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Topic: FDG FAQ (Read 2,415 times)

Afet
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FDG FAQ
« Thread Started on Sept 10, 2009, 2:36pm »

There are two sections of questions and answers here. The first is for people who are thinking about buying Fat Dragon Games products, and the second section [still being developed] is for people who have already purchased products.

Prospective Buyer FAQ

-If I were to buy an FDG product, what exactly would I get?

Each set is delivered in Adobe PDF format via internet download.

-I've never done paper modeling before. Is it complicated?

Not overly. We design our models for the first time builder, which also has the added benefit of making construction faster for experienced modelers.

-Is there a demonstration model I could try first?

Yes. There are a number of free models available in the "Free Stuff" section of the Fat Dragon Games website that you can download and try your hand at. You'll also find a Free Beginners Guide there, which includes a simple wall section.

-How are these models assembled?

There are essentially 5 steps:
1) You view the set in pdf, choose which pieces you want and, if applicable, customize the pieces with Dragon Layers (see below).
2)You print the pdf images for a given model onto card stock (see below)
3) you cut out the pieces;
4) you fold the pieces; and
5) you glue the pieces together.

-What materials/tools would I need to do this?

The Free Beginners Guide goes into more detail, but to get started you'll need a color printer, a pack of 110lb (199 g/m²) card stock paper, paper glue, a hobby knife and a straight edge.

-Are these paper models strong enough?

Yes, I still have original E-Z Dungeons prototype models that are over four years old and still look great.

-Do I need a fancy craft robo to cut these out?

Absolutely not! As mentioned above, these are designed for the beginner modeler for assembly with just a few basic hobby tools. But we do provide .gsd files for most of our sets.

-What the heck is a craft robo or, for that matter, a .gsd file?

A craft robo (there are a number of names and brands) is a specialized desktop robotic paper cutting machine. And .gsd is a file format used by these machines

-What kind of printer would I need?

Either a color inkjet or color laser printer. If you're using a laser printer, you'll want make sure the paper feed is fairly direct, so that it doesn't roll the card stock too much.

-What are Dragon Layers?

Dragon Layers is a customization feature that lets you modify the model art before printing. It uses a function in Adobe Acrobat that allows you to turn parts of an image on or off

-Are FDG's models in 25mm or 30mm scale?

They are approximately 28mm scale, perfect for both miniature sizes.

-Are there versions without grids?

Yes, for some models.

-Can these models be scaled for use with model railroads or other gaming scales, like 15mm?

Yes. Adobe PDF files can be scaled for printing.

What kind of product support is there?

-Fat Dragon Games has an active, fun and welcoming forum community where you can get help from more experienced modelers.

Customer FAQ
This section is still under development. But feel free to post a question, no matter how basic, in the Tips and Tricks area of the forum.

General

-How do Dragon Layers work?
-Where's a good place to pick up supplies like paper, glue, knives, etc...?

Printing
-I'm printing in A4 format and it's cutting off part off the image.
-I'm printing in regular letter format and it's cutting off part of the image.

Try setting the printer to "auto-rotate and center", and make sure the scaling is set to none.

-What printers are best for A4 format?
-Should I get an ink jet or a laser printer?
-How do I change the print size for different model scales?

Paper size, card-stock and foam-core
-What kind of paper/cardstock should I get?
-Why do some brands of 110lb card stock seem thicker than other brands of 110lb card stock?.
-What do you mean by 110# index?
-What does GSM mean?
-What do all these paper weights mean?
-Where's a good place to pick up paper, glue, knives, etc...?

-What is foam core?

Foam core is a generic term, used in North America, for a cardboard-like material that consists of layer of styrene foam laminated on top and bottom with a paper based material. Here is a close-up image: [image]

Foam core goes by many names outside of North America. It is also known generically in English as "foam board". In Germany it is known as "Leichtschaumplatte". It is also known in Europe by brand names such as "Kapa-Line", "Laminil", "Polyplat"and "Gatorfoam".

In North America it is most commonly sold in art and craft supply stores, as well as office supply stores. It comes in many colors. Black is used for FDG's demo models, but white is usually the cheapest and works fine

-Is all foam core a standard thickness and size?

Foam core is manufactured and sold in many thicknesses and dimensions. The most commonly available thickness (and this is the kind we have in mind for building FDG models) is 3/16" (5mm). In North America it is most commonly sold in 20"x30" sheets.

General skills and tools
-How do I start building these things?

In answer to this and the following questions, we recommend that you start out by watching Ron Purvis's Introduction to Cardstock Modelling.

Glue
-What kind of glue works best?

Tools
-What kind of knife works best?
-What kind of markers work best for edging?
-Where's a good place to pick up supplies like paper, glue, knives, etc...?
-What is a rabbit cutter?

Cutting, scoring & building technique
-What is edging?
-How do I score?
-How do I reverse-score?
-My walls end up twisted and/or crooked. What am I doing wrong?
-Should I seal my models & tiles with a spray sealer?
-How can I build these pieces faster?
-What pieces should I build first and how many should I make of each?

Storage and usage
-How should I store my models?
-How can I protect my models from humidity?
-How can I keep my models and tiles from slipping around on the table?
-How can I keep the smaller pieces (furniture, crates, pillars, etc.) in a set from being knocked over or pushed around?

« Last Edit: Sept 19, 2011, 11:31am by Afet »