What if plastic models

No matter your price level, we have the plastic model for you. Popular Choices. Check out the best in stock plastic model kits from Tower Hobbies! Plastic Model Cement, 1 oz, Carded. Add to Cart. Add to Wishlist. Promotion Detail. Offer ends October 27th, pm CDT. Does not qualify for other coupon offers. Good while supplies last. Not applicable to taxes or shipping fees.

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Godzilla with Extra Glow in the Dark Parts. King Kong Glow Edition. Moebius The Invisible Man. From paints to glue, we have everything you need no matter the scare, to completes your Plastic Model. Airbrush Equipment. Shop Popular Plastic Model Brands. Tower Hobbies offers many plastic models for beginners, intermediate and advanced modelers. Tamiya Plastic Models. Mould it as close as possible to your desired shape, and smooth it with water to achieve the best finish.

Looking for a more malleable filler? Liquid plastic might be the answer! Cut scraps into small pieces and drop them into a screw-top jar. Add solvent, replace the lid, and leave to dissolve overnight. A thicker consistency is ideal for gap filling, a medium one for detailing, and a thin one when coating tissue paper for making clothing for model figures.

Pro tip : When filling dents, drill shallow holes in the depression from different angles to anchor the filling. Overfill it very slightly, leave it to harden, and sand flush.

All the rigid plastics mentioned so far, with the exception of polyethylene, can be smoothed with fine needle files and suitable abrasives. Flash the thin film of plastic which results from badly fitting moulds can be removed in this way or with a sharp knife. Plastic tends to clog fine files, but can be cleaned easily with a soft wire brush. Most plastics can also be trimmed with a finely set, sharp plane. For any larger components or thick acrylic sheet use a bench-mounted disc sander for shaping and smoothing — use light pressure to avoid overheating!

To remove flash, cut it away with a sharp knife, working as close to the edge as possible. Smooth the edge with a needle file or abrasive paper. Keen to bend your plastic like Beckham? Football may not teach you how to build plastic models, but we sure can! You can bend plastic strip or rod by pulling it under a rounded tool held on a flat surface, or by rolling a dowel across the tip of the strip or rod held on a piece of cardboard.

The greater the pressure the greater the curve. Very thin plastic sheet can be curled around a paint brush handle. If you want a more accurate method, apply a drop of liquid cement to the area you want to bend. Leave it to soften for a few minutes, then bend gently to avoid stretching. Water and heat can also be used to bend plastic. For this method, tape your component over a former and plunge it into very hot water.

Leave it to soften, then cool in cold water while still attached to the former. While some models benefit from a dull, or weathered look, others were made to shine! To polish polystyrene, acrylobutyl styrene, or acrylic, use liquid metal polish on a cotton ball and lightly rub the surface. Change the cotton ball regularly and do not let it dry. Finally, polish the surface to a high-gloss finish with a clean cotton ball.

For simpler scratches, use a polishing wheel attached to a miniature power drill and a polishing compound. With the scratches removed, use a clean cotton ball as described above. Deeper scratches will need to be removed using progressively finer grades of wet-and-dry paper to reduce blemishes until they are small enough to be polished.

Polish large sections of plastic, such as acrylic sheet, by holding them against a buffing wheel treated with polishing compound. Hold the plastic firmly against the lower part of the wheel, with the wheel revolving down onto it.

Keep the plastic moving as the action of the wheel can quickly round off the edges. Your model is ready! We hope the above tips come in handy, and that you now have a better clue on how to build plastic models!

If you have any other top tips for working plastic, let us know in the comments below or share them with your fellow scale modellers on our social media channels! LOG IN. Log into your account. Recover your password.

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