What tool for spreading and smoothing filler?

[Guest]

I am presently filling wing roots and other gaps, from about half a mm to less than one mm wide, using a Japanese putty in a small white tube (I have lost the name). A dental tool with a flat end angled to the shaft seems a good idea but the Internet offers sets containing only one (possibly suitable) tool. The idea would be to use it to press the putty in then smooth it without it spreading all over the place. I have tried a narrow strip of various plastics but they are usually too flexible.

What do people use for doing this filling job?

I know about the idea of inserting thin strips of polystyrene card into suitable gaps but my gaps are probably too narrow and/or too shallow for that. I am trying Mr. Surfacer 500 (semi-liquid filler) for very narrow gaps, but it seems to me a spreading and pressing tool for putty would be best for others.

Thanks.

[yak face]

Steve , i use a spreader from a tin of car body filler ,cut in half lengthways so its about 3" long and 1/2" wide , its quite stiff but still flexible , cheers tony

[flyjoe180]

I use a tiny spatula, got it from a $1 shop. It has conquered many an old kit with filling issues.

[Guest]

I use artists spatulas, made for oil paints, they come in all shapes from long flat knives to small trianglar "trowel" type tools.

there's another thread somewhere with this topic from about a month ago, I posted pictures in that ..

hope this helps

[Guest]

I use a sanded ice lolly stick for spreading. What i have found realy usefull for filling small gaps is the syringe that comes with ink refill kits for printers. The needle is about 1/2 mm in diameter and just perfect for the vallejo

plastic putty, the one with the 10% acrylic resin. Just pop the nozzle in the gap, gently push the plunger and move it to the end of the gap.. No good for large gaps though.

Danny

[Guest]

Someone on here put me onto clay carving tools from amazon. I haven't used them yet but will shortly. They come in a kit and have loads of weird and wonderful shapes.

[Guest]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=pd_sl_38mlxuknvc_b?rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aclay+model ing+tools&keywords=clay+modeling+tools&ie=UTF8&hvn etw=s&tag=googhydr-21&hvadid=14382056156&hvptwo=&hvpone=&hvpos=1s2&hv rand=2013487075791035715&hvexid=&hvqmt=b

Have a look.

[Guest]

If I have half or a 1 mm then I use plastic card of that size cut in a strip to fill & glue with a plastic model glue.

If the gap is at the wing root this method welds the wing to the fuselage giving a strong joint which is unlikely to open up.

I keep the plastic filler just below the surface then fill the last part. I use a Tamiya tape some times each side of the joint & fill just above the general plastic surface stripping the tape before the filler goes off. Then I use use a variety of sanders finishing with a wet & dry to get a good surface. FOund it impossible to get an invisible joint with out filling above the general plastic.

For most filling I use Mr Surfacer 500 applied with an old brush. It provides a surface which is about the same hardness as the original plastic giving an opportunity to get a really good joint when sanded which is invisible. It may take a number of applications of Mr Surfacer sanding between before you are ready to finish the sanding.

Laurie

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

I use a wooden coffee stirrer, I ordered 1000's of em of Ebay a few years ago for a few pound, they are also good for paint stirring and they also make great wooden crates from scratch building

Adrian

[Guest]

I use one of these from those clever buggers at Games Workshop :-

Sculpting Tool | Games Workshop

It works for me