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Model Forum / General / Models / August 2007Vinyl figure help
I am working on the AMT/ERTL Darth Vader figure & it is about 13" tall. It is my first vinyl figure & is quite a change from what I am used to. Here is my (first) question. Around the edges of the cape/gown, there is a ridge. I have carved most of it off but it is still visible. I have tried sanding & filing but neither method works all that well. Is there a better way to do this or do I need to just resign myself to the fact that I will be spending hours removing this ridge? Any tips for painting? Which primers or paints? TIA  SignatureDale G Elhardt Cypress Ca "The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle." http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?userid=7702 >I am working on the AMT/ERTL Darth Vader figure & it is about 13" tall. >It is my first vinyl figure & is quite a change from what I am used to. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >TIA I lucked into a Discovery Channel report on Realdolls http://www.realdoll.com/ in a late, late night segment. It was hilarious and fascinating. Anyway their method of getting rid of polymer mold seams was to burn it off with a propane torch. It will need some practice but its an effective method. Doing it saves a lot of explaining. > I lucked into a Discovery Channel report on Realdolls > http://www.realdoll.com/ in a late, late night segment. It was [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > of explaining. > I think a soldering iron or wood burning tool would be a lot safer alternative if you were going with the heat method. Pat >>I am working on the AMT/ERTL Darth Vader figure & it is about 13" tall. >>It is my first vinyl figure & is quite a change from what I am used to. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > need some practice but its an effective method. Doing it saves a lot > of explaining. I spent far more time on that website than is healthy :o) (kim) For filling your seam use squadron green thinned with Testors liquid cement. >I am working on the AMT/ERTL Darth Vader figure & it is about 13" tall. It >is my first vinyl figure & is quite a change from what I am used to. Here [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > TIA > I am working on the AMT/ERTL Darth Vader figure & it is about 13" > tall. It is my first vinyl figure & is quite a change from what I am [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > resign myself to the fact that I will be spending hours removing this > ridge? Is the figure soft or hard vinyl? I've worked with figures done in both types. The vinyl can be carved with a X-Acto knife (use a very sharp new blade). I had luck grinding ridges off of hard vinyl with a Dremel tool and a steel cutter head, though you have to be careful not to cut away something you don't want to remove. As far as filling goes, after washing the figure with warm soapy water to get any mold release agent off of it, rinsing it thoroughly, and letting it completely dry, I've used gel type superglue to fill any defects, as if will stick to the vinyl. > Any tips for painting? Which primers or paints? I painted my figures using acrylic paints from the local WalMart's arts and crafts section, and didn't have any adhesion problems. Non-acrylic enamel paints don't stick well at best, and can have a chemical reaction with the vinyl that will prevent them from ever drying completely, so avoid those. Pat > Is the figure soft or hard vinyl? I've worked with figures done in both > types. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > letting it completely dry, I've used gel type superglue to fill any > defects, as if will stick to the vinyl. I suppose it would be classified hard vinyl. I have carved with a sharp knife, but it leaves marks that still need treatment. I hadn't thought of the Dremel. That is a good idea. I'm not real keen on the fire idea (I know my luck). Thanks for the tips. SignatureDale G Elhardt Cypress Ca "The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle." http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?userid=7702 >> Is the figure soft or hard vinyl? I've worked with figures done in both >> types. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > >Thanks for the tips. The fire technique is not to apply the flame on the seam. Its to hold the flame off far enough to singe the surface. The heat also acts to fire polish the surface. Try the technique on some molded plastic article with a prominent seam finish. Clean up the seam as much as you can first then fire polish. I tried it and it works. I don't have any model that needed this treatment though. > >I suppose it would be classified hard vinyl. I have carved with a > >sharp knife, but it leaves marks that still need treatment. I hadn't [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > hold the flame off far enough to singe the surface. The heat also > acts to fire polish the surface. You don't want to singe it either, just melt the surface slightly so that it smooths itself out. Another alternative is to chill the vinyl in the fridge or ice water, and then use sandpaper. When it's cold, it'll be stiffer and easier to sand. > Another alternative is to chill the vinyl in the fridge or ice water, > and then use sandpaper. When it's cold, it'll be stiffer and easier to > sand. I was wondering about that. I suspect it will also be more brittle & could break. What I am trying to sand is a cape. It's not real thick but I'd be afraid of snapping it if it were cold. SignatureDale G Elhardt Cypress Ca "The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle." http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?userid=7702 > The fire technique is not to apply the flame on the seam. Its to hold > the flame off far enough to singe the surface. The heat also acts to > fire polish the surface. Try the technique on some molded plastic > article with a prominent seam finish. Clean up the seam as much as > you can first then fire polish. I tried it and it works. I don't > have any model that needed this treatment though. Yeah, I kind of figured that. I have used the technique on the edges of plexiglas. Still, one slip &...poof! SignatureDale G Elhardt Cypress Ca "The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle." http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?userid=7702 > Yeah, I kind of figured that. I have used the technique on the edges > of plexiglas. Still, one slip &...poof! Yeah, it was bad enough when Anakin got fried the first time. :-) Pat > I suppose it would be classified hard vinyl. I have carved with a > sharp knife, but it leaves marks that still need treatment. I hadn't > thought of the Dremel. That is a good idea. I'm not real keen on the > fire idea (I know my luck). The Dremel works well on the hard vinyl, less well on the soft stuff. The trick is to shape it with several shorts touches of the cutter head, so as not to cause the vinyl to overheat and start to melt. Pat >> I suppose it would be classified hard vinyl. I have carved with a >> sharp knife, but it leaves marks that still need treatment. I hadn't [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Pat I wish now that I had saved the stuff I cut off, so I could practice. SignatureDale G Elhardt Cypress Ca "The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle." http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?userid=7702 |
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