Smooth or quick type? tamiya

Hey everyone, I have been searching and I can't find a definite answer on this. Which is better to use for building(or adding onto an existing kit to make a new one) body kits and such? Mostly when I had searched it just said use epoxy puddy but not which one. I need to know since I have to order all of my supplies and have them sent to my dorm room since there are no hobby stores around my college :(

Also if anyone has a few extra mins, is there anything else that I really will need to build a kit? Thank you inadvance and I appreciate you taking the time to read this!

i use tamiya 2 part polyester putty... comes in 2 tubes. one is large and white, like a tube of tooth paste. the other tube is small and green, about 1/2 inch round by 1 1/2 inch long.

you have to mix it up in the right ratio, basically, squeeze out a line of the white tube, and then squeeze out a line from the green tube, and then mix then together very well. as long as you make the lines the same length, you should have no problem. i let it dry overnight, and then you can sand or file it like it is plastic.

i ususally apply it with a small wooden spatula type tool, and a tooth pick for more precise control... but the idea is to put on more than you need and then come back and finish the detail with some small needle files or an x-acto knife..

also, if you plan on building body kits, use styrene sheets to build the main shape of the kit, and then overlay it with the putty, that way you have most of the shape already done, and you can use the putty for the detail work.

~mike

here is the putty i use...
http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/tools/images/thumbnails/87027.jpg

Thanks. The place I was going to buy the smooth or quick also had the polyester but it was $18(US currency) for 120g. Is that a decent price? Thanks inadvance!

*oh yeah the polyester seems exactly like the "bondo" I used to fix rust.*

Originally posted by mp3z24
i use tamiya 2 part polyester putty... comes in 2 tubes. one is large and white, like a tube of tooth paste. the other tube is small and green, about 1/2 inch round by 1 1/2 inch long.

you have to mix it up in the right ratio, basically, squeeze out a line of the white tube, and then squeeze out a line from the green tube, and then mix then together very well. as long as you make the lines the same length, you should have no problem. i let it dry overnight, and then you can sand or file it like it is plastic.

i ususally apply it with a small wooden spatula type tool, and a tooth pick for more precise control... but the idea is to put on more than you need and then come back and finish the detail with some small needle files or an x-acto knife..

also, if you plan on building body kits, use styrene sheets to build the main shape of the kit, and then overlay it with the putty, that way you have most of the shape already done, and you can use the putty for the detail work.

~mike

here is the putty i use...
http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/tools/images/thumbnails/87027.jpg

i used the quick type on the car in my sig. the entire body kit is 95% quick type tamiya epoxy.. it may not be the best way to do it but for recreating the bomex front end, im not sure what else you can do... never used polyester putty but it seems promising. good luck


oh and other things you will need besides putty:
-needle files
-plastic styrene sheets or strips (search for Evergreen)
-hobby knives
-a vacuum to clean up all the shavings on your workspace when you start shaving the putty away to mold the kit
-sand paper of varying grits
-a mask to keep from breathing in all the putty dust
-lots of reference pictures from every angle of the kit you are trying to reporduce (very important if you are trying to recreate something that exists)
-a lot of patience


think thats it and BTW ive seen the polyester putty from tamiya for like $10-12 on the internet and in the one shop around me that sells it...

Do you know if it is that size bottle? Also what is the name of the shop? Thanks a lot Cozmo, I really appreciate it.

Originally posted by COZMO6476
i used the quick type on the car in my sig. the entire body kit is 95% quick type tamiya epoxy.. it may not be the best way to do it but for recreating the bomex front end, im not sure what else you can do... never used polyester putty but it seems promising. good luck


oh and other things you will need besides putty:
-needle files
-plastic styrene sheets or strips (search for Evergreen)
-hobby knives
-a vacuum to clean up all the shavings on your workspace when you start shaving the putty away to mold the kit
-sand paper of varying grits
-a mask to keep from breathing in all the putty dust
-lots of reference pictures from every angle of the kit you are trying to reporduce (very important if you are trying to recreate something that exists)
-a lot of patience


think thats it and BTW ive seen the polyester putty from tamiya for like $10-12 on the internet and in the one shop around me that sells it...

other materials I find useful is a good set of brushes, from larger to super fine. Also if you have the cash invest in a good airbrush the spray works a lot better then spray can. and a compressor. If you are in the states go to walmart and pick up a 2 gallon compressor for 99 dollars. beside the use of airbrush you can buy attachment to use for automotive or home use. Much better then buying an aircompressor made for airbrush. hmm what else get some wire coat hangar so you can make a spray stand, lots of tamiya paints. generally gloss black, aluminum, chrome are the major color in cars. Liquid mask i find usefull on small area that needs to be masked off.

Thats about all i can think off but i am sure there is more.

Thanks a lot Godzilla! I have been debating about getting an airbrush, but I want to wait till I finish a few more models to make sure I will have the time to work on my models! I don't want to dish out all of the money for a compressor/airbrush and then find out I won't have time to use it :( I have been using "Testors" spray cans and have not had a problem with them at all. I hadn't seen Tamiya spray cans till I went to this one shop around my area but I still had already started a can so my next time home I will be switching to Tamiya. I will see how much better Tamiya is hehe.

Originally posted by God|Zilla168
other materials I find useful is a good set of brushes, from larger to super fine. Also if you have the cash invest in a good airbrush the spray works a lot better then spray can. and a compressor. If you are in the states go to walmart and pick up a 2 gallon compressor for 99 dollars. beside the use of airbrush you can buy attachment to use for automotive or home use. Much better then buying an aircompressor made for airbrush. hmm what else get some wire coat hangar so you can make a spray stand, lots of tamiya paints. generally gloss black, aluminum, chrome are the major color in cars. Liquid mask i find usefull on small area that needs to be masked off.

Thats about all i can think off but i am sure there is more.

I've used the smooth type, and it never really hardens, even after 6 months. The finished product is soft and bendable. I think it's more suitable for sculpting figures than hard, angular objects.

Quick type

I like Polyester putty as well. But I don't like the Tamiya at all. It smells really strong, doesn't carve well either. I like Mori Mori putty more. You can only get it from Japan but it's worth it! HLJ.com sells it.

Can anyone confirm this? Does Tamiya Polyester Putty have a really strong smell? I had planned to work on it in my dorm room.... which means I have a roommate. I am friends with him, but I still don't want it to be too bad and we live in a wintery area so opening the window will rarely happen.... gotta love 10 degree faranheit weather :(

Originally posted by JDM Evo7
I like Polyester putty as well. But I don't like the Tamiya at all. It smells really strong, doesn't carve well either. I like Mori Mori putty more. You can only get it from Japan but it's worth it! HLJ.com sells it.

it will smell a bit and i don't know how small the room is the fume could be irratating for a bit. i suggest working when your room mate is not around, just ask him then work on your models and after done spray some airfreshner i guess to at least make the room smell like a garden :D


unless you both like to get high on epoxy glue smell. maybe open the window just a tad to get some fresh air at least.

i only used the Quick type adn haven't used the smooth type putty... i find that the Quick type is very smooth itself and that it is very quick to dry (hence the name Quick type) .. but yeh... u need alot of sanding plus the liquid putty to make everything even and nice at the end...
i mite buy some smooth type this week to see the difference