UK Equivalent Products?

I have just started on making pepakura models the past few days, now on my 3rd build. I can make the models ok but the next step is resin/fibreglassing them prior to painting. I know the exact products to use if i lived in the US but in the UK we cant get any of that stuff and i dont know what equivalents here would be the same as the US versions. For the outside of the models i know its resin only and fibreglass only on the insides but alot of resins seem to require being mixed with the matting etc which i dont want so im unsure of the right product to buy here as i cant buy the Bondo Fiberglass Resin that is used for this in the US which only requires mixing with hardener not any kind of matting as well. I know it needs to be polyester resin

A tutorial on youtube of how to strengthen pep armour instead of bondo resin on the outside used Smooth Cast 321 instead (again a product we cant buy here) Would this or the resin be better for the outside of the models? If the smooth cast would be better then what would be the right product to buy here as we cant get that? For the inside i have ordered some of the proper bondo fiberglass cloth from the US as the cost wasnt too bad, cant get the resin itself though as shipping is way too expensive on it otherwise i'd just buy that as i know it to be right


Just want to check i buy the right products and not something that will ruin my builds, not work or waste money on. If anyone can provide some links as to the products to buy i'd appreciate it


Thanks

Lex said:

im unsure of the right product to buy here as i cant buy the Bondo Fiberglass Resin that is used for this in the US which only requires mixing with hardener not any kind of matting as well. I know it needs to be polyester resin

A tutorial on youtube of how to strengthen pep armour instead of bondo resin on the outside used Smooth Cast 321 instead (again a product we cant buy here) Would this or the resin be better for the outside of the models? If the smooth cast would be better then what would be the right product to buy here as we cant get that? For the inside i have ordered some of the proper bondo fiberglass cloth from the US as the cost wasnt too bad, cant get the resin itself though as shipping is way too expensive on it otherwise i'd just buy that as i know it to be right

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A few thoughts:

• "Polyester resin" is enough of a term to search and find shops that sell you all sorts of supplies. Get one for laminating. They usually don't sell the right safety equipment though (whatever the reason for that might be...), so get that somewhere else.
• No idea what you mean about mixing resin with matting.
• You can get Smooth-On's products in Europe, they have distributors here. Doesn't help the price much though. The SmoothCast series are polyurethane casting resins, I have no doubt that you can find alternatives if you want. Polyester resin is probably the better choice because it's cheaper.
• You can get fibreglass in tons of different styles in Europe, too. You don't have to import that. The brand doesn't matter.
• There are other forum members from the UK and from Europe, see what they've used. I know for sure that there are threads about it.

I think i know what to buy now, the Cray Valley resin (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cray-Valley-1...tEquipment_Accessories_SM&hash=item4841392d60) Sounds equivalent to bondo. All i found in hardware stores and automotive stores was glass fibre resin which requires mixing with glass matting which is what i ment by that, its like fibreglassing rather than just resin (ie not what i want) I searched for ages trying to find an equivalent of the Smooth Cast 321 but found nothing of the brand here. If theres no real difference then i'll just use the resin, just wondered if one was better to use than the other for finish

I tried to search for UK stuff here, apparently theres a UK section but i cant find one. One last question, when people talk about the 'bondo stage' i wasnt even sure what bondo is. Its just an automotive body filler (so like putty)? I know bondo is just a brand name so any car body filler would do (such as this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STEVENS-AUTOM..._Body_Shop_Supplies_Paint&hash=item35a4083a59) ?


Again i just want to make sure i buy the correct products, theres so much info out there it can get confusing as to what to buy. I do know what im doing though process wise i just need confirmation of the products. I've read around alot on this and watched tutorial videos so i know all the stages of creating the models. I just need to learn how to paint im really bad at that.. Hopefully my models work out, things tend to go wrong for me

Lex said:

I think i know what to buy now, the Cray Valley resin (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cray-Valley-1...tEquipment_Accessories_SM&hash=item4841392d60) Sounds equivalent to bondo. All i found in hardware stores and automotive stores was glass fibre resin which requires mixing with glass matting which is what i ment by that, its like fibreglassing rather than just resin (ie not what i want) I searched for ages trying to find an equivalent of the Smooth Cast 321 but found nothing of the brand here. If theres no real difference then i'll just use the resin, just wondered if one was better to use than the other for finish

I tried to search for UK stuff here, apparently theres a UK section but i cant find one. One last question, when people talk about the 'bondo stage' i wasnt even sure what bondo is. Its just an automotive body filler (so like putty)? I know bondo is just a brand name so any car body filler would do (such as this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STEVENS-AUTOM..._Body_Shop_Supplies_Paint&hash=item35a4083a59) ?


