July 1, 2013

Extending The Life Of Your Putty

    My wife is an accountant, so budget is often a topic of discussion in our daily life. As with my other tip on making "liquid sprue" filler, I'm always on the lookout for thrifty modeling tools.
     Recently I noticed that my tube of Squadron White putty was drying out. This problem happens to me with every tube I buy, so much so that I frequently throw away what must be half a tube of putty. At $4.00 a tube, this can get expensive. Looking for an alternative, and keeping in mind that acetone can be used to thin some putties, I had an idea.
     Using a spare jar, I cut open the putty tube to reveal the dried putty. With an old hobby knife, I shoveled the putty into the jar until it was a little over half full. Then I used a straw as a pipette, dribbling acetone into the jar. Stirring, the mixture soon turned into a very runny slurry. It looks promising, but I haven't had a chance to use it yet, so stay tuned for an update later when I can advise you of results.
     It should be said that since acetone is one of the main ingredients, this will be a very "hot" putty. My recommendation would be to spoon some of it onto a work surface where the acetone can evaporate a little bit before applying. This will minimize the chance of damaging the plastic on your model.
     Lastly, acetone is a very strong chemical. Make sure you open a window or use a respirator when taking on projects such as this. Safety first!

--Chris

Items needed for this experiment. If your assistant is named Igor, so much the better. ;)

Spooning putty into the jar.

Stir, and voila! Magnifique! It will be interesting to see how this works.

All-American Car Show July 13, 2024

All-American Car Show July 13, 2024

ALL AMERICAN CAR SHOW Details

The All-American Car Show is inviting contestants for the Model Show in Loveland, CO ages 17 or younger. Please see the details below: Model Building contest for Cars & Trucks only. Eligible contestants are those who are 17 or younger. Fee: Free to enter Model Build contest. Main event: All American Car Show. Date: Saturday July 13th, 2024. Time: 8am - 2pm (Model contest judging at 11am). Location: Loveland Sports Complex, 950 N. Boyd Lake Ave. Loveland, CO. Awards: Best in Show: 1st, 2nd & 3rd place. Note: Those who wish to bring their model car or truck just for show and no award is open to all ages.