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 Post subject: Resin questions
PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2017 3:16 pm 
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Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 8:11 am
Posts: 647
Location: Elyria, Ohio USA
I am going to be building a 1/350 USS Samuel B Roberts in the FRAM I fit from 1966 for a friend. The only kit I could locate was a 1/350 Iron Shipwrights USS Johnston FRAM I Gearing 1968. This will be my first resin kit so I have a some questions. What paint is best to use on resin? Enamel or acrylic? I believe I heard that acrylic doesn't cure well on resin. I know that you must use CA glue for resin which is not a problem. I also know that there is some sanding and such needed to clean up the kit/parts. Any other significant tips I need for this project? I will be posting a WIP thread for it once I begin. Thanks for any advice. Mike.

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1/350 USS Santee 1944

Current projects:
1/700 USS Catamount 1960
1/350 USS Columbia 1945
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 Post subject: Re: Resin questions
PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2017 7:33 pm 
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Joined: Sun Aug 20, 2017 9:46 am
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Location: Montreal, Canada
First wash all the parts with a good dish washing detergent. Then prime with a good fine primer. I like Tamiya primer, but that's just my choice. Any good acrylic will work fine on a primed surface. Again, my choice is Tamiya acrylic thinned with their lacquer thinner, airbrushed, of course.
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 Post subject: Re: Resin questions
PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2017 10:50 pm 
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Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2013 10:36 am
Posts: 272
Location: South Carolina
I second the use of Tamiya primer, which grabs the surface really nicely but doesn't tend to etch the way other primers have done with me. You can airbrush it or use the spray cans (I use the cans because I'm lazy).

Resin doesn't have the "give" that most plastics do - it tends to snap instead of flex - so a good saw is a must (a Zona or similar for large jobs such as removing pour stubs from the hull and other large parts, and a JLC or similar for precision work). Also have a variety of sanding sticks on hand to shape things and smooth surfaces out.

Use cyanoacrylate glue for assembly. I also advise you to have some epoxy putty (Apoxie Sculpt, Milliput, etc.) to fill casting voids or make any corrections. For smaller areas that needed filling or smoothing out, I've had good luck with the fillers used by auto body shops or even Squadron putty.

Also, be prepared to do a little scratchbuilding. You'll have to build masts and similar details from supplied lengths of tube, but it's not really that difficult (just be prepared for a little trial and error). ISW does supply thorough photoetch with its kits, so as far as the systems mounted on the masts, you'll be all set.

One more note: Iron Shipwright produces really neat kits of subjects you really don't see elsewhere, but they sometimes need help in the finer areas. They are neat kits, but they're essentially homemade, and sometimes you can tell in fine areas (bilge keels can be short shot or damaged in transit) and also in weapons and other fine details. For those kinds of things I'll usually replace them with aftermarket parts (either something from Shapeways or Veteran Models as appropriate or available). For other things like bilge keels or warped superstructure decks, I will cut replacements from plastic card and transplant details like ammo lockers or deckhouses as needed.

Above all else, take your time and be patient. These aren't shake-the-box kits but if you give them care and attention in the build, you'll get a model you will be proud of.

Jodie Peeler


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 Post subject: Re: Resin questions
PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 12:05 pm 
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Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 8:11 am
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Location: Elyria, Ohio USA
Thanks for the tips guys. I expected some scratch building just from the resin kit WIP threads and such I have checked here. I have some good tools (saws, blades, cutters, soldering iron, fine solder, etc) so hopefully I am good there. I am looking forward to doing this build because I have wanted to do a resin kit for a while. I will prep it all and look it over good when it arrives and start the WIP thread for it. Thanks in advance for any other tips/advice. Mike.

_________________
Just finished:
1/350 USS Santee 1944

Current projects:
1/700 USS Catamount 1960
1/350 USS Columbia 1945
1/350 USS San Francisco 1944


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