Putty Problem

Hi.  I'm still pretty new to this hobby, only been building about 2 years.  I have never had any sucess with the Squadron Putty, it seems to gritty and it piles more than i would like.  I have used Mr. Surfacer, Tamiya Putty, and 3M Acryl Blue with fairly decent success.  I have found that with Surfacer, one coat won't do it.  I usually have to apply several coats (sometimes 3 or 4 coats depending on the seam to be filled.)  Tamiya putty usually fills with one coat, but again, if the seam is wide and/or deep I have had to use multiple coats of that too.  The Tamiya putty goes on "wetter", and i can manipulate it into the seam a little better.  3M Acryl blue isn;t as wet and Tamiya putty, but it too goes on smooth and cover fairly well.

The only advice I have, is to layer it on in thin coats, and slowly build it up.

Not sure how much help that is, but hopefully there is something you can use.

Take Care.

Brian

I have no problems using squadron putty with this technique:
http://www.swannysmodels.com/Seams.html

Never did like the Testors contour putty. On the other hand, if Squadron putty seems to work better when thinned with liquid cement. I've had good results using Testors liquid cement to thin Squadron green putty. The liquid cement seems to give the putty more "bite" and renders it thin enough to dry more quickly.

Also, as far as coverage goes, far better to go light and add more layers as needed, than to apply a thick layer, risk solvent damage to the underlying plastic and then still have to file and/or sand back to a smooth surface.

Try doing a search on putty or seam filling and you will get lots of advice.  Some good techniques are to use Squadron and then go over the seam with a q-tip and nail polish remover.  This works pretty well and mostly eliminates any need for sanding.  Other putties also work well with the nail polish remover technique.

 

Another tip out there that shows promise for some seams is to use different widths of stretched sprue, placing it over the seam and then using Tenax or other liquid cement to  melt the sprue bonding it to the plastic surface of the model.  Seems like this would another technique that shows promises but I have yet to personally try it myself.

 

Hope this helps you,

 

Chuck B.

I use Tamiyas basic putty and it works just fine I just use some masking tape then apply the putty sand it then take the tape off so you don't get putty or scratches on the surrounding area.

If you keep getting all aorund the seem, try laying down some masking take and then you can fill and sand and just peel off the tape.

Sometimes that's just the way it works.  If so, treat it like paint and just use multiple coats until the seam is filled.

For me the trick has been to push the putty down into the seam.  I use an artist's pallette knife (or perhaps "Spatula" is the correct term).  The blade is about 1 1/2" long, 1/4" wide, and very thin and springy.  I squeeze a little bit of putty out onto a piece of masking tape (only a little bit because it dries quickly and won't stick well once it has started to dry), get a little bit on the knife, and mash it down into the seam.

I do use Swanny's method of "Fencing" the seam with masking tape first, and then wipe it down with a Q-Tip moistened with fingernail polish remover (Acetone).  That also tends to get it down into the seam better.

^I use the same method. Tape, then putty, then Cutex nail polish remover (it's not PURE acetone -- pure acetone will destroy plastic).

Yep, I also need to apply putty at least 3 times for a good fill.

The process is like this: putty - sand - putty - sand - putty - sand.

Tamiya putty tends to shrink. So, it's a good idea to check your work the following day.