"Paintable" epoxy for sculpts?

[FramFramson]

Many times when doing conversions, I find that to get a very fine detail or effect or need a properly smooth surface I will simply slowly layer some cheap (i.e. thicker) paint. It sounds silly, but sometimes it's just easier for me to "paint" the surface details of sculpts.

I tried "Liquid Greenstuff" when it came out, but it's complete garbage as it doesn't flow at all. Is there any actual dedicated stuff for this, or something I can cut regular epoxy putties to get a similar effect? I figure if I ever do anything worth casting, then craft paint will not stand up to the process. Plus if there's a way to get fluid epoxy putty, then I can try different formulations for different consistencies.

[OSHIROmodels]

You could try some 'flow improver' with the liquid greenstuff 

cheers

James

[Silent Invader]

I haven't used the liquid greenstuff too much but I did find it easier to push with a pin tip or blade edge than to pull with a brush.

[FramFramson]

You could try some 'flow improver' with the liquid greenstuff 

cheers

James

Nah, the stuff is naff. If you do a quick search, you'll see no end of bad reviews for Liquid Green Stuff and I have to agree based on my experience. The main advantage is you can thin it with water and that's not TOO bad, but the pot just dries out way too quick, turning into a nearly-hard mess.

Apparently there's a Vallejo competitor in the dropper bottles, which for this particular application might be a big improvement.

[zemjw]

It's worth having a look at some of the artists' modelling pastes that are available.

Liquitex do some. They're expensive, but a tub should last pretty much forever.

I use the modelling paste for gap filling, although I'm still learning how much it requires. It can be moved around with a wet brush, and cleans up with water.

[sundayhero]

You can "dilute" milliput superfine putty with water. You can even obtain a "juice" of milliput, great to fill bubbles holes on figures. A bit more thick, you can use as a filler on bases. Etc, etc...

[FramFramson]

Cheers folks.

zemjw - is that the MIlliput superfine white?

[sundayhero]

Modelling paste is a texture effect used for arts application;

Milliput superfine white is the best quality (as far as I know) of the Milliput 2 compound putty. It's a putty used for modelling, sculpting. Major features of it are the one I was speaking about (mixing with water), but also it easily can be sanded too.

Hope it helps 

[Connectamabob]

Same trick works with Aves (and MagicSculpt, I'd risk, since as I understand it they're very similar). If you have acess to either of those, IMO go with them over Milliput. Milliput is outmoded/obsolete in comparison to newer sculpting epoxies (less favorable handling characteristics, less chemically stable), but is apparently the only thing available in some countries, which is why you still see people using/recommending it sometimes.

Scratch-filling primers can work too. I've done this sort of thing using Mr. Surfacer before.

[FramFramson]

Well in the case of the Superfine White, I already have a full pack which I bought last year and didn't use because I didn't like the consistency (someone mentioned mixing it with other putties, but I didn't like the results). If I can mix it with water to get a smooth slurry, that gives the stuff a new lease on life (and save me a few pennies)

[Connectamabob]

Ah, rock on then. Always good to find a new use for stuff you thought was a loss.

[zemjw]

I actually got my manufacturer wrong - it's the Golden molding paste I use

One thing to be careful of with milliput is that its dust is meant to be bad for you, the superfine white stuff more so than the regular stuff. If you do end up sanding it, you're probably better off wearing a dust mask while doing so.

[Mike Blake]

FWIW superglue and talcum powder make a good gap filler which dries rock hard and can be sanded smooth, and can be varied from very runny to very thick depending on the mix...but watch out for the toxic fumes as just a sniff can kill you. 

  OK, just kidding, but given that someone suggested a mask when sanding Milliput - you would need to inhale the results of sanding a whole box to have an adverse effect on a normal healthy human being!