Repairing a damaged part question

Richard Baker · Post by **Richard Baker** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 8:36 pm

A good friend gave me a very nice resin kit which has a small problem. There are some cast pieces which come to very sharp point and one of them is broken off and missing. It is not very large tip to replace, just under a quarter inch. I plan on piin-drilling a hole in the piece and shaping putty around a short metal pin. I have done this with styrene before, resin is a bit different. Is what I am planning OK and if so what would be the best putty/bondo to use? If not what would be a better way tp replace the tip?

Shinnentai · Post by **Shinnentai** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 8:59 pm

Epoxy putty, hands down.

And if the tip isn't load bearing, the pin will just be extra hassle, as the epoxy putty will be just as strong as the surrounding resin.

Second choice would be superglue-and-talc putty. That's how I used to solve this sort of stuff before I tried Aves. No pin needed there either, and dirt cheap to boot, but it's a much bigger hassle to shape. Epoxy putty can be sculpted, leaving only minor sanding to be done after it sets. SGT acts like Bondo (only stronger, and with better adhesion): slop it on, file/sand to shape after it sets.

Either of the two will give results far better than Bondo/poly putty or any of the laquer based goos like squadron. Of the two Aves/epoxy putty wins by virtue of ease of use.

Richard Baker · Post by **Richard Baker** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 9:22 pm

Sounds simpler and better. Is 'Aves' a brand name or type? When I think of epoxy putty I think of the two colored strips on a backing you cut off and knead until the color is uniform, then apply.
I am not in a real big hurry, but do I go to a Hobby store, a Hardware store or Walmart for this?

Post by **TER-OR** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 9:36 pm

Hobby store or craft store or the Starship Modeler store - all places to find Aves.

Magic Sculpt is a simlar product, but we've become fond of Aves. If you do use this, let it partially cure before applying it to this repair. Mix the parts, and give it about 45min or so to partially set-up, that will make it stiffer and easier to shape for this sort of repair.

Shinnentai · Post by **Shinnentai** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:29 pm

Yah, sorry: Aves is a brand name of epoxy putty. Like you say, it comes in two parts which you knead together, though Aves (and Magic-Sculpt, which Ter-or mentioned) comes in plastic jars rather than strips.

I've only ever gotten goldfish expressions at my LHSs and craft stores when asking abot these products. Seems the only variety of epoxy putty they're familiar with (if at all) is Milliput, which is much more expensive, and not as good. So far it's a web-only product in my neck of the woods. Like Ter says, they sell it here at the SM store, and that's where I get mine.

Chacal · Post by **Chacal** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:14 am

Epoxy putty yes, but I'd suggest going WITH the pin, not for structural strenght, but to give the putty something extra to hold on to. Drill the hole in the part, roughen up the lenght of the pin which will be in contact with the putty (take a serrated-tip needle nose pliers and press hard, at an angle, so the pin will be left with "ripples" â€“ better yet, use a sewing-type pin, with the head, roughened below said head), insert the pin and epoxy glue it down then apply and shape the putty. It'll grab hold of the pin and stay put.

Post by **TER-OR** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:47 pm

Sage advice, indeed, Chacal.