PUTTIES AND FILLERS, FRIENDS OR FOES?

 Commercially available there is a undetermined number of putties and gap fillers. Many experienced modelers use these products and achieve excellent results.  

We should consider the following: these products contain solvents and substances that on the long run may in a way or another affect the plastic.  Sometimes they require the application of a dedicated primer before painting.  Also they may just irritate our skin.

LETS BREAK THE MOLD!

Departing from a simple reasoning, we can argue, if our models are plastic, the best thing to do would be to work with the same material.  And better yet, why not to use the same plastic of the model we are diligently building?  Oh!  well!  Why did I not figure that one out before? Some of you may say. 

Most veteran modelers at one point have come to work with the "sprue", heating it over a flame and stretching it.  Various thicknesses can be obtained, depending upon the need.

THAT LIL' THING CALLED SPRUE

 For those modelers that have come in contact with the "stretched sprue" technique, please do not read this paragraph.  It is a very simple procedure.  Cut a length of the parts "tree", then place it above a flame, a couple of inches or so, direct the heat to the middle of the rod rotating it until the heat softens the plastic, remove it from the heat source and pull both ends gently to the desired length. After some trial and error you'll get the hang of it and wonder how have you gotten along without this technique for so long.

...AND WHAT IS ALL OF THIS GOOD FOR?

Plastic modelers have found hundreds of uses for this fine plastic monofilament.  It can be used to detail aerial antennae, levers in the cockpits, miniature cigarrettes and so on.  It can also be used to apply tiny drops of instant glues, build delicate structures, etc, etc.

The vinyl sprue that comes with the soft rubber like parts of car or tank models, can also be stretched. This is a very flexible and tough filament that has very unique uses. Modern ship antennae, sailing ship rigging, World War one biplane flying wires are few of the uses for this "stretchy" filament. The best quality of this material is its ability to regain its original look, if it sags, it is very easily taught by applying heat with a hair dryer from a prudent distance.

NOW LETS GET RIGHT DOWN TO BUSINESS 

Now that we are all familiar with stretch sprue, lets use it as a gap filler.  To do this we need to generate sprue filaments of different thicknesses, and also of different colors. The latter will help to control the fit correction as we are grinding it down.

Here is the gap before we begin.

 We start by cutting lengths of the stretched sprue and adhering them onto the gap with liquid cement. In some severe cases we can use Cyanocrilate cement.  What was before a gap would be now a protuberance of stretched sprue strips. 

With this material we can literally fill the gap without jeopardizing the immediately surrounding area, as happens with putties or other fillers.  We do not have to worry about compatibility of materials, as the same material the model is made of is being used.

In spite the fact that the liquid cement dries so quickly we should let it cure for at least half an hour before shaping the filling sprue.

SEE TO BELIEVE

The results will speak for themselves. We can immediately verify the qualities of this technique, being easy to obtain, clean to use, fills gaps of different widths.  Cutting notches along the strips we can fill compounded curved gaps.  I am sure that once you give this technique a try, you are going to join us in saying: GOOD-BYE PUTTY, SO LONG FILLER!

Special thanks for translation by Edward A. Fuquay,

 Andrés and Edward are both members of  members of AMVC-IPMS. 

www.geocities.com/amvcmodelistas  

Andres Acuña