"Sanding Difficult Areas on Vehicles" Topic

Sorry, there must be a better place for this but I couldn't spot it.

Can anyone recommend a clever way of smoothing joins on vehicles in difficult to reach parts.

The example I am struggling with is the join on the back of a white metal tank. The hull is in two halves, upper and lower. The front join is a terrible fit but that is underneath so won't be seen (and is easy to fill anyway. But the back join is on the rear of the tank and isn't a stright line but castellated like a mortice and tenon. The sit isn't too bad and I did my best to prepare it as well as I could. But you can imagine that there are still gaps and uneveness to sort out.

The problem is that there is some detail above and below it and the fenders to sides so access to the area is restricted. It is an area about 14x5 mm.

Can't really get files at it, I have a dremel but can't think of any attachment that would be small enough to help.

Any ideas, or do I have to accept that it is just a toy for wargaming rather than a model and put up with the giant join mark on the back.

Cheers,

Nigel

Sanding sticks, but if you can't get a small, thin, modeling file in there, you may not be able to get those in either.

I make my own out of little pieces of wood or plastic, and then cut sandpaper to size and glue it on them.

Works well, but again, you have to be able to reach in to get at the places needed.

Another option, depending upon the miniature, is to try to cover it up with something, to hide it, instead.

Mix some milliput, get a brush (no1 /2) roll out a small length put it into the area, you can bend it into the line of the joint. Dip brush it water and then brush away at the milliput and it will 'liquidise' it a bit and sit in the join.
Let dry ( can speed this with heat as its metal………made the mistake of doing that with a plastic kit once……).
Bit of wet and dry wrapped around tooth pick to smooth off. Add more putty if required. Remember the finish on a lot of tanks is grim to put it midly and mud ( Tamiya weathering sticks/wax pastels) are your 'hides most things' friends :)
L
Armourama etc are a good forum resource with such tips

Yes, home-made sanding sticks are the way to go. I use satay skewers or worn out paint brushes and just attach the appropriate shape/thickness of wet-and-dry for the job at hand with a tightly wound rubber band.