The Abbey of Aves

Got a question about techniques, materials or other aspects of physically building a model? This is the place to ask.

Moderators: DasPhule, Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
ionic1000
Posts: 164
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:14 am
Location: Latitude:35.647997 Longitude:-101.448728

Post by ionic1000 »

Thank you brother Zombe and malady Ti, blessed is the Abbey of Aves!
Picard, "Data, I'm sure it's a fascinating experience, but perhaps you should deactivate your emotion chip for now."
Data, "Good idea, sir."
Click
Data, "Done."
Picard, "Data, there are times that I envy you."
seam-filler
Posts: 3892
Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2003 11:05 am
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland

Post by seam-filler »

As a resident of the UK I have been a long-time Milliput user as it is readily available here. Unfortunately, AVES is not as readily available and the cost usually puts in the 'would be nice to have' bracket.

However, I recently found a supplier in the UK whose prices more favourably compared with Milliput, so I decided to give it a go. And I am now a convert.

Comparing AVES to Milliput Superfine White I found the following...

- Being more of a paste in the jar, AVES is much easier to mix properly than Milliput which is quite stiff.

- It is easier to measure the 50:50 mix needed than Milliput which is supplied in sticks.

- It is easier to mix large batches. Milliput can really be a swine if you want to model something large.

- AVES does not remain so sticky for so long.

- AVES remains workable for a bit longer than Milliput, though Millput's curing can be slowed down by cooling it.

- AVES sands and machines more like styrene of resin than Milliput which can get very hard.

Now a question - can you mix up a batch in advance, stick in the fridge or freezer and come back to it later? This is something you can do with Millput - usually when you've mixed too much for the session.
"I'd just like to say that building large smooth-skinned models should be avoided at all costs. I now see why people want to stick kit-parts all over their designs as it covers up a lot of problems." - David Sisson
User avatar
Gouf
Posts: 2025
Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2005 3:32 pm
Contact:

Post by Gouf »

Is there any smell or fumes?
-Early to rise and early to bed makes a man healthy, but socially dead!

My finished kits can be seen here: http://kitbash.net
User avatar
Lt. Z0mBe
Posts: 7311
Joined: Thu May 29, 2003 1:46 pm
Location: Balltown Kentucky, by God!
Contact:

Post by Lt. Z0mBe »

Gouf wrote:Is there any smell or fumes?
No, it's quite harmless. It has a slight hint of cornchips. Field Bishop Terry "TER-OR" says that's due to its natural amide constituents derived from the manna of the universe itself...and corn.

Kenny

www.sigmalabsinc.com


Onward, proud eagle, to thee the cloud must yield.
TREKKRIFFIC
Posts: 3204
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2005 7:37 pm
Location: Fremont, CA (near Milpitas north of Golfland USA)
Contact:

AVES and Saran wrap

Post by TREKKRIFFIC »

I discovered a neat trick using AVES and Saran wrap. I'm working on a scratch/bash spaceplane involving hinged doors. The doors cover a round opening where the forward landing strut telecopes out. Anyway, each door is a half round and they fit flush to the fuselage when closed; however, there were a few spots where I sanded the edges too much leaving a small gap between the doors and the fuselage. Closing the doors and puttying the edge didn't work too well as the putty stuck to the fuselage too and I didn't want the doors permanently shut. I found that by stretching a small piece of Saran wrap over the opening and closing the doors on top of it I could putty the edges of the doors without the putty sticking to the Saran wrap. I was able to eliminate any gaps around the edges for a perfect fit without the risk of puttying the opening underneath the doors. Perhaps this is not news to those more experienced with AVES but I found this to be a useful technique and thought I'd share it with other acolytes of AVES.
"Well--we'll be safe for now--thank goodness we're in a bowling alley--"
User avatar
bluesman
Posts: 12370
Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2002 1:33 pm
Location: On tour.
Contact:

Post by bluesman »

From the Book of Aves...

