I dealt with this recently on my custom build. I used a combination of a rivet clamp from Marco (which worked well, but only near edges where the tool could fit) and the hammer and punch you mentioned. This method is okay with some preparation and self-control. Place the plastics upside-down (so the round rivet heads face downwards) on top of something very hard and rigid; mostly I used the anvil surface of a benchtop vise. MAKE SURE to put down something protective, such as a rag, so the plastic doesn't get scratched by that surface. Place your center punch on the backside of each rivet, and give it a few taps with the hammer. You will be able to see the rivet being flared out as it happens (assuming you are using similar sized rivets/punch as I did), so vary your hammering strength so that you fill the gap between plastic and rivet, but don't overdo it or you will squeeze the plastic and make spiderweb cracks.

In contrast, pop rivets - the type with a hole after assembly - require a lot of force to apply, and are very likely to damage the plastic in the process.

You may want to wait for others to chime in about this before proceeding, but this method worked very well for me.

Not solid, but tubular. (Definitely don't use pop-rivets)
Search pinside for HT-174 and you'll find posts about hand rivet clinchers & sqeezer dies from Hanson.

Or build a die press from a Harbor Freight arbor press.

Or send/give your stuff to someone local to do the work. (best option for 1-off)

Yes... before I built my press, I mounted the squeezer die in a block of (hard) wood. Or put in a vise.
Sometimes you need to be creative depending on where the rivet is, in relation to ramp/plastics curves, edges, switches, etc.

You dont really need the domed die.
Hammer it on a piece of oak or maple. It will preserve the surface.

I use a piece off an old oak pallet.

I have also used the endgrain cut of a piece of 2x4 in my vice.

Good results.

If you want you can make the domed die out of a 1/2" lag screw or hex bolt by grinding out the center a little with a demel, drill bit or grinding wheel and put it in a vise or piece of wood.

I was having a look at what you did with your homebrew. I like it. I've been mulling over different ramp options. I fully welded mine out of steel, but I like your plastic metal rivots combo... Then there's vac forming, dont think I will be good at that one

I sure wasn't! I finally settled on the hybrid design because it looks at least half modern, definitely a bit industrial, doesn't require ramp protectors but does let you see through it, etc. Definitely use rivets instead of screws for mounting, or else you'll have a lot of screws falling out.

That thing looks awesome...I need one.

nice tool !

Which size rivet did you buy to use with the HT30E and star wars plastics? I'm finding myself lost with all the choices available online!

how much that tool set you back?

I use a rivet press. Small arbor press was like 25$ at Harbor Freight and long ago on RGP someone was selling the rivet heads. Have used it for Many years and love it.

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That is the same setup I got. I think I got the mod kit from pinrestore.com.
Love it. Like $90 all in

The squeezer is about $100 and the die sets can run ~$30

Thanks for the Hanson recommendation. I just called them and they were great. Couple minutes on the phone and they had me set up with what I needed. Their pricing on the hand rivet tools is actually pretty decent too from what I was finding everywhere else - - plus it was nice to actually talk to someone and know that everything I'm getting is going to work together properly.

It is great and use this same one too. The hand one looks nice as well and I'll admit there's a few times that a larger throat would help fitting some odd things to rivet. I do have mine mounted on a bench which could be why though. The hand clincher may have some advantages in that case.

I actually have this one but bought my own arbor press from HF and used their die sets. Have both long and short as you use them more than you think as well as master rivet set. They're good people and prices are reasonable.

https://www.pinrestore.com/Riveting.html

The right tools make all the difference in the world.