Here's a tip on using putty

For all the members out there learning to use putty, here's a little tip to help you make it look a bit smoother before you sand and shape. I've seen many questions on putty use lately, so I thought I'd pass on some tips. I think many have problems with the stuff going on too thick and looking globbed up in particular areas.

MAKING BODYKITS/ GROUND EFFECTS
I use a scalpel or a scalpel shaped exacto blade and squeeze a small amount of putty to be used. Keep applying to the desired build height and basic shape. Then go grab a bottle of acetone, nail polish remover ( with acetone as an ingredient), or lacquer thinner. Dip the tip of the scalpel into the solvent of choice ( I like lacquer thinner ) and start sculpting the putty like you would with clay. Wipe of excess or use it on other areas. Remember to keep the tip wet and don't apply too much as the dissolved putty will run like paint and damage other areas of the body or part.-You have been warned!

Sculpting the putty minimizes sanding of excess putty. I've found that using solvent helps the putty to dry a bit faster on the surface. This allows for rapid building of thicker layers. DO NOT RELY ON PUTTY ALONE! Learn how to use styrene sheets and do your basic consruction/ shaping with this when modifying body panels. APPLYING TOO MUCH PUTTY TAKES A VERY LONG TIME TO DRY AND MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO UNDERLYING PLASTIC DUE TO SOLVENTS BEING ABSORBED INTO PLASTIC. -So use the putty when neccessary.


FILLING/ FINISHING SEAMS AND GAPS
You can also use cotton swabs (not cotton balls) dipped in a little bit of nail polish remover (polish remover is recommended when using on gaps in order to not dissolve surrounding details) to clean off areas of excess putty when used to fill seam lines or small gaps. I've used this method on up to 3mm gaps and levels off the ugly little bumps and points left over after application of putty. Sometimes sanding will still be required, but minimizes sanding off surrounding details.

Hope this helps some of the newbies learning about putty use. Let me know if any of this is unclear.
-Walter

Hey, thanxs for these tips, I'm sure it'll help me with my civic ferio, by the way, those styrene sheets, how much would a sheet cost on an average basis?

Excellent tips! I sometimes use Liquid cement with the putty i use in place of the acetone u describe above. You can also mix a thinner mixture of putty on a tile etc with a few drops of liquid cement. This wont work with the two part epoxy types.

Its certainly true that using putty alone is not good.