I have been using CA as a filler ever since I started modelling a few years back… i have also tried Gunze Sangyo Mr Surfacer 500 for really small gaps. However, I need sumthing to use with larger ones. As I was browsing in this local shop, I saw Squadron Green Putty at a sale price. Is this any good? What are the things I should know before using it on my plastic kits? What are the other putty brands that you could suggest? Your replies are highly appreciated. Thank you very much…
Hey Mark!
Squadron Green is a standard in the hobby, as well as Squadron White Putty. Both are of the same formula (basically the same as auto-body filler/spot putty), with the White seeming to be a bit superior. (That’s only my opinion, however!)
They are both good for filling relatively large gaps, but not gaping holes. Both of them will shrink a bit when they dry, and they may pit some. This is normal, and a couple applications may be needed to fill a gap. If you have a LARGE gap, you may want to first take some plastic card or strip and stuff it in there with a bit of liquid glue. Once it’s dried (and it should be absolutely solid) you can trim the excess plastic off and then fill any smaller remaining voids with CA or putty or Mr Surfacer or whatever.
Other fillers? There’s a ton of 'em out there. From those developed specifically for modeling to general fillers such as the auto-body filler/spot putty I mentioned above. Another is a two part epoxy putty called Milliput. That stuff has a relatively short shelf life, though. A shame because I love the way it works.
I’ve used many of the fillers available, including the spot putty, and most of them work well. But my faves are Squadron White (which seems not to shrink quite as much as Green), Mr Surfacer, spot putty and CA. I picked up a tube of Gunze Mr Filler not too long ago, but haven’t used it yet. I’ve heard from my model buds that it’s great stuff, though.
You just have to try them to see if you like them. I love what I use, but they may not work well for someone else. My advice is to go for the tube of Squadron stuff. You really can’t go too awful wrong with it.
Fade to Black…
Check this one too…
http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1439
Good luck. [:)]
I agree. I’ve always used Squadron Green. They say it shrinks some, but if you put it on in light coats, letting it dry well in between, you’ll have no problems with it. I never have.
Lee
The reason I still use Squadron Green is that I’m used to it. I often delay sanding CA too long, so I’m sanding it when it’s very hard. Green putty is utterly predictable, and is good for leveling joins with just a smear wiped off with a wet finger.
I use superglue for small spots, liquid paper for others, but for large areas I had been using Bondo glazing compound-dries without shrinking, sands down easily. Lately I’ve been using a binary resin product called Magic Sculpt. It’s malleable and can be thinned with water when being worked. Sands down evenly, too. Good stuff
I use a red, lacquer based auto spot putty called Nitro Stan. It was very popular in a club I once belonged to in Virginia, bought a 1lb tube from Norfolk Paint five years ago and still have half a tube. Fine grain, easy to sand, dries fast. Really good stuff. When I’m not too lazy, I use a two part auto body filler called Euro-Soft. The car guys swear by it. You’ve go to work it fast because you only get about 5 minutes before it sets up. It doesn’t shrink, has a very fine grain, fills big areas easily, and sands well. Those are my favorites, except for superglue. I usually buy the cheap stuff at places like Wal Mart or home depot. I mix 50/50 the regular stuff and the thick stuff and put it on with the tip of a wire, then hit it with accelerator. I love the stuff.