Because my curiosity got the better of me, I wanted to see what the earliest mention of using Silly Putty as a mask was for FSM. I came across this story by Cookie Sewell from 2003. Then I went digging around on the FSM Forum and found we have discussions about Silly Putty dating back to 2005. All of this comes up because, as I said in another thread, we answered a reader question for the print magazine regarding Silly Putty and poster putty, and sometimes even I wonder if we’ve really been using a technique for as long as I think we’ve been using it or if it’s something esoteric and hasn’t been talked about widely. And then I have to check. Just goes to show that no matter how well established we might think a techniques or tool may be, it will be new, and perhaps game-changing, for someone.
I can attest to that!
Everything I’ve learned in the last few years was all brand new to me, but well established in the hobby.
I greatly appreciate those who continue to provide answers to questions that have been asked many times before.
You know that is an interesting idea, go back to try and find when certain techniques were first brought to the market of ideas. Could be an idea for a regular feature or column to research when a technique was first started and follow its evolution and change over time.
Man, this group likes the rabbit holes. LOL…
I agree on this, I’m not new to the hobby, but there are techniques I learn new everyday that have been well established. But that’s why the magazine and the forums exist, to push that knowledge to the masses. It is much appreciated.
Probaby older then that,remember hearing about it in the mid 80’s
Cookie says in his story about Silly Putty that it was Steven Zaloga who introduced it to him. Very well could be older. But that’s what we have in FSM. Although, I haven’t checked the DVD archive yet.
But the bigger point remains. That’s why FSM continually talks about these techniques and sometimes takes hits for not catering to advanced modelers–it’s because, as Bob Hayden used to say, “modeling is the consistent application of basic techniques.”
I think I picked it up from an IPMS publication, which would have put it late '70s- early '80s - but I know the first time I tried it would have been 1983 or so, since I lived across the street from a Toys 'R Us where I bought my first ‘egg.’ Still use it all the time, I always buy (2) eggs worth at a time (enough for most 1/72 a/c) and replace 'em about once a year when they’ve gotten too grunge-y.
We should look at ourselves as “mentors” who are passing on our wisdom and knowledge to the apprentices.
“Which reminds me…. I have something here which your father would want you to have…… “
Wonderful dig into the past!
To those who regularly use Silly Putty, does it tend to contract into itself, pulling away from where you originally laid the strip or patch?
I ask this as I use AK’s masking putty, and it has that tendency. Perhaps there is something I am not doing right. Or maybe I should switch to Silly Putty, if it does not have that kind of tendency.
It doesn’t retract so much as settle and “ooze.” So you can’t really wait with it. I started masking with SP and was called away to do other things and didn’t get back to the bench until the next day. The SP had oozed down the side of the model leaving spider webs and pooled on the workbench. My recommendation when using SP is to plan your painting session and spray the colors in relatively quick succession, as Cookie said, from lightest to darkest. So lacquers and acrylics are going to work best with SP because they dry fast.
Appreciate the information, Tim!
I think using Silly Putty is an old-school technique that goes back to modeling in the early days of plastic modeling, or more precisely, to the late 50s or early 60s. Kind of like using Future for a clear acrylic, or using plumber’s 2-part putty for things like sculpting or shaping, filling seams. I think the earlier generation of modelers, the guys who were young and building those kits when I was born (b 1964) discovered things like this as they worked to improve their results. But I think these old tips were passed around more by word of mouth, at club meetings or other gatherings, than that they made it into the magazines or newsletters of the time.
I find it useful to knead Silly Putty, or poster tack, to warm it as thoroughly as I can, before applying it to the model. I’ve found that that helps reduce the tendency to contract a little.
That’s an interesting hypothesis. Like so much of what we do, there are roots, and we’re in the branches of the tree. I think what I may do is reach out to Zaloga to see where he’d picked it up before sharing it with Cookie and see if we can trace things further.
Well, I can safely say I learned to use silly putty on these forums decades ago, and have been my go to masking technique.
Just got back into modeling around five months ago after a 35 year absence. I had read in books about poster putty and silly putty and bought both. “Poster putty” at Michaels and silly putty in the little red eggs at a toy store (I bought six of them and they had probably been there for years). Both were nothing like what would seem to be needed for soft-lined (poster putty) or hard line (the silly putty) camo as they were used in the books, The silly putty was pretty hard and thick, maybe too old? Both would in my opinion break off smaller parts when applying or removing. Maybe more trouble then they are worth. I airbrushed on soft line 3-color NATO camo on a Tamiya 1/32 Leopard 2 and it came out pretty good, I think.
Welcome to the community. Glad you got back into the hobby.
I can remember using Silly Putty as a masking medium on aircraft back in the 90,s.
If he doesn’t get back to you, let me know. He’s active with my local AMPS chapter so i can reach out as well…
Thanks, Jeeves. I’ve had to let this sit for a moment as I edit the July/August issue’s stories. I’ll get back to digging next week.