Another tip for scratch builders.. "leather" effect for water cranes etc.

[cbeckett]

I've done this before, but needed to make three chutes for my Colmans Mustard Factory.

- find a suitable tube/cylinder/whatever shape you need, in something sturdy. I've used rigid PVC, metals strips, even rigid plastic felt tip pens - something that in itself won't melt.

- wrap a piece of laminating pouch around and secure. I use nylon twine/sellotape (which melts nicely) or hospital tape (which doesn't, but leaves a "patch")

- using a paint-stripper heat gun, blast until you get the effect you want. A gentle heat will smoothly shrink the pouch: a blast will give a nice wrinkly effect. Cook, but make sure edges are sealed.

- add salt'n'pepper and paint to your taste...

Photos later!

I'm sure others have done something similar...

 

[stockers]

A great idea. I have never found a good water tower 'bag' material.

 

[cbeckett]

For this chute, I cooked the pouch for a while (20 seconds all round?) to give a really wrinkly look. Smooth look would have taken perhaps 5 - 10 seconds.

Caution - hold your components with pliers etc - this stuff gets hot!  And keep turning the item, to get an even effect (smooth or wrinkly)