A New Medium to Work With

[Captain America]

On a recent trek to Lowe's Hardware on a materials run for a project I came across this:

automotive.hardwarestore.com/90-549-auto-body-fillers/fiberglass-resin-660664.aspx

Elmer's All-Purpose Fiberglass Resin.

Pretty much the same thing as the Aqua Resin needed for Pepakura projects...only a helluva lot lighter on the wallet.

A one quart can was around $15 and comes with a tube of Hardener, too. An extra tube of the Hardener was about $5. You use it with any type of fiberglass cloth or mat you choose, so prices can vary greatly there.

You use fourteen drops of the Hardener for every one ounce of the Resin, stir it up and brush it on with a paintbrush.

Cure time is roughly two hours according to the can.

I have a few test pieces curing in the shop now. I will issue a second report when I have determined whether this product will be suitable for our needs. I truly hope it is because this could really help us alot on various projects we all have going.

[red]Iron-Man...do you still have the Pepakura helmet I made for you? It'd be a good candidate for a testing of this stuff.[/red]

[Iron Man]

Of course I still have it,and it would be a good candidate for it.

[Captain America]

Great. Bring it on by sometime soon. I'll do her up or let you do it if you like.

[Iron Man]

I'll see when I can do that. I am quite curious how that stuff will work.

[Captain America]

After work tonight, I plan on doing the inside of the Normie helmet and laying the fiberglass cloth. I haven't used the cloth on it yet as, with Pepakura, you only use the cloth on the inside and then just resin on the outside. The two hour time may not be entirely accurate, I think. It was still semi-tacky after 3 hours. It seems to dry quite strong, though, judging from some of the dripping areas. Small amounts tend to be dry very quickly it seems.

[Iron Man]

Don't forget the more hardener you use the faster it will dry, it sounds just like using fiberglass resin but simpler.

[Captain America]

There's a serious need to determine what will clean the brushes or, failing that, find a supply of paint brushes on the cheap. I have a supply of miniature clubs and maces now.

I laid the cloth in the Normie head tonight. I'll check in the morning on it.

[Captain America]

Normie head seems to be progressing nicely. I began brushing down other portions of Iron Patriot this morning:

Left Bicep
Left Gauntlet
Right Gauntlet
Left Shoulder bell
Right Shoulder Bell
Torso

I am almost out of the resin. I believe I will most definitely be purchasing more very very soon. I am quite excited by the prospect of Iron Patriot being finished soon.

[Iron Man]

Do you apply the resin over the paint or paint it after you are done? If you do apply it over the paint does it cause it (the paint) to run?

[Captain America]

I applied it over the painted and/or taped sections. It didn't cause the colors to run at all. It has an altogether different problem in that it has a yellowish tint to it so the white sections of the helmet in particular aren't so white anymore. I plan on doing whatever sanding is needed and then painting it all over again.

[Iron Man]

Wow that's weird but I have seen things do that before.

[Captain America]

I've got the hemet and bicep pretty well sanded now. The other pieces will need more resin.