How do i create weald detail in putty?

[Deckerz]

Anyone know how to give putty a wealding kinda detail, does the putty need to be wet or dry to create the effect, how do i actually create the detail? ect ect

Thanks, Dec.

[highway]

I'm not really sure who makes it or if it would even work for what you want to do, but I remember seeing in Finescale magazine photoetched welds for replicating the welds on tanks armor. Maybe something like that might be worth investigating?

[Dr. Cranky]

I make mine directly onto the plastic with one of those pen welders . . . let me see if I can dig up a couple of pictures for reference . . .

[Dr. Cranky]

Here you go, it's the Weller welding pen in the top center of this picture:

[Dr. Cranky]

Here's a reference picture of what the pen welder can do. The idea is to practice on a scrap body or piece of styrene and you'll get the hang of it in two minutes . . .

[Agent G]

I use the old tried and true stretched sprue technique.

Stretch some sprue, then glue it where you want the weld bead to be. I use plastic of a different color, the old eyes ain't what they used to be.

I like to wait a day or so then go back and brush some good old liquid glue on the bead. Once the glue softens the sprue, I use a tool to imprint the texture. I generally use a #11 knife blade with the tip broken off to stamp the texture in. Some will take a piece of aluminum or brass tube and grind or file one end at an angle. This allows for a semi circular look to the bead more like the real thing.

Personal preference, but I build a lot of armor and this works for me.

G

[Jantrix]

I've used thin solder smashed flat and cut into strips and then distessed with a piece of brass tubing like Agent G described. It's what I used here.

[Dr. Cranky]

This is why I love this forum, you can always find more than one way to get great results. EXCELLENT!

[Pete L.]

Here's a reference picture of what the pen welder can do. The idea is to practice on a scrap body or piece of styrene and you'll get the hang of it in two minutes . . .

Dr.Cranky,

What a cool thing...could you give us a little more info on that welder pen ? I found it on their website, how do you use it to detail plastic ?

thank you,

Pete L.

Edited May 2, 2011 by Pete L.

[Agent G]

I've used thin solder smashed flat and cut into strips and then distessed with a piece of brass tubing like Agent G described. It's what I used here.

Looking good there.

I have two of those 300 kits in the stash, and believe it or not was considering one for a post apoc build. Seeing yours makes me want to get started post haste!

G

[whale392]

There was a tutorial around here a short while ago about intercoolers. What does this have to do with welds you ask? Well, one of the links was to Brians Model Page where he scratchbuilt an intercooler with weld detail. He used thin sections of Milliput laid on the area he wanted to replicate the weld at, then rolled an old stiff bristled brush over it to simulate the weld texture. Let it dry and paint to highlight the overall look....VERY convincing!

Found it.........

http://www.briansmodelcars.com/tutorials/tutorial/2

Edited May 3, 2011 by whale392

[torinobradley]

I have used an ribbon epoxy to create them. Just roll it out very thin after kneading and detail it with whatever tool you have at the time. Though, the ribbon stuff is hard to find these days. Comes in a blue and yellow ribbon that you cut off a chunk, knead it until it's green and you have about 30-45 minutes of work time before it sets. I've used it to make all kinds of things including fender flares, air dams, GT350 nose (before the plastic one came out), dinosaur nose and toes, severed dragon arms, gryphons, cat tails, rats and books....

There is also photo-etched brass ones from Aber as well as resin ones (MIG and TIG) on decal film from Archer.

[Pete J.]

There are several ways to do weld seams with putty. The technique I use is to lay down two pieces of tape that out line the seam, one on each side. I then use either Euro soft two part body filler or the gray Tamiya putty, thinned with a little extra thin glue. I fill the area between the tape. I then take a toothpick and cut it on the bias so I have an elliptical end and make a series of impressions in the wet putty to get the look I want. You don't have a lot of time to make the impressions but a little roughness is good as non machine welds are not symmetric. Here is one of the welds that has been oversprayed with Alclad.

[Deckerz]

thanks for the tips guys, iv found the best way to make weald effect in putty is to slightly wet it and use a interdental brush (for cleaning between braces) rolling and pressing into the putty.

[scalenut]

thanks for the tips guys, iv found the best way to make weald effect in putty is to slightly wet it and use a interdental brush (for cleaning between braces) rolling and pressing into the putty.

after reading all the replies you still can't spell............ W E L D ?

really ?..what's up with that?

[torinobradley]

United Kingdom...

While "weald" means something else over there (woodlands), I'm sure it was a simple word confusion like to, too and two. We spell things wierd over here in the Colonies...

Color = colour

etc...

Did get lotz of grate I D-us and sore ses, thow...

[scalenut]

United Kingdom...

While "weald" means something else over there (woodlands), I'm sure it was a simple word confusion like to, too and two. We spell things wierd over here in the Colonies...

Color = colour

etc...

Did get lotz of grate I D-us and sore ses, thow...

if thats the spelling in the U.K. than I apologetically stand corrected..Ignore the yank and please carry on