Here’s one of the ways I apply 3M Acryl-Blue. I place a dab on the lid of my brush and parts cleaning jar, add a squirt of lacquer thinner…mix to the consistancy I want then apply with a paint brush. If it begins to thicken, just add another squirt. When done, wipe the access of the lid with a paper towel and your pallette is ready for the next session.
The jar, wide mouth cheese dip glass jar. The tin can strainer is a small tomato paste can with several holes punched along the bottom and edges to allow the thinner (lacquer) to drain out in order to retreive small parts such as nozzles. To clean paint brushes, I dip them in the thinner then roll them along the edge of the can, repeating a few times then wiping the brush on a paper towel to ensure it is clean. Repeating as necessary. Let the brush air dry and return it to storage.
I do the same thing with Squadron White putty and nail polish remover with acetone. Make a thin paste and then use a brush to brush it on.
As for reusable pallettes, micromark.com sells them in packs of 40 for $7.35. All they really are are mailing tube toppers, but it’s convenient enough to get them from micromark. I just let whatever I was using dry out and then scrape it off and reuse the pallette.
Why spend money when you have such things as jar and can lids which you either recycle or toss into the trash. I’ve had that jar for several years and the printed logo has yet to even fade. I just wipe it off after each use. Any money spent for ‘factory’ made items when there are resources at hand free of charge (from the modeling budget) just makes more sense to me. But we all do things in our own ways…that’s what makes life interesting and keeps folks employed.
I’ve noticed that quite a few people use lacquer thinner to thin Acryl Blue (or red, or whatever).
While this works, it also makes the putty very aggressive to the plastic (good bond, but that was never a problem with the stuff.) It also has a tendency to form very fine bubbles in the putty because it evaporates rapidly.
An alternative is 90% isopropyl alcohol. It is long-term compatible with Acryl Blue (in fact, more so than lacquer thinner or some other solvents) does not interfere with bond, and makes a good cleaner for the brushes, too. The putty will also remain workable longer because of the lower evaporation rate.
The old saying…pay now or pay more later…take the time to finesse the putty where you need it or spend the time later sanding and sanding and sanding…ooops where did the part go?!?
Thinning the putty and applying it with a brush allows you better control at getting it where it is needed…less work later. I too use a palette knife to apply putty…but as I said…a little dab will do ya![#toast]
also might not want to apply too much putty at once. especially if you thin it down with a ‘hot’ thinner. if there is too much of the solvent on the plastic it will begin to eat away at it. best thing to do is add a little, sand a little, add a little sand a little, add a little sand a little, add a little sand a little, add a little sand a little, add a little sand a little, add a little sand a little, add a little sand a little, add a little sand a little, add a little sand a little, add a little sand a little, add a little sand a little.
