(Login DaveMcM) HyperScale Forums from IP address 64.12.116.137
When filling holes in resin hulls, does epoxy putty work OK? Where do you get it, an auto parts store or a hardware store? And is there a particular brand I need to look for? I appreciate the help, not wanting to mess up an expensive project.
It has the advantages of hardening quickly. It sands and feathers well. Open some of the larger bubbles by cutting back the edges then slightly overfill.
Brands to look for are Bondo Body Filler and Evercoat. It is available in most auto supply stores (O'Reilly, Auto Zone, PepBoys, etc). You can also get some extra hardener in case you run out of the small tube supplied with the can.
It is also available in many hardware stores. I saw & priced some in the local Lowes. The smallest can they had was a quart and it was about 10 bucks. I ended up at the local auto psrts store where I got a pint -- that is enough for 5 plus years of use.
What is the best adhesive for bonding resin hull halves together?...I've heard cheap "department store" epoxies just aren't strong enough...my project is going to be a 1/350 Heavy cruiser.
I've had no problems using CA (hobby shop brands) attaching a well-matched and straight hull bottom.
I've used 5-minute epoxy to attach threaded inserts and other mounting hardware to hulls, both resin & plastic. No problems there.
The main consdieration is, are the hull top and bottom pieces straight & not warped. Clamping stresses may lead to joint failure. If the hull bottom is too warped or mis-sized you may need to resort to the technique demonstrated by Mike Ashey in his book Basic Ship Modeling, cut the hull bottom apart - then piece it back together on the hull top. Cement the parts in place then fill the seams with resin.
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