Putty: What I use and Why

• Magic-Sculpt

Like most modelers, I started my career using Testor’s tube-o-putty, but quickly leaned to hate how it shrunk up. I tried green Squadron putty, but it did the same.

Even though I used plumber’s epoxy putty on some of my converted WH40K pieces, I didn’t realize there was a suitable epoxy putty solution for plastic until I read some modeling magazines and learned of several brands.

Currenly, I swear by Magic-Sculpt. It’s an epoxy resin/hardener putty that doesn’t shrink a micron. It’s easy to use, surprising cheap and gives you a good long working time. I even use it for some scratchbuilding projects where I can’t bake the piece, which Super Sculpey requires. The manufacturer suggests using talcum powder as a smoothing agent and I use that if I can’t wash the piece again, otherwise I use Vicks VapoRub.

Magic-Sculpt works great on resin, vinyl and styrene, as well as pewter. It fills seams better than anything I've used, and you can build it up inches thick, if you need to. It's not as easy to sculpt with as Super Sculpey, but as a putty, it can't be beat. It can be sanded after it dries, but it’s so easy to work with, you really shouldn’t need to. I bought 5 pounds of it, so I’ve got enough for a while.

I still use Squadron green, and even Testor’s tube of gray gook once in while, but I really don’t know why. Usually it’s just laziness.

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