Here's a question for you all:

What putty do you use for modeling? I'm using that Milliput stuff, but don't like to because it is difficult to work - makes the fingers and hand tired. I'm looking for ideas on a better product.

Gunnie

Gunnie;
I use the Squadron Green Putty, but with a complaint, It´s shrink when dries, so you have to put more putty and sometimes you have to sand a lot
In general question, it´s ok though!
Cheers!

Paulo - how about for large items - like filling the back of a 3/4-cast Jerry Can or making fillets on an aircraft wing?

Gunnie

I use this stuff called Nitro-Stan. It's a red putty that doesn't shrink-up and hardens in about 30 minutes to be able to sand. It's original use is for autobody work so you can pick it up in paint stores and or parts stores.

Tamiy Putty all the way... the grey stuff... try it... you'll like it.. .

The property that really sets it apart is that unlike the Green Putty (which I used for years) It does not shrink as it dries.

It also is thinned rather nicely by Testors liquid cement so it can be used to make Zimmerit and cast armor effects also.

I also use Mr. Surface for filling fine seams and light filling.

Later,
Tim

I also forgot to mention that the Nitro-Stan costs $8 for a tube about 15 times the size of the squadron putty.

Mr. Surface? Could you elaborate please.

Tread.

Mr Surfacer 500 and Mr Surfacer 1000 are made by Gunze Snagyo... I use 500 for filling seams. It's a sort of thick primer that comes in a small jar so you can apply it with a brush... it smells pretty harsh.. but man it's nice.. you can sand it in about 20 minutes...

The 1000 product is also a primer but is much thinner and can be used to check for gaps and to prep for painting.

Gunze also sells these two in a spray can but I have never used them.
Later,
Tim

Thanks Guys! These sound like some good products to try out - wouldn't want "wasted" posts here with useless information! I'll give them all a go...

Gunnie

I use model master red putty. No real reason other than I bought it when I first started to model again and its a large tube so I am sure I will use it for a while. I have been happy with it.

Andrew - you use MM Red for general seams and gaps, or do you fill large voids like the hollow backs of an Italeri air tank for example?

Gunnie

Well, its hard to say. I have just got back into modeling after a 15 year layoff since my teens. I am on my 3rd model with it and have used it on every one so far. It seems to do well each time I use it. I am able to sand it to a very smooth finish and haven't noticed any shrinking when it dries but haven't done any big gaps yet. I will keep using it until it fails me I guess.

Okay - MM Red goes into the shopping cart too...

Gunnie

Be careful when filling large voids with putty. It does contain the same solution as liquid cement and may eat away at the plastic. When I fill a large hole, I stick pieces of sprue in the hole to take up some area or use a piece of sheet styrene where possible. Much like the guy making cement steps to your house, put some type of filler in there to save materials.

I am filling most of the void with chips of styrene scrap. Then I fix in place with superglue and accelerator. It's just difficult to work the Milliput over the top of this "filler" and get it smooth.

Gunnie

Thanks for the tip. I guess I will never find out if it can fill large gaps but I guess thats a good thing. I just picked up some styrene to fill in the space above the tracks on my M4. I should have plenty left over to use for filling gaps.

There's a putty I bought recently called Super Sculp that might work out for filling voids and large gaps like that. As I play with this stuff, I'll let you know how it goes...

Gunnie

I use a wood filler by Bondi. I discovered it by accident when I went to use my Squadron green putty and it was as hard as a rock. I've had the wood filler for over 2 years and it's still good. It comes in a small tub, about the size of a small container of chip dip. It's tan in color and very smooth, easy to work with. As a matter of fact it works better on plastic then on wood.

Ron C.
Ashtabula, Oh

Ron - where did you get the Bondi?

Gunnie

Gunnie,
Any hardware store should have it, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. What I like about it is that it's real creamy and easy to work with, drys fairly quick and sands really easy too. I bought it to use on baseboard and wood moldings to fill nail holes and didn't like it. But I've used it on the last 3 kits I built and loved it.

Ron C.
Ashtabula, Oh

Thx Ron - off to Home Despot I go...

Gunnie

In the past, I tried milliput and several other specialised "modeling" putties.
A friend recommended me to try car repair polyester putty. This is a two-component ( 2% brightly colored additive to mix in hardens the putty).
This is great stuff : easy to mix, easy to work with when it's just hard. Tough as a brick once it's hard. Depending on the mixture, it can get hard in only a few minutes or in a very long time. Finally, it doesn't shrink.
It comes in large quantities : I have a 250 G and a 500G jar. The brand is "Auto 5" which is French or Belgian (it's the brand name of a chain of car repair DIY shops/garages), but I'm sure other brands work well, too. I recommend someone tries out a US brand, there must be plenty around.
As this stuff is made for car repair, it's good quality stuff, still the price per weight is probably the best buy.
I even use the stuff for home repair jobs (filling and plastering wood before painting, etc..)

SInce many years of scratchbuilding, I have developed a keen eye to try out products that are meant for other purposes. Sometimes they work wonders in modeling, almost always they come cheaper than real modeling products, who must use a high profit rate to our expense. (Sorry to all those model shop owners out there )

Thanks Jan - that sounds interesting too...

Gunnie

Oh Gunnie...I was at work when I wrote the post about Bondi wood filler. Checked it out when I got home lastnight, It's called Bondex plastic wood filler not Bondi.

Ron C.
Ashtabula, Oh

Gotcha Ron - thanks. Saved me a trip asking everyone in an apron where the product is

Gunnie