Rickshaw's Roundup

[NARSES2]

Yup I've used the Mr Surfacer 500 and Mr Base White 1000 and they are fine, but do pong a bit as Kit says. Your'e best off experimenting with them first so as to get the "feel" of them before using them on a actual project though.

As for the Heller spares department ? Given the company has gone bust/been taken over it might be a while before it's back in existence ?

[rickshaw]

So, how do you apply the Mr. Surfacer?  I have two jars of it which I've had for over three years and never used.  Do you use a brush?  What do you clean the brush with?

[NARSES2]

Yup use a brush to apply it, preferably a soft one.

To clean it, I have a bottle of Mr Colour Thinner, but I'm sure others will know of more general cleaners/chemicals that can be used.

[PR19_Kit]

I couldn't get any of the thinner stuff at all, the show stand who sold me the Surfacer said they couldn't get it. 

I used the oft mentioned iso-propyl-alcohol, which worked a treat.

[rickshaw]

Steve, thanks.   If you could please have a look, it would be appreciated.

Kit and Chris, thanks for the advice.  I assume after applying the Mr. Surfacer I then just sand it?

[ChernayaAkula]

Really no clue whatsoever regarding Heller's spare parts scheme. Some other options:
Tamiya's recent AMX-13 also comes with vinyl tracks. Maybe you can find a set of those from a modeller who used an individual link track on it.

The Takom kit comes with an individual link track. Takom also sells the track as a stand-alone item for people wishing to swap the Tamiya's vinyl tracks for plastic ones. LINK!

[PR19_Kit]

Kit and Chris, thanks for the advice.  I assume after applying the Mr. Surfacer I then just sand it?

I think with the coarser grades you do, yes, but the 1200 is just like primer paint and goes on so flat I didn't bother, it just needed a light smoothing with some 800 grit.

[NARSES2]

I couldn't get any of the thinner stuff at all, the show stand who sold me the Surfacer said they couldn't get it. 

I bought a big bottle ages ago and I've still got about half of it. Much of the "Mr Surfacer" range can be difficult to get at times , I don't know if they have a regular/reliable importer ?

Kit and Chris, thanks for the advice.  I assume after applying the Mr. Surfacer I then just sand it?

As Kit says it depends on the grade of Mr Surfacer you have used. I tend to use some micro fine sanding pads just to polish the Base White up a little, whereas with the Mr Surfacer 500 I use normal sand paper/pads.

You soon figure out what works for you 

[rickshaw]

Rick,

Still need to look through some more stuff but found these;

Looking good there.  So, I'll send you a PM and we will negotiate, OK?

[rickshaw]

DISASTER!

In the middle of the night my desk lamp decided for some inexplicable reason to depart from it's clamp and ended up lying on top of all the models I have been working on, over the last two months.   This occurred with a snap and a hell of a bang!   Luckily, only two aircraft models were damaged (and easily repaired).   A box of spare bits of plastic card and other plastic ended up on the floor and took about half an hour to clean up.  I got up to check what was going on but no one was hurt and so I went back to bed and repaired matters in the morning.  Buggered if I know why it suddenly departed where it is clamped to the side of a piece of wood I use as a shelf.  Mysteries indeed!   

[Old Wombat]

I'd merely say "Wombats!" but that may be considered self-incriminating.

So, how about "Koalas!"

[NARSES2]

Glad there was no serious damage mate. It had obviously been under some strain for a while and just reached the point where it went "Oh booger this for a game of soldiers" and snapped 

[PR19_Kit]

I keep on telling you, Australia's a DANGEROUS place to live! Even the desk lamps are out to get you! 

[rickshaw]

I keep on telling you, Australia's a DANGEROUS place to live! Even the desk lamps are out to get you! 

Well, it missed - badly.

Anyway, my mojo left me for a week and is now back on track.  Another two AFV's completed.  A Jagdpanzer 90 and an Strv 103.   

[rickshaw]

OK, finished an M60a1.  Just need to paint it now and then dirty it up... 

Other good news, I am as of tomorrow morning, employed again.  Admittedly I've had to take a 50% pay cut compared with what I used to be paid bit I'll work my way up again.