Perfect Plastic Putty - am I missing something?

[pigsty]

A lot of people say they like Deluxe's Perfect Plastic Putty, so I thought I'd try it. I took off the cap, added the long tapering applicator, and squeezed some out and used it. Then I put a plastic cap over the end of the applicator to stop it drying out.

It didn't work.

Now I have an applicator full of half-set putty that will not let anything past. The only way to get at the rest is to take off the applicator and squeeze it straight from the tube, which of course produces a pool of putty, not the intended fine line. It strikes me this completely defeats the point of having an applicator, or indeed anything finer than the end of the tube, if the damned stuff will only ever block it. I suppose I could clear the applicator of putty and then replace it with the cap, but at that rate the tube will be exhausted after about six applications.

Am I doing something wrong, or have I just wasted another five quid?

[Séan Pádraig]

I never use the applicator... and have had no drying out.... to be honest I didn't even know I was supposed to use the applicator.

[Sgt.Squarehead]

I suspect that may be the answer.....I've got some but still haven't got round to trying it.

[fu_manchu]

Same for me. I was sceptical as to how it would work. I now use a cocktail stick to apply, directly from the tube rather than the nozzle.

[mcdonnell]

A lot of people say they like Deluxe's Perfect Plastic Putty, so I thought I'd try it. I took off the cap, added the long tapering applicator, and squeezed some out and used it. Then I put a plastic cap over the end of the applicator to stop it drying out.

It didn't work.

Now I have an applicator full of half-set putty that will not let anything past. The only way to get at the rest is to take off the applicator and squeeze it straight from the tube, which of course produces a pool of putty, not the intended fine line. It strikes me this completely defeats the point of having an applicator, or indeed anything finer than the end of the tube, if the damned stuff will only ever block it. I suppose I could clear the applicator of putty and then replace it with the cap, but at that rate the tube will be exhausted after about six applications.

Am I doing something wrong, or have I just wasted another five quid?

Hello,Pigsty - No,you're doing nothing wrong.I've never used the applicator.Instead,I just squeeze a little filler to the mouth of the tube and use a cocktail stick to apply it to the model.This method doesn't waste a lot of filler at all.I then gently wipe over the filler with a damp brush to provide a smooth blend into the joint and clean the surrounding area.A little trick I've learned is to then seal the filler with a thinned coat of matt enamel paint,applied by brush.I use Green /White Putty and use the same method.I then prime the model with Halfords Acrylic Primer.and the enamel provides a barrier between the filler and primer and stops the risk of the filler dissolving.Hope this may be helpful to you.All the best,Paul.

[Eludia]

I had exactly the same experience with the first tube I bought. I threw it in the bin and just put it down to experience (as I'd already thrown the cap away when I attached the spout). When I got the second tube I immediately threw the spout in the bin and now I just scoop a bit from the tube with a cocktail stick or spatula whenever I need it.

Edited January 29, 2016 by Eludia

[old thumper]

I like it for some things like for example reducing panel lines on Matchbox kits but have found it to be of no use in situations where a thin veneer of filler is needed. I never use the applicator either.

[davecov]

I have never used the applicator either but do the same as fu_manchu and use a cocktail stick to take the putty from the top of the tube.

Dave

[TheRealMrEd]

Ditto to all the above. The applicator is pretty much the most useful for hard to reach spaces, such as the seam on a wing or the inside of a nacelle toward the wing that you just can't get to otherwise. But, you have to clean out the applicator with water, thus wasting more of the putty than you are using.

I have gotten where I only use this putty for small, non load-bearing seams that don't require any re-scribing, such as canopy to fuse, where you don't want to sand at all or little.

For anything that has to be strong or shaped or scribed over, I use CA adhesive, worked while as "green" as possible after drying.

For everything in-between, I use Bondo Glazing and Spot putty, which doesn't pinhole, and generally behaves better than green putty, and has a nice, smooth texture. Sticks like crazy, too.

[pigsty]

So, the consensus seems to be, OK product in crap packaging. Glad it's not just me then!

[Housesparrow]

I like to keep my masking tape and putty inside a zip loc bag, to prevent dust from settling on the masking tape and hopefully to try preventing my putty to dry up. I am not familiar with the

Perfect Plastic Putty product though. Edited February 4, 2016 by Housesparrow

[BrianI]

I tried using the applicator the first time I tried using the perfect plastic putty. Since the instructions mentioned washing applicator out after use, I though that was quite a waste!

So I now use a cocktail stick, or if I'm doing a bit of filling, squeeze a small amount onto a jam jar lid, then apply it from there using a metal spatula / cocktail stick.

[little-cars]

If you want small amounts of of this type of filler, I would suggest getting the Vallejo putty. The tube version comes with a long thin applicator that has a cover.

http://www.modellingtools.co.uk/vallejo-putty-20ml-tube-13826-p.asp

Paul

[The original Kit Builder]

I use the tip of a scalpel, just as with green and white stuff to apply it. If you get any drying out at the top of the tube and the material becomes too dry to work in, just add a couple of drops of water and give it a few minutes to rehydrate.

This is handy, because you can also thin the material with water if you need to make it more creamy and less "pastey".

[68 SQUADRON]

i use vallejio plastic putty now as iv had no problems with it compared to the others iv tryed

[DaveCromie]

Vallejo for me too. Long, thin applicator that doesn't dry out (so far - 11 months) and a putty that you can blend in with a damp finger meaning MUCH reduced sanding afterwards which is great because I'm so lazy!

DC

[sroubos]

Threw away the applicator after getting it out of the bag. As with all my putty I apply it with an old x-acto knife; long, thin and strong, it gets the putty where it needs to go and nowhere else.

The PPP itself is a good product I feel; I only use it for seams that are too obvious but that should still be visible, like a panel line. Wing root - fuselage and stabilizer fuselage seams are good places to apply it. Applying the stuff, then wiping it off with a damp tissue leaves a subtle panel line, but only if the part match up fairly well to being with. If the seam is too large or does not coincide with a panel line, like a gap in the fuselage, Tamiya putty is still my filler of choice. Larger areas, CA glue. CA is great filler but I avoid it generally because it dries so hard; when sanding it's hard not to obliterate a lot of detail around it.

[glatisant]

PPP applied with cocktail stick or old blunt scalpel blades works for me.I would have no hard and fast rules as to where and when it gets used, just as and when I think it's going to do the job.It's a useful addition to all the others.

[colin]

If you want small amounts of of this type of filler, I would suggest getting the Vallejo putty. The tube version comes with a long thin applicator that has a cover.

http://www.modellingtools.co.uk/vallejo-putty-20ml-tube-13826-p.asp

Paul

Paul, noticed the Vallejo says water soluble while wet, does that mean when its dry it's not as the Deluxe stuff just dissolves when water hits it when dried

[snapper_city]

[Arachnid]

What's wrong with Tippex ?

[pigsty]

What's wrong with Tippex ?

It crumbles too easily, it shrinks if you apply enough in one go, and if you try two applications the layers delaminate. Still useful for small dings, though.

[sroubos]

It doesn't make you high anymore since they changed the formula some time ago

[Housesparrow]

I learned two things recently from the internet somewhere.

The pointy tip applicator has to be cleaned after use each time, and it is recommended to place the whole thing down into a glass of water to prevent the tip from drying when working.

I have this product ordered, so I haven't gotten any personal experience with it myself as of yet.

[sroubos]

With the amounts I use I would throw away 90% of the stuff if I used the pointy tip applicator...

Edited April 7, 2016 by sroubos