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Removing dried Tamiya Putty

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  • Member since
    May 2016
Removing dried Tamiya Putty
Posted by Hobbie on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 1:14 AM

Good morning everyone,

I dug out a 1/35 Tamiya Tiger from my parents's attic that I let sleep for a solid 15 years.

As I was unexperienced and that aftermarket parts were hard to come by, I covered the unglued parts in grey Tamiya putty and tried to recreate the zimmerit with a scalpel blade.

That's the point where you start throwing stones at me. Fair enough. Black Eye

The kit is unbuilt and full ; I can still use it if I manage to take out the putty and slap some aftermarket zimmerit in its place.

I made a rather successful trial on the front panel : Q-tip, aceton, then Revell airbrush cleaner.

Still, considering the tedious aspect, the amount of airbrush cleaner required and the toxic fumes festival that it represents, I wonder if someone would have other advices.

Thanks already :-)

Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig in the mud : after a while, you realize the pig likes it.

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 10:20 AM

You could stick it in a covered container overnight to let it do its work. Just a thought. Perhaps other will chime in.

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 11:30 AM

Ask yourself if the effort is worth the $ 30 or so a new kit would cost, and would the results be equal.

All of the other parts that don't have putty on them are useful for other projects.

 

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    May 2016
Posted by Hobbie on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 1:46 PM

BlackSheep, I thought about it but I fear the aceton starts to attack the plastic if I leave the parts in for too long... I maybe wrong on this though...

Gmorrison : good point... it's just that knee-jerk reaction, shame to let it go to waste ;-) but I must say I tend to agree with you...

Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig in the mud : after a while, you realize the pig likes it.

  • Member since
    September 2017
  • From: Netherlands
Posted by Sailing_Dutchman on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 2:04 PM

I am with Gmorrison, but if you want to use the same kit you could try grinding/sanding it off. Tamiya putty is solvant based and will melt some of the plastic to create a firm bond that is quite difficult to remove. Any solvent that can remove the putty will also damage the plastic underneath.

   

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 2:28 PM

Try slipping it in a plastic garbage bag and put it in the freezer overnight; it might make the putty brittle enough to be chipped off more easily with a scraper or a wire brush.

Good luck.

 

 

 

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 4:54 PM

If you have a Dremel tool I would suggest using a grinding bit and a very deft steady touch to remove the putty. Since you’re going to add on AM zimmerit to recoat it, any small dings to the base surface are no big deal.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 10:39 PM

All great ideas from putting in the freezer to using a dremel tool . Heck why not stick it in the freezer then use a dremel tool? Or buy a new kit.

Look at it this way, if you decide to buy a new one, save the old kit for spare parts.

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 10:59 PM

BlackSheepTwoOneFour

All great ideas from putting in the freezer to using a dremel tool . Heck why not stick it in the freezer then use a dremel tool? Or buy a new kit.

Look at it this way, if you decide to buy a new one, save the old kit for spare parts.

 

I like the way this man thinks. About the moment where the OP finally gets all of the putty off, he realizes that the assembly was a earlier skill set. Don't ask me how I know.

AFA the method used, Back in the day there was no such thing as AM Zim. We all did that thing with Squadron putty. I liked it. 

 

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    May 2016
Posted by Hobbie on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 1:20 AM

Thanks a lot for the tips, guys! This big kitten ain't a priority for now anyway, and like GMorrison reminded, I can get the same or even more recent issues, less troublesome and with most goodies included, but I'll try to salvage it anyway - I won't lose any sleep if I can't!

I think a mix of all this should help : freezing and dremeling the biggest chunks, then cleaning up the rest with a Q-tip... If I get there, I'll try to keep you posted ;-) Thanks for your help!

Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig in the mud : after a while, you realize the pig likes it.

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