Filler for Conversion Work

[Sir Wulf]

In the past, I've always used squadron green putty when I needed to fill in areas on a figure. While it works adequately to "spackle in" gaps, it always seemed a bit brittle for other work.

This week, I'm repositioning and building up limbs on several figures. I want to modify their faces, adding beards and hats or helmets or changing their hair. I also want to build up muscular arms and legs to better match their current poses.

What materials would you guys suggest for this purpose?

 

[Einion]

Epoxy putty is the thing for this. I would recommend MagicSculp for this as I think it's the best overall, but Apoxie Sculpt, ProCreate and A+B are all options. Milliput is used by some people but I wouldn't recommend it for a couple of reasons.

Kneadatite (Greenstuff or GS) has its adherents for this kind of thing but the more clay-like ones are better all-rounders and offer specific advantages, being rigid for one. Some people think (me included) that it's worth having both GS in addition to whatever you choose as your main putty, as sometimes only GS will do quite what you want.

Einion

 

[freakinacage]

although i would use putties for the edges, for joins that won't been seen, super glue and then bicarb makes a rock solid lump which dries immediately. can be filed too. then putty to smooth. beauty with this is that the bits are held in place by the glue while you smooth out (so no annoying movement) and you use less putty!

 

[Einion]

although i would use putties for the edges, for joins that won't been seen, super glue and then bicarb makes a rock solid lump which dries immediately.

:good:

Einion

 

[72GMC]

Milliput is used by some people but I wouldn't recommend it for a couple of reasons.

Could I ask your reasons? I've never had issues with milliput, I'd like to hear what others say about it.

 

[Einion]

Could I ask your reasons? I've never had issues with milliput, I'd like to hear what others say about it.

On the plus side, Milliput cures good and hard and is nice to carve, sand or otherwise work dry. It performs well with water, for feathering out or blended to a slurry for filling surface imperfections and for sort of painting on detail. But the negatives... long list.

The unmixed putty can be hard at room temperature, hard enough that your fingers hurt when you're done blending. Very sticky once you get it mixing - not uncommon if you're mixing up a small amount to have more stuck to your fingers than in the ball of putty! So it can take a long time to mix as a result (and with Superfine White, they recommend you mix for at least five minutes) where MS or AS can be mixed in 30 seconds flat with zero putty stuck to the fingertips*.

It has a relatively short shelf-life, being prone to developing 'Milliput leprosy' (the hard, cracked skin on one or both tubes).

It's expensive**, particularly at full retail (although you can find it for a lot less with a bit of searching).

And last but not least, many of the others are just better for what we use it for. Working characteristics aren't the only consideration but they're pretty high on the list and in a direct comparison of Milliput and any of the more waxy clay-type putties there is just no comparison for some people - stick to your fingers and tools less, easier to make do what you want, less prone to 'tearing' when dragging a tool over the surface, less prone to clumping when using water. Plus, the other putties are very forgiving of variations in resin/hardener proportion (either accidentally or deliberately, to vary characteristics).

If one doesn't have MagicSculp, Apoxie Sculpt, ProCreate or A+B you can simulate them to some degree with a blend of Milliput and Kneadatite to get an idea of what you'd get straight from the container.

*There is still a residue from mixing, which ideally should be washed off before proceeding. Alternatively, wear gloves or finger cots when blending.

**8.8c per g for Milliput versus 1.1c per g (!) for MS if you buy the 5lb pack at a good price.

Einion

 

[72GMC]

I use milliput white. It does like to stick to your fingers, so before I start I get my hands damp and it works fine. I keep my tools damp when working with it as well and it works fine for me. Then again I am no sculptor so what do I know, I'm just a dabbler.

 

[scottjames]

I just got a tube of Squadron Green (SG) in the post. I've always used Milliput until now but a fit of laziness had me ordering the SG. No mixing! I find the back of the tube makes for scary reading though. There are some very harmful things in there.!?

Are Milliput et al just as harmful as SG, but the laws of the country they're manufactured in don't dictate they have to write the same kind of warnings as SG does (which is from Texas I think)?

I haven't used it yet thanks to the 'scary text'..

Thoughts?

 

[Einion]

I just got a tube of Squadron Green (SG) in the post.... I find the back of the tube makes for scary reading though. There are some very harmful things in there.!?

Yeah, you can tell a bit just from the smell!

Toxicity is complicated. But broadly speaking the active chemicals in epoxies are similar and they have some warning associated with them, but usually just with regard to avoiding too much exposure (cleaning hands after use takes care of most of that).

But as a general statement you could say that epoxy putties aren't toxic, while Squadron Green is.

Einion

 

[freakinacage]

yeah i heard squadron green is a bad one