Tools & Supplies
Discussions on the latest and greatest tools, glues, and gadgets.
Discussions on the latest and greatest tools, glues, and gadgets.
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Tamiya v. Bondo v. Dissolved Putty
retiredyank
Member Since: June 29, 2009
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Posted: Friday, February 27, 2015 - 01:47 AM UTC
I'm sure this has been discussed, but I am at odds with the search engine. I have been using Bondo, for years and Mr. Dissolved Putty for a year. I am wondering if I should invest in a tube of Tamiya putty. Can anybody explain to me the pros and cons of Tamiya putty?
justsendit
Member Since: February 24, 2014
entire network: 3,033 Posts
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Posted: Saturday, February 28, 2015 - 07:45 AM UTC
Matt, Tamiya Putty (white) is all I know.
Pros:
Fills holes, gaps and joints well.
Bonds well to Styrene and Resin.
Fine grain.
Sands easily.
White is easy to see.
Thin with Lacquer Thinner, or Tamiya Extra Thin Cement (my preference).
Cure time is reasonable (overnight for best results).
Takes acrylic primer well.
Inexpensive.
Cons:
Dries-out quickly on work palette (refer to thinning).
Not great for sculpting, though not impossible.
Lacquer odor work in a well ventilated area (SOP).
HTH.
Pros:
Fills holes, gaps and joints well.
Bonds well to Styrene and Resin.
Fine grain.
Sands easily.
White is easy to see.
Thin with Lacquer Thinner, or Tamiya Extra Thin Cement (my preference).
Cure time is reasonable (overnight for best results).
Takes acrylic primer well.
Inexpensive.
Cons:
Dries-out quickly on work palette (refer to thinning).
Not great for sculpting, though not impossible.
Lacquer odor work in a well ventilated area (SOP).
HTH.
retiredyank
Member Since: June 29, 2009
entire network: 11,610 Posts
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Posted: Saturday, February 28, 2015 - 05:18 PM UTC
Is there any problem, with it shrinking?
justsendit
Member Since: February 24, 2014
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Posted: Saturday, February 28, 2015 - 07:57 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Is there any problem, with it shrinking?
I haven't noticed any shrinking with filled-in holes/joints on vehicles with flat or rounded surfaces sands flush very nicely. And again, the white makes it very easy to see what you are doing.
I don't try to fill larger gaps exclusively with putty, I'll usually glue-in sprue shavings or Evergreen Styrene strips/wedges for added strength. The putty interacts very well with the Styrene and Tamiya 'Extra Thin Cement.'
With figures, I apply thinned Tamiya putty to joints, making certain there is enough putty built-up when cured. After which, sanding and shaping is relatively painless ... except for the figures!
retiredyank
Member Since: June 29, 2009
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Posted: Sunday, March 01, 2015 - 04:35 PM UTC
For figures, I think I will stick with dissolved putty. I should get paid, tomorrow and will order a tube of the white putty.
Unreality
Member Since: November 04, 2010
entire network: 172 Posts
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Posted: Tuesday, March 03, 2015 - 08:06 AM UTC
Never heard of using bondo. How exactly do you use/apply it?
Namabiiru
Associate Editor
#399
Member Since: March 05, 2014
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Posted: Tuesday, March 03, 2015 - 12:00 PM UTC
I rather like the Tamiya white putty, although as has been pointed out already, it hardens quite a bit faster than I really like. I have never tried thinning it, but if that slows the cure time I need to give it a try. So far the Tamiya white putty seems to be my best option for doing Zimmerit, but I haven't gotten the nerve to try it on anything more than a test piece.
retiredyank
Member Since: June 29, 2009
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Posted: Tuesday, March 03, 2015 - 02:39 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Never heard of using bondo. How exactly do you use/apply it?
You apply it just like any semi-solid putty. Let cure and sand. The generic works just as well. One problem is that it separates, over time. So, you have to mix it, before application.
SSGToms
Member Since: April 02, 2005
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Posted: Sunday, March 08, 2015 - 12:26 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Never heard of using bondo. How exactly do you use/apply it?
Not Bondo, the auto body filler with resin hardener. Red Bondo spot putty in the tube. Officially labeled " Bondo Glazing & Spot Putty".
