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Masking with silly putty - where am I going wrong ?

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  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Pineapple Country, Queensland, Australia
Masking with silly putty - where am I going wrong ?
Posted by Wirraway on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 6:08 AM

Painting a two-tone USMC Hawker Harrier (The Old Monogram kit)  The silly putty has "melted" and is proving hard to get off.  Its about  80 degrees here, is it just too hot ?  I've put the model in the refrigerator for a while to try and make the putty a bit stiffer, hopefull it will peel off, which it hasnt wanted to do so far, its been like trying to peel off melted chocolate.

"Growing old is inevitable; growing up is optional"

" A hobby should pass the time - not fill it"  -Norman Bates

 

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  • Member since
    October 2012
  • From: Mt. Washington, KY
Posted by Geezer on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 7:06 AM

My experience is limited, but seems that by its nature that is what Silly Putty does. It is pretty good to fill wheel wells and other openings, just for that reason. Blue Tack or something similar seems to be the medium of choice for masking camo. That or you paint immediately after applying.

To remove, perhaps a ball of SP and you could dab it on the remaining bits?

Oh, by the way, you can buy a 5 pound blob of it from the Crayola web site. only 79.99!

Lyle.

www.spamodeler.com/forum/index.php 

Mediocraties - my favorite Greek model builder. 

 

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: MN
Posted by Nathan T on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 11:38 AM

Yikes!! I cringe when I see silly putty all over a model by someone posting pics on a forum. Sometimes it goes ok, sometimes it goes wrong. I hope the fridge trick helps you. What I do for semi-soft edge camo that I can't freehand, is trace the camo pattern on heavy tracing paper, the kind you get at hobby Lobby. Then cut it out and roll up small dots of blue tack and place it on the underside of the mask, then lightly place it on the model. Thus you need less blue tack, and you can insure the correct pattern cause its been traced out. I've had good luck with the Loctite brand blue tack, and if any stays on the model, just do what Lyle said and use some to dab it off cause it will stick to itself.

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 3:16 PM

Nathan T

Yikes!! I cringe when I see silly putty all over a model by someone posting pics on a forum. Sometimes it goes ok, sometimes it goes wrong.

I've been using SP for masking for decades, and never had any particular problem with it--though I will admit high temps aren't the best conditions to use it. As for taking it off, if using a ball of the stuff to pull up the remnants doesn't work, remember that the original Silly Putty is soluable in alcohol. (Can't say whether other-brand similar products are or not.) It's a little messy, but it should get rid of it.

If there is a trick to using it for masking, I guess it would be to leave it on for as short a period as possible. It's technically a type of "non-Newtonian fluid," so it will flow given enough time. I've left it overnight with no problems, but I wouldn't want to push much more than that.

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Pineapple Country, Queensland, Australia
Posted by Wirraway on Friday, November 15, 2013 2:50 AM

Thanks guys.  A night in the refrigerator made a big difference.  Cant say I'll be in a hurry to use it again tho....

"Growing old is inevitable; growing up is optional"

" A hobby should pass the time - not fill it"  -Norman Bates

 

GIF animations generator gifup.com

  • Member since
    May 2012
Posted by SKEATA on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 5:46 AM

Hi Wirraway.

I've tried to get silly putty down in Adelaide and was told it comes from overseas and is on the banned list

as a danger to young children ( no consideration for use much older kids LOL) 

Have tried using play-doe with disastrous affects to mask the front of a HAS-3 RAN blue /white

Tried blue tack but am still finding it stuck to most things except the place I want!!!

Have stripped all paint off and will try something else , don'nt want to buy masks ,sort of  takes a bit away from it ( no offence to  those who do Smile  

Skeata

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