Hi all,
I am looking for a putty or filler for styrene that gives good results, any ideas or experiences?[%-)]
Thanks
Nige.
Hello … I use Testors contour putty. It is available in 5/8 fl oz tunes (18 ml).
Happy Model Railroading
I use the old “red lead” auto body scratch filler. Squardon putty works well too. Comes in white and green. Both sand well and are paintable.
Are both those putties toxic? You know, the fumes and all. Is there any “safe” filler that you know of?
That depends on your definition of toxic. Squadron green putty contains Toluene and the tube warns you to keep it out of the reach of children and to not smoke and to avoid contact with eyes and skin. But I have applied it numerous times with a bare fingertip and have not had any adverse effects from it.
You’ll be applying it in such small quantities that you probably won’t even notice a smell.
I think everything is regarded as toxic by the State of California.
I’m using the Testors. Works pretty good and has hardly any smell.
I use bondo almost exclusively. I often apply it with my fingertips and I still have all of my digits intact! Just follow the safety precautions and use common sense and it is as safe as (and works better than) any “non-toxic” substitute.
-George
This is an excellent make-it-yourself project!
Back in those thrilling days of yesteryear - remember the Lone Ranger radio program - before gap filling super glue and the like one procedure frequently advanced in the hobby press for creating a filler was to disolve styrene in plastic cement. I had occasion to try this on a non-railroad item a few years back using Plastruct Plastic Weld. I apparently am not the only one who has tried this method because at a clinic in St Louis in 2001 one of the presenters said that he saved the casting sprues from HO Scale structure kits to use for this specific purpose. He used Ambroid Plastic Weld and ground his sprue plastic to a fine powder using an old pencil sharpener.
I used an old Floquil paint jar as my mixing vessel.
Either Squadron Green or White putty is what I use. I also use Mr. Surfacer 500 or 1000 for real fine applications where there is only a minor seam to fill. Mr. Disolved putty works well too.
The higher the number for Mr Surfacer is the finer the coating. It’s sort of like a primer and filler all in one. You use a brush for application.
3M Blue Acryl is good too. You can get it at better auto body shops and auto part stores. Sands very well and takes paint nicely.
-G-
Bondo, when the tube’s available, Crest toothpaste in a pinch.
Hi George,
Who makes bondo? There is a big expanse of water between us and sometimes the names change by the time they get here![:)]
Nige.
I will give it a try sounds interesting!
Thanks!
Nige.
Bondo is primarily used as a crack/dent/ding filler on automobile bodies. Looks like it is made by 3M
Mr G,
How makes Squadron Green and white putty? What is Mr Surfacer used for normally? Again, being that the names or brands change over here I might need to look for an equivalent brand!
Thanks for the advice!
Nige.
Thanks Dan!