Modelling Putty To Repair/build Up Broken Lexan Shells?

[robster959]

Hey all,

Well, I might as well fess up. I had a decent 959 shell and long story short, it's cracked up, splitting apart, etc...

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a kind of putty to fill in holes, or build up areas that are missing. I'm planning to paint it on the outside if this works. Originally, I had used some Tamiya putty to filling in the corners of the radiator, and that worked. At this point though, there will be lots of shaping and contouring needed. I'm not modeller, so I don't even know if I'd be able to rebuild the front etc... If anyone could recommend a very soft putty to work with, or one that can be shaped or sanded easily, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,

Rob

[homerboi]

Rob,

A putty that's going to adhere to lexan and provide the same flexibility? Is there one?

I am not sure if this is what you are looking for, but I've used a product called polyweld (based in the UK).

It's a plastic weld for polycarb. I've used in on my 959 shell resto repairs and numerous other lexan repairs.

I spent countless hours cutting and shaping small lexan pieces used to bond onto the old tattered 959 body to repair cracks, holes and missing sections.

I was also able to rebuild the front lower radiator section (using its original pieces)

Works great!

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.a...85&id=15937

[robster959]

Hi. I remember checking out your craftsmanship before. Great job! I was pretty hopeful that technique would work for me, but things have gotten exponentially worse. Did you ever paint that shell?

Rob

Rob,

A putty that's going to adhere to lexan and provide the same flexibility? Is there one?

I am not sure if this is what you are looking for, but I've used a product called polyweld (based in the UK).

It's a plastic weld for polycarb. I've used in on my 959 shell resto repairs and numerous other lexan repairs.

I spent countless hours cutting and shaping small lexan pieces used to bond onto the old tattered 959 body to repair cracks, holes and missing sections.

I was also able to rebuild the front lower radiator section (using its original pieces)

Works great!

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.a...85&id=15937

[robster959]

Is Polyeld the name of the company that makes it? I've been searching for it, but can't find it. Any more details on it? I'd really like to get some.

Rob

Rob,

A putty that's going to adhere to lexan and provide the same flexibility? Is there one?

I am not sure if this is what you are looking for, but I've used a product called polyweld (based in the UK).

It's a plastic weld for polycarb. I've used in on my 959 shell resto repairs and numerous other lexan repairs.

I spent countless hours cutting and shaping small lexan pieces used to bond onto the old tattered 959 body to repair cracks, holes and missing sections.

I was also able to rebuild the front lower radiator section (using its original pieces)

Works great!

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.a...85&id=15937

[homerboi]

Hi Rob,

I still haven't painted the shell. It's still sitting on my shelf looking pretty. I've been too busy with work at the shop and my alum replacement R parts and scorcher parts - add a few kids that need assistance growing up and it makes for a busy schedule. 8)

As for the polyweld - here are the links - http://s159915426.oneandoneshop.co.uk/sess...ndex.shopscript

http://s159915426.oneandoneshop.co.uk/sess...B%3D28PWD1%3D29

I purchased 2 bottles over a year ago to use for all my lexan repairs - I'm still on the first bottle - still half full.

My latest project allowed me to rebuild a severely damaged WO shell with new thicker pieces of new lexan. Quite enjoyable project. It's done and hope to get to painted soon. I hope.

[robster959]

Hey thanks for the links - I'm hoping I can get the car back together. Before it seems quite possible, but now....

Good luck with the WO, and hey, why not get around to painting that 959? I'd love to see the results when it's done. Planning to use regular Tamiya spray?

After you welded your 959, did you sand it, or shape it? Just wonderin how you managed to get your results.

Rob

Hi Rob,

I still haven't painted the shell. It's still sitting on my shelf looking pretty. I've been too busy with work at the shop and my alum replacement R parts and scorcher parts - add a few kids that need assistance growing up and it makes for a busy schedule. 8)

As for the polyweld - here are the links - http://s159915426.oneandoneshop.co.uk/sess...ndex.shopscript

http://s159915426.oneandoneshop.co.uk/sess...B%3D28PWD1%3D29

I purchased 2 bottles over a year ago to use for all my lexan repairs - I'm still on the first bottle - still half full.

My latest project allowed me to rebuild a severely damaged WO shell with new thicker pieces of new lexan. Quite enjoyable project. It's done and hope to get to painted soon. I hope.

[homerboi]

Hey thanks for the links - I'm hoping I can get the car back together. Before it seems quite possible, but now....

Good luck with the WO, and hey, why not get around to painting that 959? I'd love to see the results when it's done. Planning to use regular Tamiya spray?

After you welded your 959, did you sand it, or shape it? Just wonderin how you managed to get your results.

Rob

I've used polyweld on some scrap lexan pieces. I plan to do some test spray painting on these first to see what the resulting finish will look like. [Although this is a moot point since the body has already been polywelded and repaired ] I guess want to make sure I can get a good resulting finish before I do the actual body. I'll paint it on the inside with TC paint - either bottle or airbrush - not sure just yet.

After I polywelded the lexan pieces to the cracks and holes, I only trim sanded as required using my dremel. Many of the lexan pieces I polywelded were cut and shaped, and then dry fitted to make sure they fit into place properly. I also used mini clamps and paper clamps ( http://farm1.static.flickr.com/227/477339495_0fc764c8b9.jpg ) to hold the welded pieces together to allow them to set.

[B4BOY]

Hi, is lexan the stuff that the old models are made out of? I have a blazing blazer and the front guards have been broken off so I need to fix them.

Would the stuff you guys are talking about be useful for this?

[robster959]

Hi,

Lexan is the clear plastic that the body shells are made of.

Rob

Hi, is lexan the stuff that the old models are made out of? I have a blazing blazer and the front guards have been broken off so I need to fix them.

Would the stuff you guys are talking about be useful for this?

[B4BOY]

ah so what are the old shells made of then?

[robster959]

I believe it's called polystyrene?

ah so what are the old shells made of then?

[casethejoint]

ah so what are the old shells made of then?

The hard shells are usually some derivative of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, commonly referred to as "ABS".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylonitrile_butadiene_styrene

The lexan being referred to is the thin clear stuff most modern models come with.

I'm not sure if the product would work on ABS. It might do, but it's a totally different material

[homerboi]

Hi, is lexan the stuff that the old models are made out of? I have a blazing blazer and the front guards have been broken off so I need to fix them.

Would the stuff you guys are talking about be useful for this?

It should work as per the listed uses.

I've used it for some repairs on household hard plastics and some of my children's plastic toys.

So far it's results are mixed with hard plastics. This liquid chemical has the consistency of water and is brushed onto the joints or surfaces that

you want to fuse together. Unlike plastic cement, polyweld fuses the lexan or plastic (supposedly) at the molecular level.

I've tested this to repair low stress handles. So far, it's doing what it is designed for - bonding the broken parts.

As for use on hard your older hard shells, I don't see it doing any harm. The question is how much stress it will take at the repair seam before

breaking at that seam.

[Live Steam Mad]

The hard shells are usually some derivative of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, commonly referred to as "ABS".

Wrong. They are made from PolyStyrene / Styrol resin. Hence in the Tamiya catalogues where they NEVER called any shell ABS, they were always called PS Injection Moulded, where PS = PolyStyrene. I don't know where this urban myth came from about ABS. It's one of my pet hates.

Rgds.

Alistair G.

[casethejoint]

It's one of my pet hates.

Ooops, sorry

Thanks for the correction.

I don't know where this urban myth came from

I've thought that for many years. Possibly from a manufacturer other than Tamiya that does use ABS?