Help for a returning modeler please

I use auto body putty. It used to be called spot putty- is now called glazing putty.

But for gaps over a sixteenth of an inch, I fill as best I can with plastic (styrene) strips first.  I always keep a package of eighth inch by 0.020 strips on hand for that purpose (narrowing them if needed).

Sprue bits or Evergreen stock for large or structural fills. Tamiya gray, Mr. Surfacer or PPP as needed and best suited.

Patrick

MrDave

I am returning to the hobby after a "few" years. How would you guys/gals fill in the joints where ? I have tried using Perfect Plastic Putty.  I'm not sure it would work well for this large an opening.  I have also used super glue for a few seams.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Depending on the size of the seam or gap, I use the following methods.

For narrower seams, or the usual seams like along the top or bottom of an aircraft fuselage, say, a millimeter or so, I use either of these methods: 

I use Squadron white putty, thinned with acetone.  I apply the putty into the seam, and then run a cotton swab soaked in acetone across the seam, to remove the excess. Or I will mix some putty and a couple drops of acetone in a glass jar, stirring till I have a slurry, and I apply this to the seam with an old paint brush.  I call this my home-made Mr. Surfacer.  I use Mr. Surfacer, too, the 1000 and 1200 grades, but I find that it takes several applications, because, as George Costanza said, "There's shrinkage!"

For these thin seams, I also like to use stretched sprue laid into the seam, and then glued with liquid styrene cement.  I like this, because the material is uniform.

I also try to avoid seams like these, by using the "squeeze" method.  I'll glue the parts with liquid styrene cement, then squeeze them to extrude a little melted plastic along the seam.  When it cures, it's easy to scrape and sand away that excess, and again, I have a uniform join.

For larger seams, gaps, really, I will fill the gap with styrene sheet scraps, and flow liquid styrene cement into this, again, for the uniform material.  Or, if the gap is too wide, I will use 2-part epoxy putty, like Milliput, or Aves A&B, to fill the gap.  If necessary, I'll add scraps into the gap, too, to provide additional support structure for the putty.

MrDave

I just realized(9/18/17) that I have to pay Photobucket to share my images here.  Do you vets have any other suggestions, since a pic is worth a thousand words?

Thanks.

I switched to Postimg.org.  It's a free hosting site, but it is a little bare-bones.  There is no editing feature, though, since I edit the files on my laptop before I upload them, it's not a problem.  The album file system is pretty much a flat (one-level) order.

I'm still using my Photobucket account, till the end of next year.  I already had a paid account, when they started increasing the ad content, which triggered the fiasco.  PB will continue to provide the photos for links used throughout the Web, till the end of 2018.

Hope that all helps!

Best regards,

Brad

I use PPP, but, I have not had to fill a very large gap yet. A picture will help when you can get one uploaded.

I use imgur for my photo hosting. It was suggested by other members here and does work well. 

Tamiya gray putty

Fotki

I don't post often here but maybe look into Flickr. I have had the 'pro' account for years but I think the free one they offer does almost all the same things for posting and sharing pictures.