[b]"With Aves, all things are possible."[/b]
"The" Bluesman formerly known as The Bluesman
User avatar
TER-OR
Site Admin
Posts: 10531
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2002 7:05 pm
Location: Conjugate imprecision of time negates absolute determination of location.
Contact:

Post by TER-OR »

I use the Saran trick all the time. It's great for making removable conversion bits.
Raised by wolves, tamed by nuns, padded for your protection.

Terry Miesle
Never trust anyone who says they don't have a hobby.
Quando Omni Flunkus Moratati
User avatar
Ti Raven
Posts: 7354
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:00 pm
Location: Littleton, Colorado, U.S. of A.
Contact:

Post by Ti Raven »

If there is a cool shape of ...cookie cutter/ Kemper cutter (smaller with a built in plunger)
that ye wish to replicate?
*Roll flat thee mixed Manna from thine Jar of the Blessed Aves.
*Place the Holy portion betwixt 2 layers of plastic wrap.
*Place ye cutter upon the top layer and gently press downward.
(chant which ever hymn best fits thy project, if the spirit moves ye to... :wink: )
*Pulling straight up, remove ye cutter.

At this point, if you need to alter the shape while it is still flexible, gently
remove the plastic wrap. For file work only, just wait until curing ...
less chance of distortion.
* Joyously Celebrating the Mysteries of Chocolate
*Artistically Whimsical
TREKKRIFFIC
Posts: 3204
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2005 7:37 pm
Location: Fremont, CA (near Milpitas north of Golfland USA)
Contact:

Post by TREKKRIFFIC »

TER-OR wrote:I use the Saran trick all the time. It's great for making removable conversion bits.
Ah most learned one in the arts of AVES...
I knew you would have discovered this long before I. :bow:
Though art indeed learned in the ways of AVES.
Verily shalt I use Saran wrap to putty between the removeable external fuel tank and the bottom of the fuselage to get a nice tight fit.

Blessings of AVES be with thee.
"Well--we'll be safe for now--thank goodness we're in a bowling alley--"
TREKKRIFFIC
Posts: 3204
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2005 7:37 pm
Location: Fremont, CA (near Milpitas north of Golfland USA)
Contact:

Post by TREKKRIFFIC »

Ti Raven wrote:If there is a cool shape of ...cookie cutter/ Kemper cutter (smaller with a built in plunger)
that ye wish to replicate?
*Roll flat thee mixed Manna from thine Jar of the Blessed Aves.
*Place the Holy portion betwixt 2 layers of plastic wrap.
*Place ye cutter upon the top layer and gently press downward.
(chant which ever hymn best fits thy project, if the spirit moves ye to... :wink: )
*Pulling straight up, remove ye cutter.

At this point, if you need to alter the shape while it is still flexible, gently
remove the plastic wrap. For file work only, just wait until curing ...
less chance of distortion.
Blessings of AVES, that is a most wondrous trick Ti. Thanks for sharing it with this acolyte.

AVES... AVES... all is possible.
"Well--we'll be safe for now--thank goodness we're in a bowling alley--"
k-dog
Posts: 543
Joined: Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:37 pm

Post by k-dog »

I have used the wonderful putty but now i wonder about the paste.

What do you, my fellow followers, know and feel about the paste version?

http://www.starshipmodeler.biz/index.cf ... uct_ID=165
Mark Yungblut
Moderator
Posts: 2463
Joined: Sat Jul 13, 2002 4:42 pm
Location: Back home in Cincy!
Contact:

Post by Mark Yungblut »

The paste is a great seam filling product. Being that it too can be shapped and smoothed with a soft brush and alcohol. The best part is there is little to no (under 2%) shrinkage as well!

