Seeking advice on types of putty to use

hfrankinsf · Post by **hfrankinsf** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 4:06 pm

Howdy

I'm seeking advice from more experienced model builders on what other types of modelling putty they recommend. I'm currently using Squadron X Green Putty which works ok but it stinks to high heaven and contains Toluene which looks to be hazardous to ones health. I also tend to use my fingers a lot when I'm placing the putty on the models and per the instructions it's probably not a good idea... Soooooo my question is what else is out there that isn't so harmful.

Frank

Digger1 · Post by **Digger1** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 4:10 pm

I like to use the red glazing putty available at auto parts stores. It's a little thinner and easier to work with. I used it to fill in a big void and it didn't attack the plastic.

If you take correct precautions, you should be fine. You know; ventilate, use a face mask, gloves etc.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 4:25 pm

Ther is but one true putty, and it shall be Aves.

Praise be to the Aves.

Mr. Badwrench · Post by **Mr. Badwrench** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 9:11 pm

There is something to be said for solvent based putties. Bondo, the red stuff Babaganoosh recommends is pretty good, and can be cut with plastic model cement, like Testors liquid cement, Ambroid ProWeld, or Tenax. But it is kind of soft, and it really isn't made for building up large areas, sharp edges, or big gaps. It is designed to be used with Bondo body filler, a quick setting, foul smelling, catalytic putty. Use the body filler to do the big stuff, and the red spotting putty to give it a smooth finish. However, if you don't like the toulene content of the Squadron putty, then using Bondo is right out of the question.

In any case, kylwell is right. Aves is the putty of putties. Read through the six or seven hundred threads in this forum praising Aves, and then go to the Starship Modeler store and plunk down your ten bucks. Most of the guys singing the hosannas of Aves have tried just about everything else. Aves is easier to work with, is non-toxic, water soluble, comes in a variety of colors, and smells good!

Go Flight · Post by **Go Flight** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 9:38 pm

For larger holes, joints etc to fill, I'll ditto the vote for Aves.
But if I have just a thin line or something very small I use Porc-A-Fix. This stuff is made to repair chips in porcelain tubs, sinks. etc... Its very fine grained and goes on with a paint brush. It sands very smooth as well. You can find it in Home Depot and the like. One jar should last you a lifetime.

Mark Yungblut · Post by **Mark Yungblut** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 2:26 pm

I'd go with one of the well know epoxy putties (just not Milliput). I'll gladly trade a longer cure time for a heck of a lot less sanding.

Lt. Z0mBe · Post by **Lt. Z0mBe** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 6:16 pm

I am a Pastor of the First Church of Aves. You might know our Bishop, Reverend Terry Miesle.

Allow me to quote some passages from the Book of Putty.

"Know thou today, make haste with small gaps and Bondo. Yet build thy homes and sculpts, and models, and creatures from Aves. Strength, you see, lies in Aves. Appearance lies in Bondo, and for that, Avian brothers, Bondo should only be used for..."

~1 Hesitations 10:16

"The fool makes time with Bondo and lacquers. A wise man knows Aves, and builds his contours with plastic sheet and Aves. His brothers and children, and children's children, and so on, will see his wisdom, as his models will last for a thousand generations. Pity he who builds contours with Bondo, for his hell lies in sanding for a thousand generations. Pity him, and show him the light."

~Styrenians 3:16

"Aves so loved the hobby that whosoever mixeth the two parts, and buildeth with it, shall have little sanding forever and ever."

~X-Actos 10:4

"Bondo, you see, is for filling. Aves, you see, is for building. Eat ye neither, lest ye have no children, and foul breath."

~Indigestions 4:20

I hope these passages give you strength on your journey. We in the Church of Aves welcome you.

Kenny

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 6:31 pm

Kenny, your scaring me.

bluesman · Post by **bluesman** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 7:08 pm

And once you convert to the Church of Aves, you will never leave...

(insert malevolent evil laugh here)

big-dog · Post by **big-dog** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 8:05 pm

bluesman wrote:And once you convert to the Church of Aves, you will never leave...

(insert malevolent evil laugh here)

I recently moved to Utah so that kind of statement frightens me.

Always used Bondo glazing putty. Works well, yeah it needs sanding but it's soft and sands easily with wet and dry paper. I wouldn't sculpt with it mind you. Tamiya putty, which is horrifically expensive (at least in Canada, not seen it here) does rub out better with acetone (read nail polish remover) but it's so thin it take about a million layers to build anything up.

rallymodeller · Post by **rallymodeller** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 8:25 pm

Got a big tube of Evercoat red glazing putty. Was in my supply drawer until Blappy nearly beat me about the head and shoulders for using it for buldups. He gave me a little Aves. "First taste is free". Dragged Kenny (Z0mBe) down to the Aves booth at WF by saying we'd hit the bar after. Now listen to him.

The Evercoat is being used again -- to touch up my Volvo...

bluesman · Post by **bluesman** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 9:03 am

Rally said the "V" word!!!

Sorry Rally, I am a SAAB guy.

Aves really is good stuff.

