Sorry for the noob question, but what do people use to fill those little circular depressions that often have flashing around them? They seem to like to put them on cockpuit peices in plain view. I’m getting in to modeling (not counting childhood models I blew up with firecrackers [:D]) I have some squadron white putty but I’m not sure I can apply it to these small areas without getting it smeared all over nearby details…
Thanks for the help…
When working in a small area like you described , I will cut a piece of styrene stock (.010") to make a small “putty knife / spreader” that will fit in the area. For example 3mm wide by 30 cm long. I will sand a bevel on the end I will use to spread the putty. Next with a toothpick I will place a small drop of Squadron Putty in the depression then smooth it out with the custom made spreader. With practice you will get to where you rarely need to do any sanding for cleanup. Practice on areas that cant be seen to get the Hang of it ! As your "Tool " budget increases down the road you can get a set of “Mini Punches” and stamp out little circles of styrene stock that you can cement in and plug them also. (that is the methiod I use now most of the time)
Oh and Most Important of all [#welcome] to the Forum !
…also, there are many pin marks that can be removed with an abrasive sanding pen…a few strokes and the offending marks blend in.
Thanks Summit, namrednef. I will give the homemade putty spreader a try. I’m guessing one needs to make little sanding tools to get into those closed in areas.
I’m building a 1/72 hasegawa zero, and I was able to sand away some of the marks on the cockpit floor, but they put one right in the middle of the seat bottom. It’s surrounded by raised areas, so none of the tools I had would reach it. I punted on it, thinking it would be very noticible after I painted- that was some extreme wishful thinking! So now I’m going to try to fill it and repaint.
namrednef- what is a sanding pen? Is it a modeling-specific tool? Where can I get one?
Thank again,
Andy
Summit,
When suing the method of punched circular pieces,how does that work?Do you need a slightly larger size to cover the mark or if you use same size does that leave a ring to fill?
It all depends on the kit and the punch set you use . I use the micro punch set from Micro -Mark
http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=83513
Most of the time I can get a “almost direct fit” , but I have gotten in the habit of using a "gap filling CA drop " under the disk just in case. You may still have to sand the disk slightly depending on the depth of the sink hole. Or even sometimes double up your disc depending on what thickness of stock you punched them out of. The atvantage for me using this method is that I dont have to come back and re-putty from where the putty had pin holes, air pocket or not applied deep enough. The less sanding the quicker the build goes and less chance of damaging nearby detail in the process.