Putty Recommendations

[ai5629]

I was hoping someone could recommend a readily available putty to use with a metal MTL car, specifically their depressed center flatcar.  I decided to repaint and re-decal three of these cars that I did a few years back since the paint was coming off the cars (I used Floquil, and it never seemed to bond to the cars that well).  When I stripped them, the putty in the recesses in the curved part of the car dissolve away in the Scalecoat Washaway.  I was trying to fill them with Squadron putty, but I felt it was not working.  It was leaving cracks between the filled in edge of the recess.   I next tried Tamiya White Putty, and it is OK, but it keeps cracking along the filled in edge of the recess also.  I want to order something or buy something I can get me hands on quick.  I am running out of nice days to airbrush these cars.  Thank you in advance.

Jeff

[eja]

If I recall correctly, some time ago someone on TRW had success with an auto body repair product.  I do not recall the product name however.

[wazzou]

I generally use Bondo, found in tubes at Walmart or other large retailers with an automotive section.

[Mark5]

I generally use Bondo

This. I found that the Squadron stuff shrinks too much for my purposes.

[DKS]

Another vote for Bondo.

[C855B]

Bondo, sand, then followed by Tamiya surfacing primer and sand again?

[nscalbitz]

Milliput is a British (Welsh actually) based company that has been producing a modelling putty for years in the military and train market- to the extent I became a hobby distributor for them.

Used for anything- just 'filler' or repair on man made things, cures in the wet, and in our stance is a great master making and sculptable medium. I have used it for years modifying/ kitbashing and repairing lead models but it also works on plastics (scribe surfaces for greater adherence etc.) and like they say, anything else.

 Even a hot manifold crack on car; and my old chipped coffee mug exhibits a repair I could never bother to resurface with paint,
FWIW, dave

[ai5629]

Regarding Bondo, are you all referring to Glaze and Spot Putty?

[Mark5]

[ai5629]

That looks like enough material to last a lifetime of modeling!

[ai5629]

I was looking this stuff up.  It comes with a hardener.  Is this necessary, or does it work just fine without the hardener?  Thanks for the help so far.

Jeff

[DKS]

I was looking this stuff up.  It comes with a hardener.  Is this necessary, or does it work just fine without the hardener?  Thanks for the help so far.

Jeff

Hardener required. Works like two-part epoxy. Won't do much of anything without it except remain gloppy.

[wazzou]

I actually use this.  In my experience, it does not shrink though some people may disagree.

[peteski]

Only 2-part putties do not shrink (or the shrinkage is negligible).  Bondo version mentioned by DKS is such a putty, and it hardens relatively fast.  Miliput is also good epoxy putty, but it takes long time to harden.

[wazzou]

I knew you'd be the first to offer an opinion and I agree with it in general but compared to Squadron Putty, I feel this Bondo offers a night/day difference.


I will add that over the last few years, in addition to the Bondo, I have been using Mr. Surfacer by Gunze Sangyo, often after the Bondo sanding.
I have 500, 1000 and 1200.  Thickest to thinnest.