Filling Panel Lines on AMT E-A

When I need to fill a panel line, I use CA and CA accelerator. I dab the glue into the seam a tiny drop at a time with a tooth pick. I hit it with accelerator every little bit and wet sand with 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper. I've had the best luck with this method. If you use filler sometimes a "phantom" seam will reappear later.

Man, I don't think am am up for filling that many seams with CA glue! Oh well they have to stay. i have never used accelerator...
Though i know if you mix CA and testors model glue [one on side and one the other of the piece] it dries faster...

I just puttied the saucer for one of mine and used the Testors brand red putty. It worked great and sanding was a breeze. You can putty right over all the panel lines and then before it has time to set run a piece of styrene through the ones you don't want filled. They clean up easy.

Matt

What did you use to spread the putty? I have some of the Testor's grey putty [contour putty]. Can any one tell me the difference?

Sand them off the entire model.You'll be happier with the results.Rescribe th e lines you need as you go along. the model wall are plenty thick enough to accomodate both the sanding and scribing. It may sound like alot of work but either way you'll have to sand the entire surface.if you fill with CA you can bet you will sand and refill certain areas multiple times.

By the way, if you hit the CA with accelerator it will be rock hard and very dificult to sand. My suggestion any time you're going to use the CA to fill and sand cure it with baking soda and sand immediately. Work small areas at a timethe longer you leave it curing the harder it will get. Empty a Visine dropper and fill it with baking soda. apply the CA then squeeze the Visine dropper softly and astream of baking soda wiil cure the CA.

QUOTE: Originally posted by MartianGundamModeler What did you use to spread the putty? I have some of the Testor's grey putty [contour putty]. Can any one tell me the difference?

I'm not sure of the make up of the putty but the red seems to be more ply-able and feathers less than the gray or white putty. It also bonds a little better to the plastic in my use of it. Others my have different results. The nice thing is you can see your work as the red shows up nicely on most model surfaces. To spread it I used a piece of styrene and just replaced it as needed. To keep me out of the putty I worked around the saucer in 1/3 sections at a time untill dry. Hope this helps a little.

Here are a couple of links to mine:
http://www.modelhead.com/images/saucer1.jpg
http://www.modelhead.com/images/saucer2.jpg

Matt

Thanks for the pics maxx! Yeah i like how the red shows up.
Jimmyd30 i just found out yesturday about how thick that plastic is! i was sanding the enginering hull yesturday, I shaved the pylon hard points off, and noticed that I was shaving most of the panel lines as well! SWEET! I am relocating the pylons to the side of the hull. i have not decided whether to angle them or not...
Also if you look at the first pic maxx posted I have cut out the center divider between those holes in the top of the bridge deck to make one large hole. I am going to plase a peice of plastic sheet underneath and create a "sunken bridge" similar to Voyager and Defiant.

EDIT: Spelling corrections.

I like the sound of your idea it should make for a cool subject. Can't wait to see some pics of this.

Matt

Well I just signed up for an account at "Free photo". I have a digital camera that i haven't figured out yet but hopefull I can post som picks this week end. Tough I have been model building for the past 20 years this is my first major kit bash. i have learned alot about sanding and putty in the last week!!
Wait till you guys see what I did with the navigational deflector! I cut it out and deepened it by simply placing a drink bottle cap behind the hole. It gives the impression of an Excelsior style dish. But keep in mind this is not an "old style" soda bottle cap that has spiral grooves. In stead it has these little notches aranged in a sort of step like pattern. Any way you just have to look in a 2 liter coke bottle cap to see what I mean...
Any ways what are some good sites to store the photoes to link them to the site?