Cheers,

Mark
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn."
- Benjamin Franklin

"I am recalibrating my lack of faith in humanity. I start by reading opinions on message boards…"
- Dogbert

"What is his Comprehension level? Are we talking Human, Squirrel or Anvil?"
- Dilbert
TREKKRIFFIC
Posts: 3204
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2005 7:37 pm
Location: Fremont, CA (near Milpitas north of Golfland USA)
Contact:

Post by TREKKRIFFIC »

Mark Yungblut wrote:The paste is a great seam filling product. Being that it too can be shapped and smoothed with a soft brush and alcohol. The best part is there is little to no (under 2%) shrinkage as well!

Cheers,

Mark
Yes. Great for seams and can be easily thinned with alcohol. Less strength than the putty IMO but even better adhesion.
"Well--we'll be safe for now--thank goodness we're in a bowling alley--"
User avatar
TER-OR
Site Admin
Posts: 10531
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2002 7:05 pm
Location: Conjugate imprecision of time negates absolute determination of location.
Contact:

Post by TER-OR »

You can also use packing tape, the glossy surface won't allow the AVES to bond. It should pop right off. It will stick while it's sticky but not once it's cured. Parafilm also works, it conforms to the model even better than Saran so you won't get any wrinkles. BUT it does stick somewhat to the AVES, so you'll have a harder time removing it.

All those tricks are great for the task you mention. Petroleum jelly should also do the job, but it's not my first choice as it's more work to remove.
Raised by wolves, tamed by nuns, padded for your protection.

Terry Miesle
Never trust anyone who says they don't have a hobby.
Quando Omni Flunkus Moratati
User avatar
Kylwell
Moderator
Posts: 29643
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:25 pm
Location: Lakewood, CO
Contact:

Post by Kylwell »

TER-OR wrote:You can also use packing tape, the glossy surface won't allow the AVES to bond. It should pop right off. It will stick while it's sticky but not once it's cured. Parafilm also works, it conforms to the model even better than Saran so you won't get any wrinkles. BUT it does stick somewhat to the AVES, so you'll have a harder time removing it.

All those tricks are great for the task you mention. Petroleum jelly should also do the job, but it's not my first choice as it's more work to remove.
Just don't use the Aves Safety Fluid with Parafilm. Makes for a goopy mess.

Ask me how i know...
Abolish Alliteration
User avatar
Butters
Posts: 4505
Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2003 1:54 am
Location: Moonbeam Land

Post by Butters »

Hmph, Aves. Double MEH! :evil: Here's my tale: I ordered some from John about 18mo. ago and never opened them. They've been sealed till last night. So, I crack into them after reading the directions, which say that when mixed, it will have a 'batter-like' consistancy and approx. a 3hr working time. Well one container, I don't recall if it was A or B, was the consistancy of taffy. The other was the cosistancy of frozen sherbet. "Okay", I thought, maybe it will achieve 'batter-like' conditions after mixed. WRONG! It was the consistancy of sherbet mixed with taffy! Even after the required two minutes of mixing.

The only way it was, at all, workable was to microwave it for 15 seconds. This produced a working time of about 30 seconds, before it became taffy again. At best, it was warm taffy for half a minute, the BAMO! hard taffy! :evil:

Now, I understand that opened Aves has a limited shelf life, but this stuff was unopened/sealed/in the plastic wrap.
As my first experience with Aves, I am BITTERLY disappointed, and don't wish to waste time or money on this ---t again. BAH! :evil: :evil: :evil:
There is a solution to every problem. Sometimes it's just C4.

Fine. I got an Avatar. Happy?
User avatar
Kylwell
Moderator
Posts: 29643
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:25 pm
Location: Lakewood, CO
Contact:

Post by Kylwell »

Well... your first problem was letting it sit on the self for a year and a half. Limited shelf life unless you toss it in the freezer. If you contact Aves they may be willing to replace it. Plastic, that stuff the tubs are made of, are gas permeable, letting the volatiles to out gas. One of the reasons paint comes in glass or metal containers.
Abolish Alliteration
User avatar
TER-OR
Site Admin
Posts: 10531
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2002 7:05 pm
Location: Conjugate imprecision of time negates absolute determination of location.
Contact:

Post by TER-OR »

I have to disagree. I have tubs of AVES in the basement, well over a year old. Are you using the paste or the putty? I've never had the putty separate but the paste does. I've also never seen them not cure - in fact, the older it is the faster it seems to cure.
Raised by wolves, tamed by nuns, padded for your protection.