Again i just want to make sure i buy the correct products, theres so much info out there it can get confusing as to what to buy. I do know what im doing though process wise i just need confirmation of the products. I've read around alot on this and watched tutorial videos so i know all the stages of creating the models. I just need to learn how to paint im really bad at that.. Hopefully my models work out, things tend to go wrong for me

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I've used Cray Valley stuff before, it was ok

For a bondo equivalent I've been using: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270755857873&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT found it extremely nice to work with, works on easilly and nice to smooth out.

To find the UK section, go to the Forum section, scroll right down. It's under the Header "405th Infantry Division" then "405th - United Kingdom"

aka, here: http://www.405th.com/forumdisplay.php/24-405th-United-Kingdom

Welcome to the 405th

Sutekhian said:

I've used Cray Valley stuff before, it was ok

For a bondo equivalent I've been using: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270755857873&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT found it extremely nice to work with, works on easilly and nice to smooth out.

To find the UK section, go to the Forum section, scroll right down. It's under the Header "405th Infantry Division" then "405th - United Kingdom"

aka, here: http://www.405th.com/forumdisplay.php/24-405th-United-Kingdom

Welcome to the 405th

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Perfect thank you Wouldnt have posted this if i'd found that section before. I will try and get that body filler thanks. Would prefer the bondo resin but since we cant get that here will have to be cray valley, should be ok. Im new to all this, never used pepakura, resined, fibreglassed or used body filler before so hopefully all goes ok. Starting out with some 'easier' models before i go onto the big things i want to make like cog armour chest plate, helmet etc. Right now im working on the arm armour for the HEV suit mark V from Half-Life and beginning to work on masterchief's helmet as a practice helmet and made Carmine's knee pads from gears of war, just need to resin them. Nothing in any stores here so wanted to check first what would be the right one to buy online. I might post some of my models here depending on how they turn out. Im terrible at painting so hoping i dont ruin that stage. Hoping i can learn how to do it though. I also need to buy a dremel and practice adding more details in. A visit to Halford's is on the card, luckily theres one not too far from here i can buy some of the stuff i need from, just didnt have the resin i wanted all the glass fibre stuff. Might have the u-pol filler there so will check before i buy it online

Thanks for the help

Lex said:

Perfect thank you Wouldnt have posted this if i'd found that section before. I will try and get that body filler thanks. Would prefer the bondo resin but since we cant get that here will have to be cray valley, should be ok. Im new to all this, never used pepakura, resined, fibreglassed or used body filler before so hopefully all goes ok. Starting out with some 'easier' models before i go onto the big things i want to make like cog armour chest plate, helmet etc. Right now im working on the arm armour for the HEV suit mark V from Half-Life and beginning to work on masterchief's helmet as a practice helmet and made Carmine's knee pads from gears of war, just need to resin them. Nothing in any stores here so wanted to check first what would be the right one to buy online. I might post some of my models here depending on how they turn out. Im terrible at painting so hoping i dont ruin that stage. Hoping i can learn how to do it though. I also need to buy a dremel and practice adding more details in. A visit to Halford's is on the card, luckily theres one not too far from here i can buy some of the stuff i need from, just didnt have the resin i wanted all the glass fibre stuff. Might have the u-pol filler there so will check before i buy it online

Thanks for the help

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Afaik Bondo is a body filler rather than a resin, but yeah both my suits and all my helms have had Cray valley resin used in their production and I've never had issues with it

Good luck with your builds, hope to see them! And my simplest advice really is: Take your time, if you get stressed take a break and do something else for a bit before going back to it. Have fun!

I havent personally tried it, but after a couple of hours of searching for products here in the UK, I almost went for this one on Amazon.

