Whats the easiest way I can make weld beads in 1/35?

I see some people use strips of styrene or is that putty?

Thanks

Jim

Either. Some people like to use hobby putty or epoxy putty (or even gel-type superglue) applied between two strips of tape to define the edges. Texture the bead with a small screwdriver or the tip of a hobby knife. Lift the tape before the material sets.
Some prefer to glue a strip of styrene and soften that with a slow setting liquid cement and texture with a blade while it's soft. Alternatively, if you have a tool like a pyrogravure (a modified wood-burning tool) or a hot knife (a soldering iron with an X-acto blade on the end), you can use heat to soften and texture the plastic strip instead of solvent. This last technique is more dangerous, obviously, and less forgiving of mistakes. On some modern vehicles, the welds have been cleaned up with a grinder, so all you see is a rounded raised area. In that case, the half round styrene strip now sold by Plastruct is a good choice. Just cement it in place and you're done.
You can also buy pre-made weld beads. Several photoetch makers sell brass weld beads that you simply superglue in place. Alternatively, Archer Dry Transfers now sells three dimensional resin weld beads on decal film that you apply like any regular decal.

Iv seen a really great weldbead tool made from an old syringe needle. The pointy bit gets ground off and a divet is cut half way down the tube (hard to explain..)..you just use liquid cement or putty and press these in one after the other and its very convincing..

Hi james
this link should help you https://armorama.kitmaker.net//features/220&page=1

Once again Thanks guys!

I promise one of these years I will start posting some of my work, if I ever really finish a project...

That was helpful.

Hey James
The easiest way to make weld beads depends on your skill level. Some can handle putty well and therefore that may prove easiest for them, whereas the strip styrene can be made to work well with a steady hand. If you mask off the bead lines in question, both can produce good tidy results, which can then be roughed up a little as required as some of the welding was crude, yet effective for it's purpose.
Brad




Hmmm. With insight? There were actually two questions.

So you saw the first and decided it would take too much effort to be civil and provide some information..
There's no law against it being in "Painting", or to kindly inform James that it should be moved either. Thoughts?

OK.... the question has been answered, Maybe it's time to move along and forget whether you like or dislike how it was answered, or whether you like, or dislike the way it was answered. Everything after the answers serves no purpose except to start another argument. If you do not like how Gary answers questions, try using the hide user button.

One more post NOT having to do with weld bead techniques and I will lock this topic.
Petty bickering doesn't help the guy who wants to learn.

Three other methods spring to mind for making/simulating weld beads.

Archer Dry transfers make a dry transfer, rub down product.

Aber makes photoetched weld beads as does at least one other manufacturer... Part?

Some folks use lead fly fishing fly tying wire superglued onto the kit or into carved channels/groves and texture this.

Mike

hi james .
i use a length of streched spure soffened with liquid polly , its easy cheap and effective ,ive took a few pics of this method ive used on my m2a2 i'll put the pics up tomorrow so you can see the results ,, good luck with which ever method you choose .

Hi James. A few months ago, I built a Dragon Jagdtiger, just to try out some of the welding affects that have been talked about. I tried both stretched sprue and 2 part putty, and felt the 2 part putty was so much easier. Ive read since that tamiya plastic is the bees knees for this method ... so that may be use ful.
Definatly read the Lee Lloyd method .... Direct Link ... and the modified hypodermic needles.


I used magic sculpt ... which allowed me to remove and work each weld until i was happy. Below are 2 images of how it turned out. I was happy enough with it for a first attempt.


Its a great technique to carry with you .. very handy for hiding appropriate joints and even around added details.

heres a few pics james..

What about using silicon for a weld bead?