Terry Miesle
Never trust anyone who says they don't have a hobby.
Quando Omni Flunkus Moratati
User avatar
Butters
Posts: 4505
Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2003 1:54 am
Location: Moonbeam Land

Post by Butters »

TER-OR wrote:I have to disagree. I have tubs of AVES in the basement, well over a year old. Are you using the paste or the putty? I've never had the putty separate but the paste does. I've also never seen them not cure - in fact, the older it is the faster it seems to cure.
I have the paste. I don't think seperation was the problem; it was just tough and thick, so very thick. And tough. Unless I heated it; then it was soft for 30 seconds, then, so so tough.
Kylwell wrote:Well... your first problem was letting it sit on the self for a year and a half. Limited shelf life unless you toss it in the freezer. If you contact Aves they may be willing to replace it. Plastic, that stuff the tubs are made of, are gas permeable, letting the volatiles to out gas. One of the reasons paint comes in glass or metal containers.
I was assured that if unopened, it would be fine indefinitly, but what you're saying does, kinda make sense.... sort of. :?

Aves.... most foul, most stinky.
There is a solution to every problem. Sometimes it's just C4.

Fine. I got an Avatar. Happy?
User avatar
Butters
Posts: 4505
Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2003 1:54 am
Location: Moonbeam Land

Post by Butters »

Is there a 'thinner' or additive I can add to save whats left of my tubs, or are they now expensive paperweights?
There is a solution to every problem. Sometimes it's just C4.

Fine. I got an Avatar. Happy?
User avatar
Lt. Z0mBe
Posts: 7311
Joined: Thu May 29, 2003 1:46 pm
Location: Balltown Kentucky, by God!
Contact:

Post by Lt. Z0mBe »

Butters wrote:Is there a 'thinner' or additive I can add to save whats left of my tubs, or are they now expensive paperweights?
water. Seriously. Just a few drops sprinkled around the top. Let it soak in

I have tubs and packages that are three years old now; I also have some Milliput that's older than that. Both are fine.

The absolute key to neverending epoxy putty life is avoiding cross-contamination. DO NOT DIP FROM THE TUBS WITH YOUR HANDS. I have separate spatulas and/or plastic-handled, metal butter knives for each brand and type.

For example the Aves "A" knife NEVER goes in the Aves "B" tub and vice-versa. Clean your tools, sure, but do not rely on the cleaning to prevent the cross-contamination.

I dip with the "A" knife, dip with the "B" knife, and mix with my hands.

Make sense?

I hope this helps.

Kenny

www.sigmalabsinc.com


Onward, proud eagle, to thee the cloud must yield.
User avatar
rallymodeller
Posts: 3776
Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2003 8:06 pm
Location: Cornering at over 1g

Post by rallymodeller »

Sorry, Kenny -- didn't catch that. Could you phrase those instructions in the form of Biblical verse?

Just not used to you giving Blessed Aves advice in plain English. :8)
--Jeremy

"I'm not a geek, I'm a specialist." -- Sgt. Sousuke Sagara, Full Metal Panic
User avatar
Butters
Posts: 4505
Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2003 1:54 am
Location: Moonbeam Land

Post by Butters »

rallymodeller wrote:Sorry, Kenny -- didn't catch that. Could you phrase those instructions in the form of Biblical verse?

Just not used to you giving Blessed Aves advice in plain English. :8)
He was speaking to a troglodyte, so he had to water it down to my level. Forgive him....
There is a solution to every problem. Sometimes it's just C4.

