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[Richie]

Hi,
Have started building my first model but am having some problems in preparing the GRP hull to a satisfactory condition.
The model is a kit and is of a lifeboat, hence the need to try to get a very good surface finish. Unfortunately the hull is taking a lot of work to get rid of moulding lines, lumps of resin splashes (mostly on the belting, so sanding is a nightmare) and fill small airholes / cracks in the gel coat. Also, when held up to the light there are a number of areas, particularly around the keel, where it is translucent as there is almost no “fibre” reinforcement on the gel coat.  :(

I intend to add some resin with some chopped up matting inside of these thin areas to reinforce them, but my concern is filling the small airholes in the gelcoat outer surface.
I have been advised that filling with P38 is suitable on gelcoat, but that if the hole is “small” the filler may subsequently fall out as might not bond very well.
In my very limited experience with P38, I find it to be fairly coarse for these small gouges (up to approx. 1mm across).
 
So, before I get stuck into this stage of the build, is P38 OK, or is there something else that might be more suitable (modelling equivalent of Polyfilla Fine Surface!).
 
Apologies if this has already been covered in previous article, I have read many of them but cannot quite find the information i need.

Cheers

Richie   

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

Hi Richie

Welcome to the club. It's great to have you on board.

There is a mine of information on here. I know, because I've read it all and it's helped me tremendously.

Whilst I'm no expert, I'm sure there are others that can assist you with your hull. I also need to know the answer to that question as I have chips in the gelcoat on one of my hulls as well. My first reaction was to gouge out the chip to a larger hole to assist the adhesion of the P38, but feel others would advise something different, so I'm holding back.

best of luck

ken

[barriew]

For a fine filler, look for Humbrol, Tamiya or Squadron filler putty.

Barrie

[Charlie]

Hello Richie & Ken,

I have sucessfully used P38 to fill in some small airholes in the Gel Coat of my own GRP hulls. I use a drill to remove the Gel Coat from the surface so that the hole is completely open and there are no undercuts. The P38 will adhere very well to the GRP underneath, and i have never had this come lose.

Charlie

PS - what type of lifeboat are you building Richie?

[Richie]

Thanks for the information,
Charlie - I had considered this idea but thought i had better get some expert advice before putting even more holes into it.
The boat is 41ft Watson, and hopefully will become Whitby's Mary Anne Hepworth when complete.

Barrie - i will try to get some of this for some of the very fine marks (and to repair some of my sanding efforts!)

Richie

[barriew]

The Squadron is my favourite as it comes in white. Its easier to paint over than the grey ones ::) Its not too easy to find in Model Shops, but easily available on-line if you Google Squadron Putty.

Barrie

[DickyD]

Fillers and putties.

http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/fillers.html

Very efficient company.

[Richie]

Fillers and putties.

http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/fillers.html

Very efficient company.

Thanks for the link Richard. Now to see what else i can get include in the order without the boss finding out 

Richie

[Stavros]

Hi Richie as  paint sprayer with 25+yrs experience what i would do is to go down to your local Halfords and get a product called Easy light,it is a filler stopper which is pure delight to use,very easy to sand,will not pinhole like p38 can be used to fill the tiniest of holes or scratches and is the Dogs Whatsits,we use EVERY DAY



Stavros

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

Hi Richie as  paint sprayer with 25+yrs experience what i would do is to go down to your local Halfords and get a product called Easy light,it is a filler stopper which is pure delight to use,very easy to sand,will not pinhole like p38 can be used to fill the tiniest of holes or scratches and is the Dogs Whatsits,we use EVERY DAY
Stavros

Thanks for the info, Stavros.

ken

[Ow Abreast]

who's kit is it richie? you should'nt have to do all that to create a good finish,it should be tip top the hull, stavros is correct any air drying stopper will fill the minor perosity but you will need to fill any larger holes will gelcoat and rub down with wet'n'dry p38 is ok but i would'nt use it on a hull.

[Stavros]

You can use easy light on dent up to 10mm deep and it will not fall out.As I said we use this as a FILLER /Stopper simply because of it's properties.Using it on a hull is no problem at all.Filler is of course is porous and as it needs overcoating with paint there is no problem at all.
Ow Abrest why would you not use it on a hull,it is intended for vehicles which spend their lives in the rain,so what is the difference in a hull too a car as long as it is painted.Sorry but to say it but you are implying that one should not use filler at all but gel coat to fill all holes etc.
Sorry if it sounds as if I am having a go at you Ow Abrest but believe you me I am right in what I say.Lets face it how many modellers out there have access to the proper way of gelcoat repairs,let alone know how to do it......not many I can Guarantee you




Stavros




Stavros

[bosun]

Hy Guys
I,m with Stavros on this one, the Easy Light from Halfords is probably the best I have used, and thats for all aplications, from smoothing the inside of the gunwhales, to filling dents and cracks in the Hull, as for little holes ect, just make sure that they are dust free before filling and you will have no problem.
Bosun

[David_S]

Is this 'easy light' exclusive to Halfords, or is it more generally available - is there a generic version that might be available overseas?

[bosun]

Hy David_S,
My apologies I did,nt notice that you lived in Finland, I have not come across Easy Light at any other outlet, although i am sure the same product would be avaliable albeit by another brand name. It has a very smooth texture as opposed to some others that can be a bit on the coarse side. Isopan P38 is also very good, and you would,nt have a problem useing that.
Maybe Stavros will know if Easy Light is marketed under another name. I will try to find out for you.
Bosun

[David_S]

Thank you, P-38 is available off the shelf here, and I am sure the car refinishing suppliers have other materials, but it helps to know what to ask for - my rather basic Finnish is not quite up to the task of describing a filler suitable for model boat hulls!

[Colin Bishop]

Yes, I can imagine that asking for a finish in Finnish might present problems...

[Richie]

Well as the instigator of this thread, i have taken the advice kindly given and have obtained both Easy Light and the Squadron filler.
I am now busy filling and sanding. I will admit to having a pathological hatred of sanding, hence i am also having to repair some of my earlier attempts to "speed up" the job by using a dremel. ::)

This is no doubt the start of many skills to be learnt the hard way during the course of this build so look out for more requests for help! :)

Cheers

Richie

[Stavros]

Hi David S another product that is just as good as Easy light is under another name of Plastic padding,but make sure you get what is called STOPPER we also have this at wok,no real difference really except that me and the lads prefer easy light



Stavros

[David_S]

Thanks, Stavros, Plastic Padding products are available here, I'll pop into 'Motonet' and look for stopper today or tomorrow.

[787Eng]

This is the stuff to use. Its what us Jet boys use to fill pin holes in our perfect jet finishes.

http://alshobbies.com/shop/lookupstock.php?pc=7129&Desc=

Mark

[wallace]

I always use car body filler on my hulls have no touble at all ,you need to take the shine of the hull as well i used hot soap and water and fine wet and dry wash it down with hose pipe let it dry by itself dont touch,most of the time you can get all marks of the hull just dont rush it  and always spray with red-oxipe paint after two coats rub lighty down and spray again alway rub down i tend to put about 4 coats of primmer on  2 coats of undercoat and 3 coats of gloss  all are hand painter.