Cleaning up a 'step'

[Guest]

Hi all;

Does anyone have a good method of cleaning up a 'step' - specifically, where 2 fuselage halves don't match up properly?

Thanks!

[Ian M]

Are the halfs glue together yet? Is the 'step' at the top or bottom..

Can you post a photo. it often helps to get a look at things like this to get a better idea of the problem.

Ian M

[Guest]

Yes, they are together. It's a Hasegawa 1/48 Spit Vb, and there is a very slight mis-alignment on the forward fuselage - the top engine cowling, to be exact. I can feel it if I run my finger across the seam, and it shows up under primer.

[Ian M]

Well only one thing to do then, filler and sanding stick! I would sand back the primer as I have had 'issues' with filler on top of paint!

I tend to take it down as much as I can then even out the step with a smudge of filler. Build it up in a couple of thin coats, rubbing down between each one. Much better than plonking it all on in one go. Any panel lines and the like will need to be rescribed after.

Ian M

[Guest]

Too late now I know, and I think this may be why Ian was asking if it was glued up. Sometimes, a step can be caused by the locating pins on something like a fuselage, you know, the little pegs that fit into holes on the opposite side. Often these do not match up correctly and by cutting the pegs off, it is easier to 'manoeuvre' the two halves together by aligning the top (most visible) seam and using liquid cement, just work around the joint a couple of cm at a time. Often, this will allow you to get a step free joint or at least work the step to the underneath where you can be a bit more liberal with the sanding and less demanding of the re-scribing as it is not so much on view.

As it is already glued up, Ian has given the best advice I think. If the step is very bad then you could consider building up the lower side with ver thin plastic card and then sanding it to blend it in with the finished shape and the other side. Either way, I think you will have to re scribe any lines no matter what.

[Guest]

Thanks guys. I think it's cured - filler, sanding stick and a touch of thin CA seem to have done the trick!

[stona]

I'm glad it is sorted.

I'd like to second Graham (Fenlander). Sometimes,with a bit of foresight,steps can be avoided altogether or shifted to somewhere easier to fix. For example by not following the instructions I have shifted a potential step in a wing-fuselage join to a gap in the leading edge. Much easier to fix,and much less likely to end up sanding detail away which will have to be replaced.

Cheers

Steve