Fine. I got an Avatar. Happy?
User avatar
rallymodeller
Posts: 3776
Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2003 8:06 pm
Location: Cornering at over 1g

Post by rallymodeller »

Butters wrote:
rallymodeller wrote:Sorry, Kenny -- didn't catch that. Could you phrase those instructions in the form of Biblical verse?

Just not used to you giving Blessed Aves advice in plain English. :8)
He was speaking to a troglodyte, so he had to water it down to my level. Forgive him....
Now Butters, don't be hard on yourself.

And the word you are looking for is gentile.

Ramen.
--Jeremy

"I'm not a geek, I'm a specialist." -- Sgt. Sousuke Sagara, Full Metal Panic
User avatar
Ti Raven
Posts: 7354
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:00 pm
Location: Littleton, Colorado, U.S. of A.
Contact:

Post by Ti Raven »

:wink:
* Joyously Celebrating the Mysteries of Chocolate
*Artistically Whimsical
User avatar
Lt. Z0mBe
Posts: 7311
Joined: Thu May 29, 2003 1:46 pm
Location: Balltown Kentucky, by God!
Contact:

Post by Lt. Z0mBe »

rallymodeller wrote:Sorry, Kenny -- didn't catch that. Could you phrase those instructions in the form of Biblical verse?

Just not used to you giving Blessed Aves advice in plain English. :8)
"Verily, I say unto thee, all are heathen and unclean, as ye are conceived in sin. Thou art the corruption that is the Bondite, the dust of the field, the weakness of the lamb, and the corruption of the sex mad baboon. Aves, you see, must be gathered unto thee with one pure scythe of iron, and one pure scythe of bronze. Do not touch the face of the pure Aves with thy corrupt, heathen hands, for the pure Aves will harden its heart and smite thy bench, and thy sculpts, and thy neighbor's jackass."

~ Mixtures 12:32

"Cleanse thy hands only with the kneading of the Aves holy manna. Do not make unclean thy Aves parts, for they are powerful, and must not lie together unmixed. That is detestable in the sight of Aves"

~ Song of Latex 110:12

[-o<

Kenny

www.sigmalabsinc.com


Onward, proud eagle, to thee the cloud must yield.
User avatar
rallymodeller
Posts: 3776
Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2003 8:06 pm
Location: Cornering at over 1g

Post by rallymodeller »

Ahh. That's better. Thank you, Brother Kenny.
--Jeremy

"I'm not a geek, I'm a specialist." -- Sgt. Sousuke Sagara, Full Metal Panic
User avatar
Ti Raven
Posts: 7354
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:00 pm
Location: Littleton, Colorado, U.S. of A.
Contact:

Post by Ti Raven »

Amen.
Time to cue the Hymns.
* Joyously Celebrating the Mysteries of Chocolate
*Artistically Whimsical
User avatar
Butters
Posts: 4505
Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2003 1:54 am
Location: Moonbeam Land

Post by Butters »

Ti Raven wrote:Amen.
Time to cue the Hymns.
"Que the Hims"? Honestly, Ti, sometimes I just don't get you.....
There is a solution to every problem. Sometimes it's just C4.

Fine. I got an Avatar. Happy?
User avatar
Ti Raven
Posts: 7354
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:00 pm
Location: Littleton, Colorado, U.S. of A.
Contact:

Post by Ti Raven »

Brother Butters,

If Thou wisheth to cue the Herrs instead, feel ye free to doeth such. :D

I shall continue to cue the Hymns, as follows my Nature, not Decreed by the Blessed Aves,
but Witnessed at least once by the Holy Stuff.

Blessed are all the Ways of Aves.

Amen,
Sister Ti

Dang, just where are all my Hymns? :D
* Joyously Celebrating the Mysteries of Chocolate
*Artistically Whimsical
Post Reply