Posted by Richard Tonti on April 25, 1998 at 21:11:34 in 53.new-york-08.ny.dial-access.att.net :
In Reply to: HELP! I messed up my model! posted by Frank Giacobbe on April 25, 1998 at 20:25:41:
: Can anyone help me out here????
: I tried drilling the portholes out for the fiber optics, but the holes came out too big and crooked. What the best way to go about fixing it.
: Also...is there anyone out there who is an expert model builder who would be interested in selling me a completed model??? I'm starting to get frustrated.
: Frank
*** Dear Frank,
Don't take the black capsule yet you're ok don't worry. When one works with a medium for the first time, and even later on down the line, there are just going to be occasional incidents and accidents and actually that's all part of the learning process. To be honest with you I ahhhh (tail lowering no eye contact) did the very same thing. I normally work in wood and metal (scratch) and so have long since forgotten the limitations of plastic. I used an Airlec tool (Australian made) electric device similar to the Dremel moto, and attempted to work on the hull while I was already engaged in 2000 other things. My lighting was very poor. (MUST HAVE VERY GOOD LIGHTING!) and didn't use my head worn magnifyer. (old men can't see zip). What I failed to do was drill in with graduated slow revolutions and the bit got hot along with periodic removal of the waste material that accumulates around the bit after so many holes.
Result probably something similar to what you've got there maybe far worse. I now have around 40 portholes that make the hull look like it was hailed upon with Howitzer shot. As we speak I am using Automotive ribbon epoxy to quickly correct the problem. This can be purchased really in many places even Kmart and comes on a small card in two colors usually blue and yellow. Equal amounts of these are merely kneaded together and you get an even dark green. Then simply wipe off a minute amount with finger or small tool across the oversized porthole and smooth it in till completely refilled. make sure it's smooth flush with the hull plate. It can be cut off flush with hull surface in otherwords. Let it set up accroding to package info. You may need to fine it in with a small piece of sand paper I would suggest 400-600 wet and dry emery so as not to put any larger a scratch than neccessary in the plastic. After it is hardened it is rock hard, stroger than the plastic and can be easily drilled without fear of crumbling or colapse. To redrill the defective holes go from the nearest good hole, if there is one, and just line the two up. If this is going to be a problem then I would say use a very fine flexible straight edge that will work for you perhaps just a piece of flexable clear plastic, to locate dead center of one of the good holes then connect them all one one row with a fine pencil mark so you have a standard to work with. As far as other fillers there they are almost limitless but many modlers still use " Squadron Green" comes in white tube with green stripes at your local hobby. I hope this helps you I know it will work for me. DON"T GIVE UP THE SHIP!! Complete it no matter how bad you think it looks as it will serve as a very valuable lesson and do much for your confidence. Go back and review good model contruction practices and procedures and start anew. YOU CAN DO IT!!
All the best!!!
Richard Tonti