A quick dumb question ...
I've seen several posters mention a product called Mr. Surfacer. What excactly is it and how is it used. Thanks in advance

Mr surfacer is a liquad putty used to fill seems and other small imperfections such as small srcatches and sink marks . Apply with the brush it comes with . Let it dry and the sand away .

Thanks for the reply ..is it like a liquid putty? Have you used the product? If so, how effective is it?

That is pretty much it. although you can get in spray form also.
I think it is well worth having course sometimes you gotta have the green stuff

Hello Hermann,
I have used Mr. Surfacer 1200. It's almost like a primer that can be brushed to repair spot/seam imperfections or sprayed with an airbrush as a primer. It is easily thinned with laquer thinner and dries quickly. I've used it on figure/vehicle assembly. I've seen it used to add texture to armor plate, but I've never used it for that. I am hoping to build an AFV in the near future and give it a try.
HTH

I still haven't tried them myself, although I have a bottle of each (my production time is really low lately).
Here is a link with information on each of the types and how to use them:
http://www.swannysmodels.com/Surfacer.html

I've never used Mr Surfacer, but have tried using Tip-Ex correction fluid to fill small gaps/imperfections; it works quite well.

One correction is Mr Surfacer does not come with a brush in it.
Great for adding cast surface to tanks and filling seams great stuff.
Sometimes hard to get.
Price also keeps climbing my old bottle of 500 has a sticker price of $3.59 new bottle of 1200 has a price of $5.89 so it will go up best to buy as much as possible will stay good for years and Lacquer thinner is the solvent.

Question about Mr. Surfacer, which version is most appropriate for replicating the typical casting texture seen on a WWII tank? Or, better yet, what exactly is the difference between all the different versions of Mr. Surfacer (500, 1000, 1200, etc.)?

It is pretty much the same system as sand paper. The higher the number, the finer the grit, as well the higher the number the thinner the mixture is.

I would use 500 for filling seams, just because it is thicker and will fill the seam faster.

1000 is good for doing textures on tanks, and filling fine scratches.

1200 is best left as a primer, as it is very thin compared to the 500 and 1000, very fine scratches, and can also be used for texture on tanks.