Great stuff for models, a $5 tube lasts 10 years.
retiredyank
Member Since: June 29, 2009
entire network: 11,610 Posts
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Posted: Monday, March 09, 2015 - 03:02 AM UTC
The mailman brought my putty, today. I'm working on a P40 that will need it. I'll post my opinion, as I am able to use it.
retiredyank
Member Since: June 29, 2009
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Posted: Tuesday, March 24, 2015 - 04:28 AM UTC
I like how the Tamiya putty sands and accepts plastic cement. I find Bondo is still better for larger holes and Mr. Dissolved Putty is better for small gaps. Each has it's purpose.
Namabiiru
Associate Editor#399
Member Since: March 05, 2014
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Posted: Tuesday, March 24, 2015 - 11:42 AM UTC
Am struggling with getting realistic Zimmerit using the Tamiya White. Anyone have experience with whether or not the Bondo might work better. On the other hand, might be an academic question since I don't know if I can get the Bondo here in Japan.
Grauwolf
#084
Member Since: September 14, 2005
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Posted: Tuesday, March 24, 2015 - 07:32 PM UTC
Marc,
Tamiya white just dries too fast and is too coarse,even when thinned,for creating zimmerit, in my opinion.
Tamiya Polyester putty is the best that I have found to create Zimmerit.
Since you are in Japan, also look for MORI MORI putty....
same stuff as the Tamiya Polyester putty.
Cheers,
Joe
Tamiya white just dries too fast and is too coarse,even when thinned,for creating zimmerit, in my opinion.
Tamiya Polyester putty is the best that I have found to create Zimmerit.
Since you are in Japan, also look for MORI MORI putty....
same stuff as the Tamiya Polyester putty.
Cheers,
Joe
edmund
Member Since: November 10, 2014
entire network: 668 Posts
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Posted: Tuesday, March 24, 2015 - 11:37 PM UTC
Quoted Text
. Have your tried Tamiya polyester putty for zimmerit ?Am struggling with getting realistic Zimmerit using the Tamiya White. Anyone have experience with whether or not the Bondo might work better. On the other hand, might be an academic question since I don't know if I can get the Bondo here in Japan.
Namabiiru
Associate Editor#399
Member Since: March 05, 2014
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Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2015 - 03:02 AM UTC
Joe and Edmund,
Thanks for that input. I'm not familiar with Tamiya Polyester putty, but should be easy enough to find around here. I'll definitely give it a go.
Thanks for that input. I'm not familiar with Tamiya Polyester putty, but should be easy enough to find around here. I'll definitely give it a go.
edmund
Member Since: November 10, 2014
entire network: 668 Posts
KitMaker Network: 211 Posts
Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2015 - 04:35 AM UTC
It's a two parts , putty and accelerator . Tamiya also make the zimmerit comb in pe . Two different sizes .
Namabiiru
Associate Editor#399
Member Since: March 05, 2014
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Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2015 - 05:21 AM UTC
I do have Tamiya epoxy putty--even tried to use that to make sheets of zimm I could cut to shape and glue on--but I gather that's different from the polyester putty. Also have a set of zimm tools (forgot who makes them). They work pretty well as long as I give the putty enough time to adhere to the model. Problem with the White putty is it seems to be a VERY small window of opportunity between it being too soft to stick and too hard to work with.
Grauwolf
#084
Member Since: September 14, 2005
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Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2015 - 06:37 PM UTC
Tamiya polyester Putty is quite different than their epoxy
putty.
As Edmund mentions, yes, it is a 2 part affair.
Once mixed, it sticks quite well and you have approx. 15-30 mins. before it sets.
Allow 24hrs. for a full cure.
In cases where sanding is required,and using various grits,
it will sand ultra smooth.
I doubt you will have a hard time finding it in Japan but if
so, Mori Mori Putty is the quite similar.
Cheers,
Joe
putty.
As Edmund mentions, yes, it is a 2 part affair.
Once mixed, it sticks quite well and you have approx. 15-30 mins. before it sets.
Allow 24hrs. for a full cure.
In cases where sanding is required,and using various grits,
it will sand ultra smooth.
