First time resin user - tips?

[Monty]

Got a couple unused resin pieces from another modeler.  He couldn't recall who had cast them and they had no instructions etc.  

I'm just looking for basic prep tips so I can paint and detail them.

 

[espo]

A good clean in some regular dish soap would be a good start. The mold release used on many castings can be a problem. The ones I have used I try to do any clean up and sanding away from my normal work station. Resin doesn't always like to stick to our normal model paints and the dust from any sanding can get on other parts you're working with and may cause a problem when you get to paint. I have had the best luck using regular automotive primer on the resin parts instead of regular primer. Beyond that the normal sanding of the primer prior to any color coats seem to work fine. I'm sure others will also have some additional advice in this area. 

[Paul Payne]

Espo nailed the prepping, which is actually pretty standard for any material. With resin you will be using other adhesives instead of styrene cement. 

[misterNNL]

I love working with good quality resin. The variety of unique vehicles and otherwise unavailable parts is inspiring if you are tired of the same old offerings. You should sometimes expect the usual problems(?) like pin holes,excess flash and thicker body panels found with the injection molded kits we are used to.

I recommend a vigorous parts cleaning during the prep stage and I personally prefer using super glue as my adhesive of choice. Others prefer epoxy. I always use automotive speed glaze lacquer putty for fine body work and rattle can automotive primer.

Enjoy whatever you decide to do with your with your resin,but surely don't be afraid to dive right in and build them. Hopefully they are something unique that someone will see finished and ask you where you got that.

 

[espo]

On 9/30/2020 at 10:15 PM, Monty said:

Got a couple unused resin pieces from another modeler.  He couldn't recall who had cast them and they had no instructions etc.  

I'm just looking for basic prep tips so I can paint and detail them.

 

I'm working on a resin body at this time. I bought it at a local show & swap meet a couple of years ago and there is no info on the box as to where it came from and I don't remember who I even bought it from so I'm of no help there. What I wanted to point out if you haven't done any resin bodies before is the difference in the quality of some of these bodies. For me it was about the subject but just important was the quality of the casting. What I have seen is that many of the newer casting that are out there are using a different formula of some sort and the old problems with pin holes are all but gone and the castings have much better trim details and are almost as thin as a normal plastic kit. These seem to be done with a white colored material and require very little clean up and flashing is almost eliminated. Should this be your first adventure with resin I would suggest finding your subject that is done with this material as a first try. The older resin bodies I have built have been a challenge in that there is a lot of flashing and the trim details are vague at best to not even being there at all. I'm not trying to scare you off of building, I'm just thinking that cutting your teeth on a resin body requiring the minimum of work will keep you from maybe becoming discouraged.  What ever you do please post your build so we all can enjoy it. Don't be afraid to put up your hand if you run into a problem as there are many builder here with far more experience in this area than I that can answer any questions you may have.