try my hand on sanding. used mr compound coarse for polishing. do i need to sand more (1500 grit) to make it shiny like normal out of the box again?

---

Added on July 27, 2011, 12:40 amanother thing is, when doing wet sanding do we really need to use dishwasher detergent?
cuz mine not really skin friendly. normal body soap can ahh

From i see in the photo, i m suspecting when u cut your parts outta the runner, u have already damage the part. From photo, it looks like the nip mark is actually lower than the part's surface, a.k.a a hole. Besides that, mebbe due to the cutting blade isn't sharp enough, areas around the nip has already gone white color. This white color doesn;t only appear on the surface only, but it's actually the plastic around the cut part has turn white, due to irregular direction of force. These part unfortunately without putty n priming n coloring, it wont be disappeared 100%.

However, for other areas, i think u can use a higher grit sandpaper to sand. u can also use compound. Compound actually works like sand paper, but instead of in a sheet of paper form, it's in cream form. normally, sand paper with higher grit is more expensive. 2,000 grit sand paper is still quite commonly found in the market. But grit like 4,000, 8,000, 12,000, is basically impossible to find in hardware shop (Some online shop got) So generally we use compound to substitue.

u can use tamiya coarse, then go to fine. pointer: after u compound, if u see the surface is like with a layer of white color, those r actually extreme fine scratches due to sand paper or compounding, it means u can use a higher grit compound/sand paper to continue. Using compound to polish, if u do it right, your plastic surface can be as shiny as a car body.

P/S: when the grit is going higher, generally we dont call it sanding anymore, we generally use the word "polish"
Don't use detergent when u do wet sand.

The only time detergent exist in modeling is when u wash the plastic part, clean mold release agent from the plastic if there's any exist. Also the alkaline nature of detergent, there'r cases, when u soak the plastic in overnight or for days, sometimes the plastic will have chemical reaction. bubbles will be formed n spoil the plastic.

Huhu, i know i m long winded. can't help. old people's syndrome

I wouldn't say stupid, in fact i think u r doing something that can make your kit looks good. Generally is very hard to find high grit sand paper. 1500, even 2000 grit will leaves scratches quite visible to eyes, so if u want something like the original smoothness, at least use compound coarse, if can use until fine even better.

normal hardware shop sand paper can be used. but for higher grit ones, which means the work is very fine n mistakes can be easily spotted, i would recommend use tamiya or other good brands. this is mainly because, the grit is the size of the stone sticked on the paper. Better brand ones tend to have more standardize roughness. while lower brand ones sometimes have mixed roughness.

i usually use hardware shop one until 1200. after that (usually for car model kit) higher grit ones, i use tamiya sand paper.

This is a wip i tried to record various compounding. the part is black in color, so the cloudy, whitish layer due to compounding. i realised if the color of the part is lighter tone of color, it's harder to realise the cloudy effect.

YHes, if u compound, u can actually achieving mirror like effect, something even more glossy than MG HD version. but to that extend, u need compound-Finish. Stopping at compound Fine, u can wow normal people but still can't escape eyes of those who r really picky.
yes.

Its a bit thick than 0.02 one, if cannot reach i just ignore it(for the time being)
So, sanding requires top coat at the end is justified, u can't only sanding it rite to make it smoother...what about the shining fingernail stick? Is it manageable without top coat? I think I will stay with nipper & knife for the time being

use polishing cloth. but those better ones cause plastic lacquer is aofter than car lacquer.

1pc of those microfibre polishing cloth is around 9 something (hypermarket sells them, in car accessories department). cut it into few pieces of 2" x 2" (or whatever size u comfortable). Do the polishing with it. after wash n reuse.

wow...that was neat bro....
what grid do you use??
where can i get those ??

i recommend use cement cause it stick better than normal glue..
but take long time to make plastic stick together.. it have less white stain too

can get at hobby shop for only RM15

there is a way to make sure it doesn't block the nozzle

my way is like this

then you apply the glue, you press against the body, after you finish apply, you press at the side of the body so that the glue that stay at the nozzle will return back

then you quickly that out the nozzle, get a tissue prepare as thing might get really messy here, after taken out the nozzle then wipe both the nozzle "mouth" and the super glue "mouth" until it clean (some tissue might stick to the body, if that's the case, soak in water and rub with your hand)
one thing i dont like about the plastic cement is the smell of it

my plastic cement doesn't seem to be better than super glue, it dry slow even after i left for for few days it doesn't stick nicely, maybe my way of apply it is wrong?

Yes!!! Have a great time man! remember to share when u r done!
check this out:
http://www.hlj.com/product/GNZMN001

it meant to fit in the nozzle of normal tube super glue. yes, super glue near the tip will dry after use. but no worry, because the tip is very tight, only a small portion of super glue at the very end of the outlet will get dry n harden. so next time u when u use, just cut of a small part of tube n u r good to go.

Ok this product is 300yen..... ok we malaysian are generally very cheapo n clever. actually we can make this kind of tube ourselves easily.

- Get those vitagen straw, use a lighter to heat up (no burn!) the middle of the straw, while it's still hot, PULL! The heated part will become long n thin, form a very fine tube. Later cut it out into something similar to the gunze's product.

One vitagen straw can make 6~10 pieces if u r good at it.

It's very easy, even school kid can make them.

Yes, this is good, my opinion, even better than using ice cream stick which is more narrow. Good tips!