I doubt you will have a hard time finding it in Japan but if
so, Mori Mori Putty is the quite similar.
Cheers,
Joe
edmund
Member Since: November 10, 2014
entire network: 668 Posts
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Posted: Thursday, March 26, 2015 - 01:21 AM UTC
Practice , practice so you can get the zimmerit just right .
Namabiiru
Associate Editor#399
Member Since: March 05, 2014
entire network: 2,888 Posts
KitMaker Network: 489 Posts
Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2015 - 02:37 PM UTC
Oddly, the local hobby shop had just about every kind of Tamiya putty but the polyester. They did, however, have the Mori Mori so I grabbed a tube of that. Now if I can just find the instructions amongst all the warnings in Japanese....
Emeritus
Member Since: March 30, 2004
entire network: 2,845 Posts
KitMaker Network: 424 Posts
Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2015 - 02:32 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextNever heard of using bondo. How exactly do you use/apply it?
Not Bondo, the auto body filler with resin hardener. Red Bondo spot putty in the tube. Officially labeled " Bondo Glazing & Spot Putty".
Great stuff for models, a $5 tube lasts 10 years.
And it doesn't dry up in the tube? If that's so, I gotta get some of that!
I've been using Testors green and white putties, and while good, they always tend to start drying up in the tube despite always putting the cap on nice and tight after use. Of course, it can be thinned with liquid cement, but having to do that every time you use it is a hassle.
For zimmerit I've used Milliput. Thins with water, sticks to plastic pretty well (though it's good to rough up the surfaces it's going to be applied), and has a sufficiently long working time
retiredyank
Member Since: June 29, 2009
entire network: 11,610 Posts
KitMaker Network: 3,657 Posts
Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2015 - 11:58 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextQuoted TextNever heard of using bondo. How exactly do you use/apply it?
Not Bondo, the auto body filler with resin hardener. Red Bondo spot putty in the tube. Officially labeled " Bondo Glazing & Spot Putty".
Great stuff for models, a $5 tube lasts 10 years.
And it doesn't dry up in the tube? If that's so, I gotta get some of that!
I've been using Testors green and white putties, and while good, they always tend to start drying up in the tube despite always putting the cap on nice and tight after use. Of course, it can be thinned with liquid cement, but having to do that every time you use it is a hassle.
For zimmerit I've used Milliput. Thins with water, sticks to plastic pretty well (though it's good to rough up the surfaces it's going to be applied), and has a sufficiently long working time
Actually, it separates, in the tube. You can shake, with a small degree of effect. But, it is easier to simply squeeze the small amount of liquid out. It does not sand as well as Mr. Dissolved Putty or Tamiya White. However, it does sand better than Squadron putty.
Namabiiru
Associate Editor#399
Member Since: March 05, 2014
entire network: 2,888 Posts
KitMaker Network: 489 Posts
Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2015 - 02:23 PM UTC
Well, first attempt with the Mori Mori for Zimmerit is so far pretty much a disaster. The stuff doesn't seem to want to adhere to the plastic, but I think I perhaps did not add enough hardener to the matrix. Hard to tell how much to add when you're making a small batch and you're only supposed to mix it in a ratio of 2:100. God think I tested it on the inside of the tank before doing it for real. Will have another go tomorrow with more hardener.
retiredyank
Member Since: June 29, 2009
entire network: 11,610 Posts
KitMaker Network: 3,657 Posts
Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2015 - 03:39 PM UTC
I've heard Miliput works well.
Grauwolf
#084
Member Since: September 14, 2005
entire network: 2,485 Posts
KitMaker Network: 480 Posts
Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2015 - 04:54 PM UTC
Hi Mark,
Run a bead of putty on your palette, say 1inch long, then
run a same length bead from the hardner tube.
This measurement will give you the right proportions.
Mix well and you are ready to go.
I will post a photo of my recent Zimmerit so you may see the results I got...I am very happy with this stuff.
Cheers,
Joe
Run a bead of putty on your palette, say 1inch long, then
run a same length bead from the hardner tube.
This measurement will give you the right proportions.
Mix well and you are ready to go.
I will post a photo of my recent Zimmerit so you may see the results I got...I am very happy with this stuff.
Cheers,
Joe
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