Hey to all,
I just got my first jar of Mr. Surfacer 500 and was wondering if I can/should use the fencing technique described by Swanny on his website when using this stuff. He doesn’t mention using fences in the section about Mr.Surfacer. I’m familiar with this technique using putty but I’m not sure about using it with Mr. Surfacer. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
Hud
It might work, but it is so much more liquid than any type of putty so it will probably seep a bit. But it might actually work really well, because (like with the putty technique) it will limit the spread of the product and make cleanup a bunch easier. Haven’t tried it myself. I just usually take some Mr. color thinner on a q-tip and run it over the dried mr. surfacer. But without fences I usually end up removing like 95% of the product, and this wastes time and product. So I’d try the fences technique. The other thing to consider is that it is a lacquer based product, so it might handily remove any adhesive on the tape as well, leaving your fences gone bye bye. Let me know if it works [:D]
I’ve got a build going on with a Revell ( read DOG) A-10. I can’t believe that this is the best A-10 model out there but that’s another story. I tried the fencing technique using Mr.Surfacer on this model and you’re right, it’s almost too runny. The tape did hold it back but by the time I cleaned the seam work up I had to redo the surfacer. That might have been my mistake though, being my first go at this. I don’t know if I’ll use the tape again. Almost seems a waste. I’ll keep experimenting. The best thing about this is that I the model was only nine bucks and change so if I ruin things I won’t be out much plus at the rate I’m going with this beast I’ll be lucky to get it finished. Not a lot of fun. Can you say trashcan? Good practice anyway.[:)]
Hud
I’ve got the Tamiya A-10 in my lineup and I was a bit disappointed by the quality of the kit (older mold I guess, some raised lines, some not), but that’s another story (and hopefully it will be a fun build anyway, been looking forward to doing a hog/bolt). I figured the 500 might be a bit runny for the fence technique. I have mixed feelings about Mr. Surfacer 500 (regarding 1000/1200 as a primer, it has worked reasonable well for me except when I didn’t thin it enough - BIG MESS); most of the time I end up doing so much work on seams that I get a little frustrated with the stuff. I end up applying a large quantity of the stuff to fill a small hole/seam, and I have to apply multiple layers, and then cleaning it off I also have to usually redo parts of the surfacer because of a little hole here or there. It may be that I’m just figuring out my technique. Sometimes putty is a lot easier IMHO. Let me know how it turns out - the kit and the surfacer and if you figure out a good system. Lord knows I could use one. Jon [;)]
Yeah, putty might be the best way in this application. I understand frustration, two steps foward, one step back. Aggrevating. Guess you got to know when to hold’em and know when to fold’em, so to speak. I’ll keep at it and let you know what the end results are. (hint) I have more faith in the Mr.Surfacer than the model. [:D]
Hud