It's made by Cray Valley too, and it's a polyester laminating resin at a pretty decent price (Best for under £15 I've found so far). I'll look out for some better value bondo if I can find it... I tend to avoid eBay where possible XD

Sutekhian said:

Afaik Bondo is a body filler rather than a resin, but yeah both my suits and all my helms have had Cray valley resin used in their production and I've never had issues with it

Good luck with your builds, hope to see them! And my simplest advice really is: Take your time, if you get stressed take a break and do something else for a bit before going back to it. Have fun!

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Sounds good then will be using that. Thanks, hopefully they turn out ok. These few are really just tests to try things out, they're not perfect in build, a few gaps, overlaps etc and not great folds (got an x-acto knife ordered, a metal ruler and need a cutting mat for more accurate cuts and folds) but want to try out how the entire process works right through to painting so im not too worried about complete accuracy and perfection of finish on these. I was originally going to make the cog armour from scratch using motocross armour and cardboard til i found the pep files which has gotten me into this. I will post up some pics unless they turn out like crap lol

Shadow Of Intent said:

I havent personally tried it, but after a couple of hours of searching for products here in the UK, I almost went for this one on Amazon.

It's made by Cray Valley too, and it's a polyester laminating resin at a pretty decent price (Best for under £15 I've found so far). I'll look out for some better value bondo if I can find it... I tend to avoid eBay where possible XD

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Is there a difference from using the laminating resin than the general purpose stuff (the link to the cray valley stuff i posted above)? or would it not matter which i use? Theres loads of variations on stuff which is why i wanted to know the right stuff to use for this purpose. That is a good price so if thats the right stuff to use i may buy that over the ebay one i linked to. I dont know much about the different finishes of them (laminating over general etc)

I assume automotive paints to be the best to use from what i've read around here, as well as using automotive primer. I will get some at Halfords and test all that out. I've had bad experiences using metallic spray paints in the past, they have never bonded to the surface properly and when i touched it left fingerprints on the surface of the paint. Hoping to not have that problem again. Chrome paint is particuarly bad for bonding i've found though i used it on plastic before (however it was a type of spray ment for plastic and i had also given the surface several coats of primer first) Also once painted should the surface then be sealed with either a lacquer or clear coat? I've read some people say to and others say not to so im unsure of this

Lex said:

Is there a difference from using the laminating resin than the general purpose stuff (the link to the cray valley stuff i posted above)?

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I think general purpose would be pretty similar to laminating resin. They'd both need to have a certain amount of flex to them, and don't necessarily need to be hard. All the laminating resins I've seen have been somewhat translucent (Both the eBay Cray Valley and the one I'm using are blue to start off with, but go pale yellow when cured), but the Amazon one I linked to says "opaque off-white", which seems quite different. If you're unsure, I'd use the ebay option. Sounds closer to what it should be.

Shadow Of Intent said:

I think general purpose would be pretty similar to laminating resin. They'd both need to have a certain amount of flex to them, and don't necessarily need to be hard. All the laminating resins I've seen have been somewhat translucent (Both the eBay Cray Valley and the one I'm using are blue to start off with, but go pale yellow when cured), but the Amazon one I linked to says "opaque off-white", which seems quite different. If you're unsure, I'd use the ebay option. Sounds closer to what it should be.

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Thank you i may go with the ebay one then, shouldnt be far off the bondo version. I think im ok now for what products to get just need to buy them all now. Im unsure of a few other things such as how to scale the armour properly (i know how to physically do it but big pieces for example can go over like 2 or 3 pages when scaled up so im not sure how to combat that) but i will look further into that and post in the appropriate thread if necessary for that

Thanks for all the advice Just started work on the masterchief helmet, loads of lines really close together so i need to try the blue and red pen method with a metal ruler to more accurately fold those lines. Once i get the resin i will test it out on the knee pads or HEV arm armour and see how it all turns out. I made 2 stands today for sitting the pieces on when resining which i will tin foil so they dont stick, a smaller support stand for items like knee pads and i made a bigger one to hold helmets on. Once my fibreglass cloth arrives i'll get onto that stage then i need to learn how to use the body filler and go from there. Heres hoping all turns out well