Mold seams
4 Unfortunately, that leaves a larger tab; remove most of it with a sanding stick or metal file. To ensure the mating area at a wing root is flat, hold the part against sandpaper taped to a hard, flat surface and move it in small circles until the area is flush. It’s important to work slowly, keep the part aligned, and check your progress frequently.
5 Just as with injection-molded plastic, resin cast in two-part molds can show mold seams. Fine lines are easily eliminated with a sanding stick or sandpaper. Take care to avoid scratching the surrounding surfaces or damaging detail.
6 In tight spots, such as behind the knees of Hunk of Junk’s 1/6 scale Xev Bellringer (from the TV series Lexx), remove mold seams with a hobby knife. Eliminate all traces of the blemish with sandpaper thin enough to get into the narrowest recesses.
Fixing warped resin
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A quick check of Xev’s legs showed that the lower sections bent up slightly and wouldn’t sit flat. The part may have been molded that way, or it may have warped during removal from the molds or in storage.
Boil water in a container large enough to submerge the warped part. The thickness of the resin determines how long it should stay in the hot water. Thinner parts don’t need much, but the thicker material of Xev’s legs required 25-30 seconds.
Cleaning
Pinholes
10 Many resin parts are coated in a mold-release agent to ease removal from the mold. Unfortunately, that substance can prevent paint from sticking to the resin. To remove it, soak the parts in an aggressive detergent such as Westley’s Bleche-Wite tire cleaner. Wear gloves and eye protection, and avoid splashing it on bare skin as it can cause burns.
9 Immediately after removing the part from the water, apply gentle pressure and bend it to the desired position. A quick dip in cold water will set the resin in its new position.
Safety
11 Air trapped in resin as it hardens produces small voids in the material. Fill each with a drop of super glue and sand it flush. Before painting, prime resin parts to check for problems and promote paint adhesion.
Resin dust can be irritating: Wear gloves and a respirator when sanding or cutting resin. Eye protection is essential whenever a motor tool or corrosive cleaners are used. FSM
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