Starship Modeler Discussion Forums

So after decanting what should I use to thin Dupli-Color Sandable Primer, if at all? I can't tell if it's lacquer or enamel based.

That's a good idea. If you're using polyestyer, get yourself a respirator rated for painting cars (basically any charcoal-filtered mask, one rated for VOC's- volatile organic compounds). Not as much of an issue with epoxy, though, but nothing wrong with being safer, either.

Agreed, look into using epoxy for laminating. It has a better (longer) working time than polyester and it doesn't shrink. It's also stronger and won't have that sticky surface. It can also be thinned up to 30% with methanol after its been mixed, this can help to work it into the fibers. You can clea...

Wood glue 4, CA 0. Thanks for all the feedback. I'll keep y'all posted with some pictures soon.

I'm building a model using 1/8 inch MDF for the main body panels. It's an angular, roughly box-like piece and all the sides have 3/8 inch flanges for joining. I've cut all my sections fairly precisely and they need to be assembled precisely as well, this thing has square sides. I really want to use ...

As I suspected. Thanks for the confirmation, Ken!

Ever use Tenax 7R as a bonding agent for cast resin parts? I was welding styrene parts to a styrene surface and using a part cast from Smooth Cast 300 as a temporary reference. The resin was taped in place and some Tenax got under it, and now it seems pretty well bonded in place. I usually use CA fo...

Styrene will bond to acrylic very well with Tenax or MEK.

Thanks for the intel. I've been soaking my castings in dish washing machine detergent and water, and using a soft brush. Then I wipe them with lacquer thinner and prime them with a lacquer-based primer like Mr. Surfacer or Tamiya's Surface Primer. So far so good. I figure if I can't easily scrape th...

What about lacquer thinner? Doesn't it contain acetone anyway?

I've seen a number of builds that involve bonding thin styrene sheet over sculpts of wood or foam, with the purpose of building up panels or providing a surface for scribing or for gluing additional details. My question: what's the best way to bond the styrene sheet to the surface? I'm going to assu...

Just a update: The parts I immersed have continued to warp, almost curling up into a toenail clipping. Not good!

You shouldn't need to use release if you're casting out of silicone rubber molds, but I have been using urethane rubber (Smooth-on's ReoFlex 30). I like the way it pours, and it doesn't need de-gassing. Needs some kind of release, though.

Anyone using Smoothcast 300 be advised: Smooth-On's FAQ page suggests using acetone to remove silicone-based release agent from the cast part prior to painting. Go ahead and wipe it on, but DO NOT immerse the casting, it will grow, warp, or otherwise deform, as well as soften and crumble. I just fou...

Yeah, that's good, thanks, I guess automotive refinishing products will be where I'll look.

What should I use to remove Mann's Ease Release 2305 from resin parts so paint will stick? I'm casting Smooth-On 300 into Smooth-On Vitaflex (urethane) rubber molds. 2305 is silicone-based and releases better than the 300 spray, but now even laquer-based primer fish-eyes like crazy on the parts. I c...

Anyone have experience using artist's matte fixative spray to cover and protect decals instead of hobby-type products like Testors Dullcoat? It seems like they're both intended for the same use, but the fixative spray might be a thinner "coat"?

Any type of CA adhesive (super/crazy glue) should bond resin to styrene.

I'm considering using bondo (generic small b) as a gap-filling adhesive. It's to bond MDF to acrylic tube. I know it sticks well to both materials and I plan to use "plastic thinner" to make it more flowing. Anyone ever try this sorta thing? I know it's not as strong as epoxy, but...

Anyone know what CYC cement is? The Plastruct website lists it as used for joining styrene/ABS/butyrate/acrylic to each other. I'm used to using Tenax for all my plastic welds, but that's just for styrene. What do people like to use to join styrene to acrylic or ABS? And maybe related: what is the b...