Mh1986 13 Posted May 9, 2023 Hi, I'm very new to modifying plastic hard bodies and I'm currently struggling to make a decent abs slurry for filling gaps and reinforcing joints. I'm trying to stretch a grasshopper body to fit a DT03 chassis. I've tried using 25g part sprues in 50ml of acetone and ended up with a PVA type liquid with lumps that don't dissolve. I tried again yesterday same quantities but with new styrene sheet and ended up with a putty like blob sat underneath the acetone. Any advice would be much appreciated 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Badcrumble 4204 Posted May 9, 2023 For ABS, I believe MEK is recommended. It has a similar chemical make up to Acetone UK eBay link Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mh1986 13 Posted May 9, 2023 Thank you, I'm not sure if my ratio is wrong Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ad456 331 Posted May 9, 2023 (edited) I’d say it is a bit wet. Throw more plastic in or take out some of your liquid. You’ve got the right idea going I think. Hopefully someone with more experience will weigh in. This is what happened when I tried with acetone, I wonder if actual MEK or PlastiWeld would give better results but in fairness when I used it it was fine. Edited May 9, 2023 by ad456 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mh1986 13 Posted May 9, 2023 If it was too wet would it not be really thin? If I try to stir it, it moves around like a blob in the liquid it doesn't seem to want to mix. Would replacing the acetone make any difference? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ad456 331 Posted May 9, 2023 You can just use the softened ABS as glue, that’s what I did and it stuck well when I tested it on other leftover sprues. I’m not certain it will mix “properly” when using acetone, this is probably due to my inexperience/lack of knowledge. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mh1986 13 Posted May 9, 2023 Thanks for the advice everyone, it looks so simple on YouTube. I will test it on some scraps first. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mh1986 13 Posted May 14, 2023 Made a third batch, same quantities, this time only using tamiya part sprues, no styrene sheet and it works perfectly. Next question, can any one recommend a filler that will work with the abs. I just want a fine skim over the top to smooth out the imperfections 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ad456 331 Posted May 14, 2023 I wonder if the sheets are a different type of styrene as the sprues as I used sheet too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alvinlwh 5895 Posted May 14, 2023 6 hours ago, Mh1986 said: filler that will work with the abs Milliput. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Busdriver 6209 Posted May 22, 2023 On 5/14/2023 at 9:57 PM, alvinlwh said: Milliput. Isopon P38 two part filler. Use on 1:1 cars but can be bought in reasonably small quantities for modelling. Sands really well and flexible to a point. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ad456 331 Posted May 22, 2023 I checked what type of sheets I’d bought and it turns out they are HIPS so I think that’ll be why I ended up with a “blob” like @Mh1986, are your sheets HIPS or ABS? And I’ll second Milliput and Isopon. I tend to use Isopon more often as it’s easier to spread on a bigger area and I like the smell Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mh1986 13 Posted May 24, 2023 I imagine my sheets must be hips not abs, the advert simply says styrene sheet. It has come out fairly well with just the abs slurry, however I find it quite difficult to sand smooth without damaging the surrounding areas, filler may have been easier in this respect. The slurry also leaves small air bubbles which I was hoping the primer and paint may have filled in but have not. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nodtec 76 Posted May 29, 2023 Try the glue that's used for putting plastic plumbing pipe together. It's a bit thicker than normal modelling glue. You usually see it in blue or green but a good hardware will have clear as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Willy iine 18806 Posted May 30, 2023 Is the GH body ABs? I thought they were more styrene based like other hard shells? If so I would use styrene sheets with standard plastic model cement. Should adhere just fine.. and Tamiya putty to clean up the seam. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mh1986 13 Posted May 30, 2023 1 hour ago, Willy iine said: Is the GH body ABs? I thought they were more styrene based like other hard shells? If so I would use styrene sheets with standard plastic model cement. Should adhere just fine.. and Tamiya putty to clean up the seam. Thanks for the advice, I'm not really sure what the shell is made of, if it's the same as the wheels it is ABS. The styrene sheet has bonded to the shell just fine. My issue seemed to be having any styrene sheet In the acetone prevented it from become a smooth lump free liquid Slurry). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mh1986 13 Posted May 30, 2023 Now I just need to modify the decals. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bRIBEGuy 3045 Posted June 5, 2023 On 5/30/2023 at 1:26 PM, Willy iine said: Is the GH body ABs? I thought they were more styrene based like other hard shells? If so I would use styrene sheets with standard plastic model cement. Should adhere just fine.. and Tamiya putty to clean up the seam. Tamiya hardshells are polystyrene, not ABS, you are correct. The "ABS Thing" is just sort of an urban myth that has perpetuated (likely since the shells are white and folks are familiar with white ABS). If you look at most Tamiya bodies/part sprues, it will even have a material code moulded into it. Most will say >PS<, which stands for polystyrene. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Willy iine 18806 Posted June 5, 2023 53 minutes ago, bRIBEGuy said: Tamiya hardshells are polystyrene, not ABS, you are correct. The "ABS Thing" is just sort of an urban myth that has perpetuated (likely since the shells are white and folks are familiar with white ABS). If you look at most Tamiya bodies/part sprues, it will even have a material code moulded into it. Most will say >PS<, which stands for polystyrene. Yeah, I'm no chemist and 99% of the time I don't know what I'm talking about so.. Just lucky things worked out.. with hope.. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites