by patiens » Fri Jun 03, 2005 2:58 pm
You have many pitfalls with resin, especially if it's your first. Number one, the hull, top and bottom, should be washed in mild detergent, then a wipe with isopropyl alcohol helps. This removes the chemical agents which will destroy your paint job otherwise. Dry it and start shaving the overpour from the waterline and bottom sections. Last time I used a jig (scroll) saw. It took me 2 days. This latest opus I used a Delta modeler's power sander -- took me 45 minutes. (No plug or whatever for them -- just that it worked) If after shaving it seems warped, go for the oven trick. When you glue the top and bottom halves together, work quickly but carefully with the CA glue. Don't do like I did on one job: make sure the stuff hasn't expired -- CA has a shelf life of about six months. You're still in the phase where a big goof can ruin a several-hundred-dollar kit. Grab some small/medium C-clamps, insert some cardboard, and clamp the hull part together. Don't worrry about gaps. When it has dried, ther will still be some gaps or imperfections. Take a tube of Squadron White Putty and butter the whole thing. Then sculpt/sand. Should take you 3 or 4 shots of this process, but you will wind up with one fine hull. Then go and have a nervous breakdown in the next room and go back to the model in a day or two. Put a primer coat of gray on it (use a spray can or an airbrush -- resin does not get along with paint brushes) Then paint the antifouling red on the bottom and put on a black boot. Use 3M black art supply tape or Frisket for masking. You are now ready for the deck and superstructure.
You have many pitfalls with resin, especially if it's your first. Number one, the hull, top and bottom, should be washed in mild detergent, then a wipe with isopropyl alcohol helps. This removes the chemical agents which will destroy your paint job otherwise. Dry it and start shaving the overpour from the waterline and bottom sections. Last time I used a jig (scroll) saw. It took me 2 days. This latest opus I used a Delta modeler's power sander -- took me 45 minutes. (No plug or whatever for them -- just that it worked) If after shaving it seems warped, go for the oven trick. When you glue the top and bottom halves together, work quickly but carefully with the CA glue. Don't do like I did on one job: make sure the stuff hasn't expired -- CA has a shelf life of about six months. You're still in the phase where a big goof can ruin a several-hundred-dollar kit. Grab some small/medium C-clamps, insert some cardboard, and clamp the hull part together. Don't worrry about gaps. When it has dried, ther will still be some gaps or imperfections. Take a tube of Squadron White Putty and butter the whole thing. Then sculpt/sand. Should take you 3 or 4 shots of this process, but you will wind up with one fine hull. Then go and have a nervous breakdown in the next room and go back to the model in a day or two. Put a primer coat of gray on it (use a spray can or an airbrush -- resin does not get along with paint brushes) Then paint the antifouling red on the bottom and put on a black boot. Use 3M black art supply tape or Frisket for masking. You are now ready for the deck and superstructure.