Lt. Z0mBe · Post by **Lt. Z0mBe** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 12:45 pm

rallymodeller wrote:Got a big tube of Evercoat red glazing putty. Was in my supply drawer until Blappy nearly beat me about the head and shoulders for using it for buldups. He gave me a little Aves. "First taste is free". Dragged Kenny (Z0mBe) down to the Aves booth at WF by saying we'd hit the bar after. Now listen to him.

The Evercoat is being used again -- to touch up my Volvo...

"...and lo, a tall Northern wayfarer, with spectacled face, and bearded chin would lead a Bondite from his unclean ways. 'Behold, repent before the Aves Angel,' and he did. Behold, verily I say unto thee, Bondo sews the seeds of discontent in your models. The wise man buildeth his house upon Aves, the foolish man buildeth his house upon crumbling Bondo. Bondo can only hide thy imperfect works, Aves is for building perfect works for Aves' Sake. Amen."

~ Palpitations 7:14-16

Kenny

Saturn · Post by **Saturn** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 3:27 pm

What's next? Leading the congregation in a chorus of "Amazing Aves?"

Arklan · Post by **Arklan** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 5:11 pm

well, i'm convinced. i've gotta try this stuff now. i'll be ordering a sample pack off the SSM store...

i'm only just getting into serious building. working on my frist scrathc now. been using squadron green... works fine, does the job i needand such. just has that stink and the whole cancer thing. not good when i'm stuck working on an apartment at my computer desk. ugh.

so aves is non toxic eh? like, breathing the fumes wont be a medical danger? getting it on my hands, no worries? ...swweeeet.

Lt. Z0mBe · Post by **Lt. Z0mBe** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 5:44 pm

Saturn wrote:What's next? Leading the congregation in a chorus of "Amazing Aves?"

Ladies and Gentleman, please open your Hymnals to page 114.

"Amazing Aves"

"Amazing Aves, bought by the pound,
and easy to sand for me.
Aves brought joy to my bench, when found.
I learned Bondo's just for seams..."

Sing it with me brothers and sisters!

Can I get an "AMEN!" from the congregation?

Kenny

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 6:00 pm

Amen!

bluesman · Post by **bluesman** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 6:26 pm

Aves is very "user friendly". I've had great results using isopropyl alchohol and my fingers to shape the stuff. Let it cure and sand a way!

"T'was Aves that taught my seams to heal,
And Heal my seams did Aves
T'was precious did that Aves appeared
the hour I first believed"

So do we have to sing this at the pool party next year???

With fruitcup?

Arklan · Post by **Arklan** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 6:37 pm

so, just to clarify... can Aves be used for filling of seams and surface defects (i have a tendancy to over sand and create holes...) or is it strictly for more sculpting work?

bluesman · Post by **bluesman** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 7:02 pm

That's the beauty of Aves, my monochromatic friend.

You can fill seams with it.

You can sculpt with it.

You can even repair broken and chipped parts with it like I did on a nacelle strut on my StarCrafts refit.

"Thou shalt take two equal proportions of the Holy putty and mush them together... but before the mush, thou shalt count to three. One thou shalt not count, two thou shalt not count. Four is right out!!!!!"

Arklan · Post by **Arklan** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 7:07 pm

me? monochromatic? ...how the heck did you know i was colorblind!? i'm being stalked, aren't i?

bluesman · Post by **bluesman** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 7:31 pm

Nahhh... I'm no stalker but if were to stalk someone it would probably be Kim Catrall. Not that I would.

I just thought the penguins from Madagascar were funny and since he didn't know what a Zebra was he called him his monochromatic friend. Just thought it was funny.

Not that I'm calling you a zebra.

Yeah... I have a 5 year old daughter and I like Aves because it is non toxic and it won't hurt me or her. In fact I mush up little balls of the stuff (counting to three before mushing, of course ) and let her shape stuff with it. We let it cure and she paints her "art".

I like to build alot of my aircraft gear up, and rarely can I get the doors closed properly. Now I just fill the wells with Aves, shape, sand and re-scribe the door lines. Works great!

Post by **TER-OR** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 9:09 pm

'Twere seams that made my poor heart ache,
'Twere gaps gaps my models had.
'Twas Aves to the rescue came,
and my work was naught the same.

Post by **LindaSmile** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 9:59 pm

What? No haikus?

Linda

Arklan · Post by **Arklan** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 12:38 am

now you've done it...

bluesman · Post by **bluesman** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 7:34 am

There once was a putty from Nantucket???

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 9:15 am

haikus not lymrics

bluesman · Post by **bluesman** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 9:49 am

Okay, smarty.

I'm working on an Irish drinking song about Aves, but as you can imagine it isn't going well.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 10:00 am

You're not drinking enough obviously.

bluesman · Post by **bluesman** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 10:09 am

How about this, with apologizes to KISS.

"Beth I hear ya callin
But I can't come home right now
Me and the boys are modeling
And we just can't get it down

Just few more hours
And I'll get this model to you
Green putty just aint workin
Oh Aves, what can we do?

Beth I know you're lonely
And I hope you'll be allright
But me and the boys will be modeling
All night"