Using Resin
Resin is a wonderfully diverse material used in many different applications. If you've bought one of our resin products and need a few pointers on how best to prepare it for your modelling needs, hopefully this little guide will help you.
Things you may need:
- Craft Knife
- Model Clippers
- Tooth Brush
- Sanding Paper
- Modelling Putty
- Super Glue
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Safety First
First things first: Safety. The Polyurethane resin that we use for our model, when in its normal solid form is non-hazardous. However, dust produced from sanding it can have adverse health effects. We recommend using an appropriate dust mask if you need to sand resin and better still, wet sand it! Ensuring the model stays wet whilst sanding will prevent dust particles from being made.
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Getting Started
The first thing you may want to do is to give the models a little wash. During the casting process we use a small amount of mould release to aid in the extraction of the models from their moulds. Paint doesn't like to go over mould release, so you may find that your paint beads up when applied, or even lifts up once dry.
To prevent this, give your models a wash in some warm soapy water. Just add a few drops of dish soap to a bowl of warm water, it doesn't need to be bubbly and the temperature should be slightly warm to the touch, not hot. If you put the models into hot water, they'll go soft and bendy (something you may find useful when customising your models!).
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Use a soft brush to gently rub the resin models all over. This should remove any of the remaining mould release. Set them to one side and allow them time to dry.
Prepping
Once you've given your resin models a nice soapy bath, it's time to actually prepare them. For this, you'll need some sharp clippers, a craft knife, a tooth brush and possibly some fine sanding paper too.
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Top Tip: Some models are easier to paint when left on their sprue, e.g./ ammunitions and casings. You can paint a model on its sprue and clip it free at the end.
Start by carefully clipping off the models from their sprues. For best results, try to leave a small nub on the sprue in place, you can then cut the nub off with a sharp craft knife which will leave a much smoother finish.
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If the model has any flash (the really fine excess that sometimes seeps through a moulds joint) you can use a tooth brush to gently brush it away. Once the flash is cleared, check the mould line. If it's rather pronounced, use some fine sanding paper (and a little water to stop dust!) to gently sand the mould line away.
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