1/48 Tamiya wing seams

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Hey everyone, I am trying to clean up the seams on the leading edge of the wing on my Tamiya 1/48 P-51D, but am having trouble getting the little spots between the guns. I am going to paint it with Alclad, so really need to make those spots disappear. Anyone have any ideas?

Frank

2

you could always wrap sandpaper around a toothpick and try.

I still haven’t figured out how to get the sandpaper to stay glued to the toothpick.

the tips of square needle files would also work

good luck! [:)]

3

Hi Daywalker,

Cut some thick plasticard slightly thinner than the gaps between the guns and fix some double sided tape to this. Then stick this onto sandpaer of choice and trim to size. This lasts long enough to let you wet n dry the joint, if not make another. Or make others with finer grades.

Hope this helps

regards Gary

4

Yep whay Garyallum said, or if the space is real hard to get to cut a strip if sand paper to fit. attach each end to sticks and slip it in between the guns. This method will not flat spot or alter the leading edge wing shape too much. The problem with this method you will need both hands so if have no way to secure the model this will not work.

5

I have a set of miniature Swiss jewelers files that I bought eons ago & they are perfect for those tight spots. Probably very expensive today, but worth it if you do a lot of modeling.

Regards, Rick

6

I have some sanding sticks that are about the size of a match that you would get from a patch of matches, not the wooden ones. These are fantastic for small spaces like that. I think they came from Micro-Mark. Unfortunately all of my building supplies are packed away right now so I can’t tell you the company that made them.

7

Thanks for tips. I’ll give some of those a try.

8

Hi Again, Perhaps I didn`t make myself clear here. I actually stick the sandpaper or preferably wet n dry onto the plastic with double sided tape and make a custom sanding stick to fit the gap. This trick is useful for all hard to get to spots as the sanding area can be custom shaped to fit the gap, stuck on a piece of sprue to reach into wheelbays etc or shaped on a former held over a hot kettle and let the steam soften the plastic and then plunge into cold water making curved sanding sticks. Much cheaper than riflers or curved files.

Regards all Gary