so I've been told and seen some do it with flying models and such for opening cockpits and the like.

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I only wonder will the paint flex, or crack when the cardboard hinges bend?

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Look for a Hobby Town USA. They'll sell both Plastruct and Evergreen brand styrene products.

To make your hinge you need 2 products. 1 styrene rod of a specific diameter (your choice) and 1 styrene tube with a specific inner diameter (same size as your previous choice)

Basicly you want a tube with a rod that fits perfectly inside of it.
Cut the Rod and Tube to your required lengths.
Then Cut the Tube into 3 equal parts. (You can also choose to cut it 1/4, 1/2, 1/4...depending on the look you want.)
Reassemble your tube on your rod. Glue the center section of tube to one side of the item being hinged.
Glue the two outer sections of tube to the other side of the item being hinged.
If needed, glue the rod into one or the other half of the hinged item (Not both)
It should look and work like a Piano Hinge.

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Last WIP shots, covered the edges with tape then
spray painted black. I still didn't like how the canopy
came out kinda bull-nosed.







I will follow-up with another post for the final shots.

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